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
9. Colorado State Rams
Flotrack’s #9: Northern Arizona Lumberjacks
Flotrack's Ranking of Colorado State: 10th
Coach: Art Siemers
Flotrack's Ranking of Colorado State: 10th
Coach: Art Siemers
Notable Departures: N/A
Notable Additions: Graeme Schroeder
Projected Scoring Five: Abbey Jefferson (SR) [ET#13], Jerrell Mock (JR) [ET#14], Cole Rockhold (SO), Spencer Keith (SO), Adam Hartman (SR)
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Yes, there is another team in Colorado that should be considered as a top team. The Rams hold one of the best 1-2 punches in the nation while adding in a mix of youth and experience to the roster. They should not be taken lightly this season.
I had high expectations for CSU last fall. They didn't start on the top 25 rankings, but they eventually made their way on to it and stayed there for multiple weeks. Their first major challenge would be at Roy Griak where they finished 4th in a very tight scoring meet (even with Jefferson and Mock running 1-2). The following week, CSU had a quick turnaround and went straight to Notre Dame where they placed three in the top 20 and placed 3rd in the team standings ahead of programs like Southern Utah, Eastern Michigan, and Penn.
As if things couldn't get any better, we saw the Rams run at Pre-Nats two weeks later where Jefferson and Mock came through once again to push the team into the 8th overall spot. It was a huge run for the team that earned a solid amount of Kolas Calculator points in the process.
However, the real measuring stick for CSU's fitness would be at Midwest Conferences where Air Force and Boise State would also be fighting for a conference title. Unfortunately, Jefferson had his first off day of the season as he placed 8th overall in a race he could've won. Even with Mock taking the individual win, it wasn't enough for CSU as they earned the runner-up position. Air Force won the title with 49 points while CSU was close behind with 53 points. Had Jefferson been at the top of his game, Colorado State would've been conference champions.
But at the end of the day, none of that mattered when it was time to race at the Mountain region. It was a deep and strong field, but not many doubted that the Rams could make it to nationals. Of course, the depth of BYU and Colorado followed by a slew of top-tier individuals made things very difficult for the Rams to bring up their pack and they eventually fell to 6th overall.
Even with the off-day race, many of the teams ahead of them were squads I thought would make the cut to nationals. CSU had been running too well all season to not make it in. But as the Kolas Calculator would have it, Colorado State didn't make it to nationals. It was a shocking result as many fans (including myself) were convinced they had done enough to qualify.
Although they didn't make nationals as a team, both Jefferson and Mock went to NCAA's and earned All-American honors by placing 13th and 19th respectively.
Colorado State was robbed last season of making nationals. But this is a team capable of brushing themselves off and making another run at not just qualifying for nationals, but also competing with (and defeating) some of the best teams in the nation.
Jefferson and Mock are one of the best duo's in the nation and they almost never have a bad day. They bring plenty of experience to a team that is still on the young side, but full of untapped potential and talent.
After Jefferson and Mock, I see someone with an unlimited ceiling. Cole Rockhold is a rising sophomore who showed us multiple glimpses of his ability. Rockhold was 20th at Roy Griak last year and then later came back to place 32nd in a very deep regional meet. And while that is respectable, his 13:53 5k on the track is what really caught my eye. But even better? He ran that 13:53 with just one shoe.
But even when Rockhold couldn't step up, Spencer Keith certainly did. Keith had multiple races as CSU's third man during 2015 and even placed 7th ahead of Jefferson at Midwest conferences.
What gets me so excited about Rockhold and Keith is the fact that they were freshmen last year. They enter the 2016 season with a much better base and plenty of experience. Freshmen are bound to improve and if Art Siemers can do what he did with Jefferson and Mock, then CSU just became one of scariest teams to race this fall.
The fifth spot will probably be Adam Hartman who brings experience and consistency to the program. However, other guys like rising junior Grant Fischer (no, not from Stanford) and rising sophomore Eric Hamer have all played a role of being a scorer before. Hamer is someone with plenty of upside and could easily sneak his way up with Rockhold and Keith. He was, after all, their best high school recruit entering the 2015 season.
So when all is said and done, what's to dislike about the Rams? Sure, they've been a bit inconsistent at times, but this is a team that feeds off of confidence and momentum. With the way we've seen them improving, they should be the favorites to win Roy Griak, conferences, and even Notre Dame.
