2017 NCAA Indoor Predictions: Alex Fox

By: Alex Fox

It’s that time again. Us Etrain writers risk our dignity and sense of intelligence making predictions over collegiate track and field. I’m feeling good after my individual win during cross country (I am Jacob Pickle…the fake Alex Fox refuses to identify themselves. Sad!) Here’s to an incredibly difficult NCAA field and not picking Andres Arroyo!

800

For months, I’ve been all about Craig Engels. I said it after Olympic Trials. I said it again in the first episode of Full Speed Ahead (which if you haven’t checked out, here’s the link: https://soundcloud.com/user-571877119/full-speed-ahead-episode-1-the-ches-triple). He’s got the speed (PR of 1:46), he’s got the awareness, and he’s got the look. (https://www.google.com/search?q=craig+engels+mullet&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS728US728&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwih5vvYgsrSAhVFMyYKHaMdDnQQ_AUIBigB&biw=1366&bih=662#imgrc=sD5M7vg5br5rVM:). Make me look as good as you do Craig. 

After him, it gets tough. I really like Korir, but he lacks experience and we saw some freshman not produce at NCAA Indoors last year. Isaiah Harris is a tough pick; he’s run fast, but has lost a couple of times this season. Joe White has been nothing short of dominate this year, but had a tough time at Nationals last year. Daniel Kuhn has also shown his stuff this season, but this will be his first Nationals race. Then there’s Eliud Rutto, last year’s top returner. I’m banking on Rutto making Heat 2 fast in the prelims, giving them 5 qualifier, with 3 out of Heat 1.

Prediction

1) Engels

2) Harris

3) Korir

4) Rutto

5) Kuhn

6) Heppenstall

7) White

8) Piazza

Mile

Edward Cheresek is winning. Remember what he did to Cristian Soratos two years ago? I sure do. Second should be Josh Thompson. He’s got a mean kick, and honestly, this field doesn’t really scare me. After that it keeps tricky. Matt Maton runs for Oregon, who tend to run out of their mind come March as Caleb mentioned last week (I will not stop plugging our podcast. Seriously, check it out). Josh Kerr might just be the most underrated runner in the NCAA. Adam Palamar managed to quietly run 3:57 very early this season. Then we have the altitude conversion boys from Buffalo in Perrin and Saarel. Jonah Koech ran well at NCAAs last year, but his cross country season could be cause for concern. What about PA alum Ned Willig, and maybe Tim Gorman is the next Sam Prakel? I feel good about 1 and 2, but everything is a bit jumbled after that. With the prelims here, I predict Heat 1 to be faster, as Ches tries to help get his two teammates through.

Prediction

1) Cheserek

2) Thompson

3) Maton

4) Kerr

5) Palamar

6)  Ben Saarel

7) Neil Gourley

8) Willig

3000

This will be the last race of the weekend for The King (assuming he doesn’t blow up and scratch, which is what happened last time this triple was attempted). If more of this field was fresh, I’d be more willing to pick an upset, but I just don’t see it happening. The one big name who will be fresh is of course Justyn Knight, who did manage to beat Ches during cross country. Knight is a tempting pick, but last year, he had a similar opportunity to beat Ches when he was on tire legs, but opted to race for second. There are other names in this race like Colby Gilbert and Marc Scott who could potentially push the pace, but given that they’re coming off the 5k, I think this race goes down similarly to how it did last year: a strong field on paper shies away, Ches wins in a relatively moderate time, he makes history. The question behind him and Knight will be how talented guys fair coming off the double against fresh talent. Names like Scott, Gilbert, Dressel, Saarel, Maton, and Peterson will all be doubling back (and I think the 5k could be quick, but I’ll get to that) while Joe Klecker, Morgan McDonald, Clayton Young, and Brian Barraza will all be fresh. This should make for an interesting pack.

Prediction:

1) Cheserek

2) Knight

3) Scott

4) Klecker

5) Young

6) Barraza

7) McDonald

8) Gilbert

5000

The only Etrain writer with All American credentials said if Ches is going to lose, it’ll be in the 5k (You still haven’t listened to our podcast yet? Do it, I worked somewhat hard on the audio-editing). Caleb makes a good point. Marc Scott has been a man on a mission this year. He can run fast and he can kick hard. Colby Gilbert has also run fast, but Ches showed that Gilbert’s kick is just not on the same level. I think Ches will have to work for this victory, but he’s the GOAT for a reason. It’ll be interesting to see some of the other names fresh here too: we’re all big fans of Eric Peterson, John Dressel is no slouch, plus we get to see how the cross country heroes from NAU fair on the track. This will be my race of the weekend.

