By: Garrett Zatlin
For a while now, BIG East cross country has been made up of essentially four teams: Butler, Providence, Georgetown, and Villanova. Although it's a smaller league, the BIG East constantly produces stand-out individuals and powerhouse teams.
This race is going to be a very exciting one upfront. Tiernan has established himself as one of the best in the nation and has gone undefeated so far this season. Many will criticize that undefeated streak by citing an easy schedule. However, when you run as fast and as consistently as he does, then who you face doesn't have as much of a difference. That said, this will be his first true test this season against competition that does involve his own teammates. Erik Peterson has somehow stayed under the radar despite a win at Panorama Farms and a top-10 finish at Pre-Nats. I'll say his experience will get the best of Jonathan Green who has stepped up to be the unexpected leader of the Hoyas. Green become a great front-man and is still so young and I really like the potential he holds. Even though I have him at third, I think he'll thrive in a race that isn't overly crowded but still holds top power up-front (which is strangely similar to Peterson's race at Panorama Farm).
Team-wise, I think GTown will get the win. Villanova has suffered from the lack of a reliable 4th and 5th man. Georgetown already has a win over Nova at Paul Short, and BIG East's will most likely have a field that is very similar to that. It also doesn't help Villanova's case that they also lost to Penn at the Princeton Invite. They will still beat Providence, but it won't be as comfortable of a margin as many expect it to be.
Individuals
1. Patrick Tiernan, Junior, Villanova
2. Erik Peterson, Senior, Butler
3. Jonathan Green, Sophomore, Georgetown
4. Jordy Williamsz, Senior, Villanova
5. Robert Denault, Senior, Villanova
6. Darren Fahy, Senior, Georgetown
7. Julian Oakley, Junior, Providence
8. Scott Carpenter, Junior, Georgetown
9. Tom O'Neil, Sophomore, Providence
10. Ahmed Bile, Junior, Georgetown
Teams
1. Georgetown
2. Villanova
3. Providence
4. Butler
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