Their coach, however, might be the biggest reason for their past accomplishments and future success. Art Siemers is quickly joining Robert Gray of Furman as one of the best young coaches around the nation. He has turned the Rams into a true national contender and I can't image he'll let up anytime soon.
Yes, there is another team in Colorado that should be considered as a top team. The Rams hold one of the best 1-2 punches in the nation while adding in a mix of youth and experience to the roster. They should not be taken lightly this season.
I had high expectations for CSU last fall. They didn't start on the top 25 rankings, but they eventually made their way on to it and stayed there for multiple weeks. Their first major challenge would be at Roy Griak where they finished 4th in a very tight scoring meet (even with Jefferson and Mock running 1-2). The following week, CSU had a quick turnaround and went straight to Notre Dame where they placed three in the top 20 and placed 3rd in the team standings ahead of programs like Southern Utah, Eastern Michigan, and Penn.
As if things couldn't get any better, we saw the Rams run at Pre-Nats two weeks later where Jefferson and Mock came through once again to push the team into the 8th overall spot. It was a huge run for the team that earned a solid amount of Kolas Calculator points in the process.
However, the real measuring stick for CSU's fitness would be at Midwest Conferences where Air Force and Boise State would also be fighting for a conference title. Unfortunately, Jefferson had his first off day of the season as he placed 8th overall in a race he could've won. Even with Mock taking the individual win, it wasn't enough for CSU as they earned the runner-up position. Air Force won the title with 49 points while CSU was close behind with 53 points. Had Jefferson been at the top of his game, Colorado State would've been conference champions.
But at the end of the day, none of that mattered when it was time to race at the Mountain region. It was a deep and strong field, but not many doubted that the Rams could make it to nationals. Of course, the depth of BYU and Colorado followed by a slew of top-tier individuals made things very difficult for the Rams to bring up their pack and they eventually fell to 6th overall.
Even with the off-day race, many of the teams ahead of them were squads I thought would make the cut to nationals. CSU had been running too well all season to not make it in. But as the Kolas Calculator would have it, Colorado State didn't make it to nationals. It was a shocking result as many fans (including myself) were convinced they had done enough to qualify.
Although they didn't make nationals as a team, both Jefferson and Mock went to NCAA's and earned All-American honors by placing 13th and 19th respectively.
Colorado State was robbed last season of making nationals. But this is a team capable of brushing themselves off and making another run at not just qualifying for nationals, but also competing with (and defeating) some of the best teams in the nation.
Jefferson and Mock are one of the best duo's in the nation and they almost never have a bad day. They bring plenty of experience to a team that is still on the young side, but full of untapped potential and talent.
After Jefferson and Mock, I see someone with an unlimited ceiling. Cole Rockhold is a rising sophomore who showed us multiple glimpses of his ability. Rockhold was 20th at Roy Griak last year and then later came back to place 32nd in a very deep regional meet. And while that is respectable, his 13:53 5k on the track is what really caught my eye. But even better? He ran that 13:53 with just one shoe.
But even when Rockhold couldn't step up, Spencer Keith certainly did. Keith had multiple races as CSU's third man during 2015 and even placed 7th ahead of Jefferson at Midwest conferences.
What gets me so excited about Rockhold and Keith is the fact that they were freshmen last year. They enter the 2016 season with a much better base and plenty of experience. Freshmen are bound to improve and if Art Siemers can do what he did with Jefferson and Mock, then CSU just became one of scariest teams to race this fall.
The fifth spot will probably be Adam Hartman who brings experience and consistency to the program. However, other guys like rising junior Grant Fischer (no, not from Stanford) and rising sophomore Eric Hamer have all played a role of being a scorer before. Hamer is someone with plenty of upside and could easily sneak his way up with Rockhold and Keith. He was, after all, their best high school recruit entering the 2015 season.
So when all is said and done, what's to dislike about the Rams? Sure, they've been a bit inconsistent at times, but this is a team that feeds off of confidence and momentum. With the way we've seen them improving, they should be the favorites to win Roy Griak, conferences, and even Notre Dame.
Their coach, however, might be the biggest reason for their past accomplishments and future success. Art Siemers is quickly joining Robert Gray of Furman as one of the best young coaches around the nation. He has turned the Rams into a true national contender and I can't image he'll let up anytime soon.
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