Predictions

1) Cheserek

2) Scott

3) Gilbert

4) Dressel

5) Peterson

6) MJ Erb

7) Mat Baxter

8) Rory Linkletter

DMR

What a difference a year can make. Last year’s DMR featured some of the best anchor legs ever, including Sean McGorty, Brannon Kidder, Izaic York, Mason Ferlic, Jordy Williamsz, and of course, Ches. This year, there’s a lot of young talent, but this race is nowhere near the caliber of last year’s dramatic race (which featured a 3:52 and 3:53 anchor). On paper, Ole Miss should win. Between Robert Domanic, Sean Tobin, Craig Engels, and Ran Manahan, these guys have far and away the best mid distance crew in the country. However, questions surround their anchor decisions; if I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times, Sean Tobin is a talented runner, but has no business anchoring that team. Do they have the frontend talent to hold off star anchor Josh Thompson? Other interesting teams to watch will be New Mexico, with Josh “you should really learn my name now” Kerr, UTEP, with the ever-mercurial Jonah Koech, and the upstart Indiana squad with Kyle “no not like the sound a cat makes” Mau. Okay, I made my bad joke. In all seriousness, I’m intrigued by Virginia Tech, and could this be the breakout race for Villanova’s oft-forget Logan Wetzel? Finally, can Oregon scratch out some points in their pursuit of an upset team title? Only time will tell.

Predictions

1) Ole Miss

2) UTEP

3) Virginia Tech

4) Indiana

5) Oklahoma State

6) New Mexico

7) Villanova

8) Arkansas

Well, there they are. Let the embarrassment commence AND FOR REAL LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST :)

A Way Too Early Look at the 2017 NCAA XC Seaon

A Way Too Early Look at the 2017 NCAA XC Seaon

​The 2016 cross country season has come and gone. In a year that the team title was up in the air all season and the individual title was all but guranteed, the favorite NAU captured their first national championship and the unbeatable Edward Cheserek was defeated. It was an exciting season, and now we’re at the unfortunate time of waiting for indoor. Why not take this time to look ahead to next year and what could possibly go down?

Team Battle

​Much like this year, several programs will be vying for the podium in 2017. This year’s winner, Northern Arizona, will likely one again be a favorite for the top spot. Of course, the Lumberjacks will lose two key components of this year’s historic squad: low stick Futsum Zienasellassie and head coach Eric Heins. In what has to be one of the best decisions in NCAA running history, Zienasellassie redshirted in 2015 for a chance at the team title in 2016, and oh boy did it pay off. None the less, NAU will have to try and replace this year’s 4th place finisher, and just ask Syracuse how hard it is to supplant a top 10 guy. Luckily for NAU, they already secured Coach Heins’ replacement in Mike Smith. The former Hoya played a large role in coaching the 2016 team, so his transition to top dog shouldn’t be a problem. Making Smith’s job even easier is the return of several of NAU’s key guys from 2016. Matt Baxter and Tyler Day are both top 25 runners from Terre Haute, finishing 11th and 23rd at Nationals respectively; Day had an outstanding campaign, consistently finishing well for NAU. Baxter had one bad race in 2016, finishing 22nd at the Mountain West Regionals, but his 8th place finish from Wisconsin and his performance in Terre Haute bode well going into 2017. Look for Day and Baxter to both be low sticks for the Lumberjacks in 2017, as each has top 10 upside. Another key returner for NAU will be Cory Glines, who’s experience and talent will prove to be vital for NAU as they pursue a repeat. Glines had a disappointing showing at Nationals, finishing 84th, but his 20th place finish at Wisconsin in addition to strong races at conferences and regionals highlight his All American potential for next year. NAU’s potential 4th runner for next year may have been their most important runner from Nationals this year: Andy Trouard. The underrated junior finished 37th at Nationals seemingly out of nowhere, as he was often overshadowed by runners like Day, Baxter, Zienasellassie, Nathan Weitz, and Glines in 2016; if Trouhard is able to build on his race from Nationals, NAU is looking at potentially four runners in the top 30. Rounding out NAU’s top 5 scorers will likely be Geordie Beamish. In his first collegiate cross country season, Beamish barely scraped into the top 100 at Nationals, finishing 97th. Beamish did manage an outstanding race at Wisconsin, finishing 31st overall. Look for Beamish to continue developing in 2017 and provide NAU a strong final scorer. Although he’s more of a track runner, Peter Lomong does provide NAU with some depth should injuries occur. Given the experience and talent of NAU’s returners, lookout for the Lumberjacks to pull off the incredibly rare back to back national championship. 

