25. Illinois Fighting Illini
24. Villanova Wildcats
23. Eastern Michigan Eagles
22. Iowa State Cyclones
21. Oklahoma State Cowboys
20. Tulsa Golden Hurricanes
19. Michigan State Spartans
18. Boise State Broncos
17. Washington State Cougars
16. Indiana Hoosiers
15. Washington Huskies
14. Eastern Kentucky Colonials
13. BYU Cougars
12. Wisconsin Badgers
11. Furman Paladins
10. Virginia Cavaliers
9. Colorado State Rams
8. Norther Arizona Lumberjacks
7. Arkansas Razorbacks
6. Colorado Buffaloes
5. Iona Gaels
7. Arkansas Razorbacks
Flotrack’s #7: Iona Gaels
Flotrack's Ranking of Arkansas: 4th
Coach: Chris Bucknam
Flotrack's Ranking of Arkansas: 4th
Coach: Chris Bucknam
Notable Departures: Gabe Gonzales
Notable Additions: Andrew Ronoh (transfer via Iowa Central CC)
Projected Scoring Five: Frankline Tonui (SR) [ET#36], Jack Bruce (JR) [ET#44], Andrew Ronoh (SO), Austen Dalquist (JR), Christian Heymsfield (SR),
Projected Scoring Five: Frankline Tonui (SR) [ET#36], Jack Bruce (JR) [ET#44], Andrew Ronoh (SO), Austen Dalquist (JR), Christian Heymsfield (SR),
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Now we are in the top seven teams and it's amazing to think that a team as deep and talented as Arkansas is only ranked at number seven. They lost only one guy from last year's squad and the returners seem only stronger.
In 2015, Arkansas was ranked just outside of our top 25. Many fans figured they would be competitive in their respective conference and region, but that the loss of Kemoy Campbell and Stanley Kebenei would be too big of a hit to overcome.
The Razorbacks first started off at the Paddy Doyle Invite which they essentially used as a workout (along with Wisconsin). The first real challenge was at the Chile Pepper Festival where Arkansas would shut down a very talented Tulsa team by 36 points. It was a nice race for the Razorbacks, but no one would take them seriously until their mind-boggling performance at Pre-Nats. There, coach Bucknam's squad placed FIVE in the top 50 (four of them being in the top 40). It was an incredible display of fitness that no one expected Arkansas to have. The team would eventually finish 3rd in the team standings behind Colorado and Oregon. Arkansas was for real.
SEC's was next on the list and the Razorbacks easily cruised through the meet and earned the conference title. It was more of the same at regionals (South Central) as the Razorbacks secured another berth to nationals with a win. The Razorbacks had been so dominant all season, that it was actually surprising to see them not on the team podium. Arkansas' once tight-knit top five showed some separation in the results and it ended with them placing 6th overall.
Despite losing Gabe Gonzales from last year's squad, Arkansas actually gets even better thanks to the addition of Andrew Ronoh from Iowa Central CC. Ronoh actually raced the Razorbacks last fall at the Chile Pepper Festival. It was there where he placed 2nd and defeated every runner wearing an Arkansas uniform. He transferred to Arkansas during the second semester of last year and has shown significant improvement under Coach Bucknam. His 28:36 10k is a good example of that improvement.
But Ronoh hasn't seen the big stage and the big name runners that the rest of this team has. Frankline Tonui has raced against the top guys in the nation and hasn't ever had a bad race against them. He was the last guy to get All-American honors during this past cross country season and there's a good chance he'll be even better in 2016. He's also an excellent steeplechaser who placed 2nd at NCAA's this past spring and has a PR of 8:30. And as most of my readers know, I'm a big fan of steeplechasers during cross country
Jack Bruce also holds a similar level of talent to Tonui. His overall 2015 wasn't as impressive, but he came up big when it mattered. At nationals, Bruce was Arkansas' top guy and placed 23rd overall.