​Every year Stanford is a title contender, and every year they fall short. Could 2017 be the year Stanford finally gets over the hump? They certainly appear to have the talent on the roster. Leading the Cardinal will be stud Grant Fisher, who’s 5th place finish this year at Nationals is second-best among all returners. Fisher should be in contention for the individual title and is a near lock to be top 5 given his consistency. Following Fisher should be Thomas Ratcliffe, who’s first ever cross country season ended with an unfortunate DNF at Nationals. Outside of that disappointment, Ratcliffe flashed loads of potential, winning the Stanford invite in a blazing time and finishing an ultra-impressive 8th at PAC-12s. Ratcliffe showed McGorty/Fisher-like ability in 2016, and I like him to be a second low stick for Stanford in 2017. Rounding out Stanford’s top 5 is difficult to project: Jack Keelanhas shown a lot of talent, but it’s never translated to a really strong showing at Nationals. He did manage a top 10 finish at regionals in 2016, and Stanford will need an equally strong showing in 2017 if they are to win a national title. After a rough outing at Wisconsin, Steven Fahy had a strong sophomore season culminating in a respectable 59th place in Terre Haute. Should he continue to improve, Fahy will be a key runner for Stanford’s title hunt in 2017. Alex Ostberg is hard to gauge, as he’s never been healthy enough to run a full collegiate season on the grass, but we know from high school he has talent. If he finds his grove in 2017, Ostberg has the potential to run with some of Stanford’s top guys. In addition to the talent already on the roster, Stanford will add a talented freshman class, which will include elite recruits like Callum Bolger, David Principe, and Michael Vernau. With buckets of ability Stanford will have, 2017 just might be the year the Cardinal get it right and take home a national championship. 

​As long as Colorado is coached by Mark Wetmore, they will be in the conversation for a national title. In 2016, it appeared the Buffalo had lost too many guys to compete, but still Wetmore still found a way to win the PAC12 title and make Colorado a contender. Despite a disappointing 6th place team finish in Terre Haute, there is plenty to be excited about for 2017. The Buffalo will be led by classmates and best buds (seriously, look at their twitter interactions) Joe Klecker and John Dressel. Klecker, a redshirt freshman, was one of the NCAA’s breakout stars, as a season which included a 24th place finish at Pre Nationals, a top 20 showing at PAC12s, and a 3rd place performance at regionals, culminated in All American honors. Dressel was also an All American in his sophomore campaign, but his 33rd place in Terre Haute was somewhat disappointing given he placed better as a freshman. Look for Dressel to rebound in 2017, and form one of the best 1-2 punches in the national with Klecker. Following Klecker and Dressel is another pair of classmates in Zach Perrin and Ryan Forsyth. The duo had a poor showing at Nationals, finishing 125th and 74th respectively, but their top 10 showings at PAC12 indicate they’re far better than that. If Forsyth and Perrin find some of that Wetmore magic, Colorado could find themselves with two more studs (see Connor Winter, Morgan Pearson, Jake Huryz, etc). Colorado will also feature Eduardo Herrera and Phillip Rocha, who will be freshmen after their redshirt seasons this year. Both were high profile recruits for the Buffalo, and each could breakout just as Klecker did this year. Add in 8:43 steeple chaser Adam Peterman and all of a sudden Colorado has the potential to once again upend the field at Nationals. 

​Two other teams that have national championship level talent at the front end but lack depth are Arkansas and Syracuse. Arkansas touts arguably the best top 3 in the country, with 2016 top 20 runners in Jack Bruce and Alex George both returning, and the uber-talented Andrew Ronoh coming back for his second XC season as a Razorback. George was consistently great all year in 2016, while Bruce for the second straight year was inconsistent during the regular season but finished in the top 25 at Nationals. If Ronoh lives up to his billing, Arkansas could feature 3 in the first 25. The remaining scorers for Arkansas, however, are a bit of a liability. Cam Griffiths has impressive track times and was a solid 48th in Terre Haute this year, but his inconsistency is a bit of a concern. The final likely scorer is Austen Dalquist, whose 196th showing at Nationals doesn’t inspire much confidence. The good news for Dalquist and the Razorbacks is he did run well at Pre Nationals and SECs (29th and 9th place), and his absence from Regionals could indicate his 2016 Nationals race may have been influenced by injury. Arkansas has an explosive top 3, but probably lack the talent 1-5 to win. Syracuse also features a 3 loaded with talent, led by 2017 individual favorite Justyn Knight. The senior from Canada was arguably the best runner in the NCAA across the entire cross country season, even if he did finish runner up to Patrick Tiernan in Terre Haute. Collin Bennie also enters his senior year with an impressive resume which includes two top 20 performances at Nationals. If Bennie regains his 2015 form, the Orange will boast the best 1-2 punch in the NCAA. Philo Germano may not be in the same tier as Knight or Bennie, but he does plenty of talent; Germano was an All American in 2015, and his 2016 regular season was outstanding. Syracuse’s probable 4th scorer is one of the most mercurial runners in the entire NCAA, as Iliass Aouani (or vowel-guy, as I nicknamed in the blog’s group chat) had a debut season in Syracuse that featured extreme highs and lows: The Italian transfer was impressive at Panorama Farms and ACCs, but he was 86th at Wisconsin (and fell over 50 places in the final 2k) and 128th at Nationals. Syracuse’s final scorer will likely be a runner with limited championship experience: Pennsylvania alums Griff Molino, Kevin James, and incoming freshman Noah Affolder are all contenders, while New York native Aidan Tooker will also be in the mix. Syracuse’s front loaded team lacks the talent and consistency to compete for the top spot at Nationals in 2017. 

​2016’s cross country season was a lot of fun as a fan. Debate over which team would hoist the championship trophy was heated. Personally, I spent many a night lying in bed biting my nails trying to make sense of the team battle. 2017 should be no different.  

The Roundhouse Episode XV

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly: NBC’s Coverage of Olympic Distance Events

By Alex Fox

​

If you’re currently reading this piece, it is safe to assume 1) you’re from the United States and 2) you followed distance running, and watched or tracked the Olympics (I just know our audience here at Etrain). Based on these two premises, you’re probably pretty happy with how things turned out in Rio. Why wouldn’t you be? The US Men’s and Women’s distance runners consistently turned in outstanding results and proved that we are in fact one of the best countries in the world for distance runners; in fact, after the results in Rio, one could make a pretty compelling argument for the US Men's distance team being the best at the Games. Despite the excitement within the running community for the team’s performance, that feeling is not shared with the general public; once again, coverage of distance events was mediocre at best. This is nothing new, so why am I once again picking a fight? Well, plain and simple, this was our chance to put distance running on the country’s radar and make the athletes who represented us so well household names. And NBC unequivocally blew it. 

​

Over the past three Olympics, athletes like Michael Phelps, Missy Franklin, Ryan Lochte, Katie Ledecky, Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, and Aly Raisman have all become household names among nearly all Americans. While all these athletes are incredible and exciting to watch, their rise in popularity didn’t come about as result of swimming and gymnastics having a large fan base; rather, their sports garnered significant coverage at the Olympics in 2008, 2012, and 2016. NBC spent a significant amount of airtime not just covering their actual competitions, but also giving the athlete’s backstory and giving in depth analysis to their events. NBC, through their Olympic Games coverage, has the power to shape a sport’s or athlete’s popularity. With how well our distance runners ran and some of the compelling backgrounds of the events or runners involved, NBC could’ve done the same thing for distance running as they did for the aforementioned sports. There are several examples I’d like to rant on, but there are three prime examples of where I think NBC failed the most spectacularly: the men’s 1500, 5k, and 800.  