Tonui and Bruce may be extremely talented, but they'll need to be a bit more consistent throughout this fall season. If they can be reliable leaders, then they could scare plenty of the best teams in the nation and maybe even pull off some upsets.
Others like Austen Dalquist and Christian Heymsfield would be the top runner on so many other top-tier teams. Dalquist was 21st at Pre-Nats while Heymsfield was 28th at Pre-Nats and 2nd at SEC's. On any given day, they could be the top runner this team.
Fun fact: Arkansas had a different number one runner at every meet during 2015 season. It's very realistic that we could see something similar happen again. It's an interesting statistic and it just goes to show how much firepower they have.
However, it also tells me that they aren't very consistent and that they aren't running up to their potential every time they toe the line. Each individual seems to have one really explosive race, and then nothing nearly as exciting for the rest of the season. If they can find a way to all show up on the same day, then a team medal will easily be in their future...or even a national title.
In 2015, Arkansas was ranked just outside of our top 25. Many fans figured they would be competitive in their respective conference and region, but that the loss of Kemoy Campbell and Stanley Kebenei would be too big of a hit to overcome.
The Razorbacks first started off at the Paddy Doyle Invite which they essentially used as a workout (along with Wisconsin). The first real challenge was at the Chile Pepper Festival where Arkansas would shut down a very talented Tulsa team by 36 points. It was a nice race for the Razorbacks, but no one would take them seriously until their mind-boggling performance at Pre-Nats. There, coach Bucknam's squad placed FIVE in the top 50 (four of them being in the top 40). It was an incredible display of fitness that no one expected Arkansas to have. The team would eventually finish 3rd in the team standings behind Colorado and Oregon. Arkansas was for real.
SEC's was next on the list and the Razorbacks easily cruised through the meet and earned the conference title. It was more of the same at regionals (South Central) as the Razorbacks secured another berth to nationals with a win. The Razorbacks had been so dominant all season, that it was actually surprising to see them not on the team podium. Arkansas' once tight-knit top five showed some separation in the results and it ended with them placing 6th overall.
Despite losing Gabe Gonzales from last year's squad, Arkansas actually gets even better thanks to the addition of Andrew Ronoh from Iowa Central CC. Ronoh actually raced the Razorbacks last fall at the Chile Pepper Festival. It was there where he placed 2nd and defeated every runner wearing an Arkansas uniform. He transferred to Arkansas during the second semester of last year and has shown significant improvement under Coach Bucknam. His 28:36 10k is a good example of that improvement.
But Ronoh hasn't seen the big stage and the big name runners that the rest of this team has. Frankline Tonui has raced against the top guys in the nation and hasn't ever had a bad race against them. He was the last guy to get All-American honors during this past cross country season and there's a good chance he'll be even better in 2016. He's also an excellent steeplechaser who placed 2nd at NCAA's this past spring and has a PR of 8:30. And as most of my readers know, I'm a big fan of steeplechasers during cross country
Jack Bruce also holds a similar level of talent to Tonui. His overall 2015 wasn't as impressive, but he came up big when it mattered. At nationals, Bruce was Arkansas' top guy and placed 23rd overall.
Tonui and Bruce may be extremely talented, but they'll need to be a bit more consistent throughout this fall season. If they can be reliable leaders, then they could scare plenty of the best teams in the nation and maybe even pull off some upsets.
Others like Austen Dalquist and Christian Heymsfield would be the top runner on so many other top-tier teams. Dalquist was 21st at Pre-Nats while Heymsfield was 28th at Pre-Nats and 2nd at SEC's. On any given day, they could be the top runner this team.
Fun fact: Arkansas had a different number one runner at every meet during 2015 season. It's very realistic that we could see something similar happen again. It's an interesting statistic and it just goes to show how much firepower they have.
However, it also tells me that they aren't very consistent and that they aren't running up to their potential every time they toe the line. Each individual seems to have one really explosive race, and then nothing nearly as exciting for the rest of the season. If they can find a way to all show up on the same day, then a team medal will easily be in their future...or even a national title.
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