​

I’ll start with the most obvious example of NBC’s colossal failure to make any sort of fuss about a distance event: the men’s 1500. Before I go into the big miss, let’s start with the semi-finals, where Robby Andrews was disqualified. This storyline created quite the buzz amongst the running community, as the decision was close and controversial. Instead of examining and explaining the rationale of why or why not Andrews should be disqualified, Bob Costas reported the DQ and moved on. This was an American athlete’s chance to compete in an Olympic final, and Andrews might as well have been trying to set the pacer test record for his high school based on NBC’s coverage. Why not call Alan Webb and have him explain his and Andrew’s argument on air so a normal viewer can understand the sport they’re watching? Beyond this, NBC’s coverage of the final was a disgrace. There was no race preview whatsoever, and barely a peep was made on Matt Centrowitz winning gold. They mentioned the fact that this was America’s first gold in the men’s 1500 since 1908, and then moved back to their never ending obsession with “Lochtegate.” This isn’t to say that what happened with Lochte wasn’t newsworthy, but here are some facts about 1908 to give you some perspective on Centro’s accomplishment:

• Theodore Roosevelt was President at the time

• New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, and Hawaii were not yet states

• The Chicago Cubs were World Series Champions 

• Women did not have the right to vote

So yeah, Centro’s victory was pretty important. Not only that, he beat a field that included former gold medalists Asbel Kiprop and Tauofik Makhloufi. I’ve written before that Centro is the perfect poster boy for US Distance running. He’s confident, he’s got swagger, and now he’s an Olympic Champion. NBC could’ve put him in the ranks of Simone Biles or Katie Ledecky, but if you stop someone on the street today, I can almost certainly guarantee they’ll know those other two names and not Centrowitz. 

​

Less than an hour after blowing their 1500m coverage, NBC did it again in the men’s 5k final. There’s a lot they messed up here, so let’s start with the guy at the top: Mo Farah. After recovering from a fall to win the 10k, Farah was toeing the line trying to become the first runner to ever complete the 5k/10k double gold for a second time. Given this monumental accomplishment and Farah’s career dominance, a victory gave Farah a pretty compelling argument for best male distance runner ever (which we discussed on the Roundhouse, self-pat on the back). NBC did not even come close to this discussion or even compare Farah’s career to Kenenisa Bekele’s. Meanwhile, the number of hours spent droning on about Usian Bolt’s dominance seemed infinite. I get it, he’s the best sprinter ever and maybe the most dominant athlete in any sport, but this isn’t news. Everyone knows this from 2008 and 2012, when he was at the pinnacle of his dominance. Why not share the love and show some appreciation for just how great Mo Farah is? We know how hugely popular Farah is in the UK, so why not give him some of the love Bolt gets here in the US? The discrepancy in coverage despite the parallels in dominance and historical significance is disheartening and upsetting as a distance running fan. 

​

Mo Farah was not the only runner in the 5k to fall victim to NBC’s ignorance in covering distance running; Paul Chelimo, the shocking silver medalist, received maybe the worst treatment of any Olympian I’ve ever seen. Here’s some things NBC should’ve covered when Chelimo won an Olympic Silver Medal: Chelimo wasn’t expected to make the US Olympic team, Chelimo wasn’t supposed to make the finals of the 5k but ran a PR to win his qualifying heat, Chelimo was the least known runner among the 3 Americans in the final but ran a 13 second personal best to finish second overall and first among US runners, or the fact that Chelimo was representing the US Army and is in fact a soldier. Instead of highlighting any of these attributes about Chelimo, NBC embarrassed him on live TV. Chelimo was unaware of his initial disqualification, and was informed of it by an NBC field reporter…while they were streaming the interview. Chelimo went from ecstatic to devastated, as any underdog who just won an Olympic Silver Medal would. Chelimo was unable to form full sentences, and the interviewer offered no sympathy. If this wasn’t bad enough, NBC decided not to wait for more of an explanation, and mistakenly showed Chelimo and viewers at home some mid race jostling as the reason for the DQ when Chelimo and two other athletes had in fact been disqualified for stepping on the line of the track. When the DQ was overruled and Chelimo was rightly granted his silver medal, NBC failed to even apologize for their oblivious and unprofessional treatment of Chelimo. This was no way to cover an incredible performance, and an absolutely disgraceful way to treat a man representing the US so well. 

​ 

Last but not least of NBC’s debacles was the men’s 800 final. To their credit, NBC did quite a bit of buildup for this race, however, their coverage, both pre and post-race was centered on David Rudisha. I know that Rudisha won gold in Rio and is the World Record holder for the distance, but he was nowhere near the form he was in leading up to London; NBC’s coverage would lead the casual observer to believe another World Record was on the docket for Rudisha, when in fact he ran more than a second slower this time around. That’s not to take anything away from his gold in Rio, but he was the favorite and NBC’s analysis of the 800 was solely on Rudisha. What was surprising about the 800 final was Clayton Murphy. Over the course of the Olympic Games, NBC did quite a bit of storytelling, a method of having viewers get invested into an athlete’s outcome. For some reason, Clayton Murphy’s remarkable ascension was left untold. Murphy came from a town of just 2,000 in the middle of Ohio, and entered college at the University of Akron without many taking notice. Over his first two years at Akron, Murphy went from an unspectacular 1:54 half miler to All American and shock world team qualifier. He was still not an Olympic medal contender in the eyes of most…and by most, I mean everyone. Over the next calendar year, Murphy continued to improve tremendously, winning NCAA titles in the 800 and 1500, winning the US title, and making the Olympic final. Still, in the stacked 800 final, he was not a favorite to medal. But he ran 1:42.93 and snagged the bronze. Here’s some perspective: over a little more than 12 months, Murphy went from 3rd best in the NCAA to third best in the world and third fastest American of all time. Oh yeah, did I mentioned that this kid just turned 21 in February??? NBC devoted their post-race discussion to Rudisha, meanwhile Clayton Murphy put himself on course to be in the discussion of best middle distance runner in American history. For an American network, that sorta seems noteworthy.

​

While these are the three biggest misses in my eyes, NBC failed at nearly every event I watched: Emma Coburn won the first medal for a woman steeple chaser in US History. Evan Jager won silver for the first medal since 1984 and ran under the old Olympic Record in brutal heat. Jenny Simpson and Shannon Rowbury finished 3-4, closing hard on two of the greats in women’s middle distance running history. Molly Huddle set an American record in arguably the greatest distance race of all time, the woman’s 10k, where 4 of the 5 fastest times ever were ran. Finally, Bob Costas and his NBC buddies did discuss Genzebe Dibaba and her connection to coach Jama Aden, who was arrested for possession of performance enhancing substances. However, NBC failed to even mention that TauofikMakhloufi was formerly coached by the same man; Makhloufi raced 6 times in Rio, won two silvers, and is the gold medalist from London. If that wasn’t ample incentive to discuss Makhloufi’s connection to Aden, how about the fact that should a positive test come up from 2012, Leo Manzano, an American, would be awarded the gold, and the bronze would go to Centro. Once again, seems like it’s important. 

​

So, how can NBC correct this obvious error in their distance running coverage for the future? There’s one obvious answer to me. Recruit a former distance runner to announce the races. They took this approach with sprinting and the multi-events, as Sonya Richards Ross and Trey Hardee were welcome additions to the NBC booth. Why wasn’t there a distance runner for the distance events? How about Nick Symmonds? Symmonds has the charm to be in the booth, and he sure knows the athletes and storylines, and I’d bet a significant amount that he'd be thrilled to announce the Olympic Games. I’m a college senior and I don’t study TV Production or Communication; I find it hard to believe that no one at NBC had a similar or the exact same idea. We all know middle and long distance running has the potential to garner a wider viewership. We all follow it because of how exciting it can be! If this sport is ever going to grow into its potential, the coverage in the United States is going to have to drastically improve. If not, the general public will continue to miss out on something we all love.  

 

TheRoundHouse: Another Episode

TheRoundHouse is back! Let's talk track

The Fox and the Profound: Episode One

Fox and etrain break down what went down at the U.S. Olympic Trials in their new solo show.

TheRoundHouse XIII: Who is Going to Rio?

Boris Berian is the new Nick Symmonds in More Ways than One

By Alex Fox

​Over the past several years Nick Symmonds has been able to dominate headlines in the world of US track and field; he’s won US Championships in dramatic fashion, medaled at the World Championships, and has championed the causes he believes in through social media, legal battles, and using his body as a platform for speech. Most recently, Symmonds has advocated for athletes to rep the gear of their sponsor, bowing out of the US team last summer due to USATF requiring Nike apparel to be worn at all times during the team’s trip abroad. As Symmonds ages however, his relevancy in the sport has declined; his performance last summer shocked many, and he is not a favorite to make this year’s Olympic squad. It is not out of the realm of possibility that the third fastest half miler in American history retires from the sport within the next few years, especially if he fails to qualify for Rio next week. Should Symmonds retire, he will more than likely take a less active role in advocacy for athletes, if he has any role at all. Yet as Symmonds’ period as an athlete and activist winds down, a new presence has emerged: Boris Berian. 

​We all know the story of Boris Berian: the former fast food employee who went from sleeping on a couch to 1:43 runner seemingly overnight. Berian’s career somewhat mirrors Symmonds, as both were classic underdog stories; Symmonds was an undersized DIII runner who dominated at OTC despite coaches overlooking him during his early life. Berian dropped out of DII Adams State before finding his groove with Big Bear Track Club. Berian’s rise to prominence is unparalleled in how quickly he went from raw talent to legitimate superstar, as he reached new heights yet again this winter with a World Indoor Championship. As runners like Symmonds and Duane Solomon reach the twilight of their career, Berian, just 23 years old, is leading the next charge of American half milers, a group that includes the incredible talents of Donovan Brazier and Clayton Murphy. The next major stage for Berian to prove himself will be the Olympic Trials. Should he make the team as he is expected to, Berian’s combination of strength and guts paired with blazing speed could make him a serious contender in Rio. If Berian is able to perform to his enormous potential in Rio, I think he could solidify himself as the next great 800 runner repping USA across his chest (and maybe break the national record chasing Rudisha). In this sense, he will be replacing Symmonds on the track as the premier 800 runner in the country. 

​Nick Symmonds was more than a runner, and if he leaves the sport, his absence will be felt off the track too. Once again, enter Boris Berian. In case you missed it, Berian has been battling former sponsor Nike over his right to be represented by New Balance. Berian signed a New Balance contract which Nike had the opportunity to match. The Oregon-based sponsor did match the contract, except with several reduction clauses. Berian opted to sign with New Balance, which resulted in Nike bringing Berian to court. Berian was up to the fight, risking his eligibility at the Olympic Trials to fight for his rights. Berian ultimately defeated the giant, which will hopefully set a precedent for other track athletes to standup for themselves in contract negotiations with potential sponsors. Berian didn’t just remind me of Symmonds because he was willing to fight, but he was also outspoken. Berian broke the norm and published the contracts on Letsrun.com, engaging the entire running community with his private battle. Symmonds also uses tactics that involves fans, giving us insight to otherwise undisclosed details about the sport off the track. Berian showed a lot of gusto in standing up to Nike, especially in an Olympic year; Symmonds has displayed similar moral fortitude, as he sacrificed an opportunity to run at the World Championships (possibly for the last time) to do what he felt was best for him and the sport. Should Berian capture the title of America’s best half miler, he has shown both the strength and willingness to use that platform for advocacy, speaking out for himself and his fellow athletes, a role that is currently occupied by Nick Symmonds. If and when Symmonds falls out of the public’s eye, it could very well be the former McDonalds employee, Boris Berian, who champions the causes of US track and field athletes. 

​Why is Boris Berian replacing Nick Symmonds so important to me, and why should it matter to you? This is something you may have asked yourself if you have read to this point. Well, the future of track and field depends on advocates like Symmonds and Berian to secure the rights of athletes so they will enter and remain in the sport. Boris Berian stood up to the sponsorship giant Nike and won. He proved that an athlete does not bend to the will of the sponsor. If I’m an athlete, I feel encouraged by Berian’s outcome and maybe standup for myself if I ever find myself in a similar situation. Nick Symmonds was outspoken about other issues, and brought them to the forefront of the sport. Without him or other vocal advocates, these problems would remain unsolved, and athletes would continue in their careers without a chance of remedy. Young athletes like Donovan Brazier or local legend John Lewis need to know they’ll have fair treatment in their professional careers as track athletes, or else they will look elsewhere to make a living. If track and field is ever going to be taken seriously as a sport in this country, we need not only the most talented athletes, but athletes who are happy and treated fairly. That’s why we as fans needed Nick Symmonds, should applaud his efforts, and should encourage the young and talented Boris Berian to continue to grow as a runner and a spokesperson for his peers.

 

TheRoundHouse XII: NCAA Recap

Post #1,000 in our blogs history! Hope you enjoy it!

2016 NCAA Outdoor Predictions: Alex Fox

By: Alex Fox

Before I get into my predictions, let me apologize for my absence from coverage over the past couple of weeks, as I have been travelling and did not have time for my usual efforts. Unfortunately, I’m once again pressed for time, and my explanations will be brief. Lucky for you readers, you get to avoid my long-winded and poorly-humored write-up which we’ve all become so accustomed to. With this in mind, let’s dive in!

800

1. Brandon McBride (Miss. State)
2. Shaq Walker (BYU)
3. Hector Hernandez (Texas A&M)
4. Eliud Rutto (Mid. Tenn. State)
5. Donovan Brazier (Texas A&M)
6. Jesse Garn (Binghamton)
7. Isaiah Harris (Penn State)
8. Christian Sanders (La Salle)

            I think McBride makes this a fast one, and based on his near NCAA record this season, I don’t think anyone keeps up with him over the final 200. The fast pace will favor guys like Rutto, Walker, and Hernandez following McBride. This will also hopefully serve as a nice measuring stick on the national stage for young guns like Brazier and Harris, who missed the final indoors.

1500

1. Izaic Yorks (Washington)
2. Henry Wynne (UVA)
3. Brannon Kidder (Penn State)
4. Craig Engels (Mississippi)
5. Clayton Murphy (Akron)
6. Blake Haney (Oregon)
7. Jordy Williamsz (Villanova)
8. James Gowans (Cornell)

            Much like the 800, I believe Yorks pushes the pace of the final in the 1500 which plays greatly to his advantage. Yorks has got great strength and speed, and cannot let it come down to a final straight away with guys like Wynne, Kidder, Murphy, and Williamsz in this field. My inclusion of Gowans is from the heart, and maybe not from the brain. Go Big Red!

3000 Steeple

1. Mason Ferlic (Michigan)
2. Caleb Hoover (NAU)
3. Edwin Kibichy (Louisville)
4. Zak Seddon (Florida State)
5. Aaron Nelson (Washington)
6. MJ Erb (Mississippi)
7. Bernard Keter (Texas Tech)
8. Bailey Roth (Arizona)

            Barring a fall, this is Ferlic’s race. His sub 8:30 is dominant. The only guy I’ve seen in this field with a fighting chance is Hoover, who has an excellent close, but I don’t think it’s a close enough race for him to pull the victory. I give Kibichy the edge over Seddon, who hasn’t looked great this year when I’ve watched him. I hope this race is when Bailey Roth starts to fulfill the promise he showed in high school.

5000

1. Edward Cheserek (Oregon)
2. Sean McGorty (Stanford)
3. Thomas Curtin (Virginia Tech)
4. Thomas Awad (Penn)
5. Justyn Knight (Syracuse)
6. Patrick Tiernan (Villanova)
7. Grant Fisher (Stanford)
8. William Kincaid (Portland)

            Another stacked field, another Ches victory. I think this could play out like the indoor 3k, with the main man from Oregon pulling away from the field mid race, making it a fight for silver. I like McGorty’s and Awad’s kick, but Curtin is in better 5k shape than Awad at this point for me. Fisher proved his chops at PJ, and will just continue getting better.

10000

1. Futsum Zienasellassie (NAU)
2. Edward Cheserek (Oregon)
3. Luis Vargas (NC State)
4. Pierce Murphy (Colorado)
5. Jacob Thomson (Kentucky)
6. Colin Bennie (Syracuse)
7. Reid Buchanan (Portland)
8. Erik Peterson (Butler)

            Futsum is just in better 10k shape. He ran sub 28 to send a message: no one is keeping up with me at nationals. Him and Ches pull away from the field with a little over a mile to go, and Futsum ends the race with 1k left. Ches holds on for second. Vargas has been one of the most underrated runners this year between indoor and outdoor, and I remember watching Thompson run well somewhere this year. The rest of the picks are sorta gut reactions with my fingers crossed.

You’re going down this year Garrett.