Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown: #14 BYU Men
Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown: #14 BYU Men
Probable Top Five:
SR Jonathan Nelson (8:11 3K; 14:09 5K; 28:44 10K; 98th NCAA XC ’14)
SR Aaron Fletcher (8:48 3K Steeple; 102nd NCAA XC ’14)
SO Connor McMillan (13:59 5K; 29:13 10K; 129th NCAA XC ’14)
FR Dallin Farnsworth (8:12 3K; 13:53 5K; 29:25 10K)
JR Mitchell Briggs (8:17 3K; 8:56 3K Steeple)
Impact Freshmen Going On Mormon Mission:
Conner Mantz via Smithfield, UT (4:07 Mile; 8:53 2 Mile; 10th FL ’14; 1st USATF Jr. XC ’14)
Zac Jacklin via American Fork, UT (4:19 1600; 9:12 3200; 16th NXN '14)
Incoming Athletes Returning From Mormon Mission:
Erik Harris (4:10 Mile; 8:18 3K; 9:08 3K Steeple; 33rd Mountain Regional XC ’12)
Danny Carney (8:21 3K; 9:01 3K Steeple)
Marcus Dickson (1:49 800; 4:03 Mile)
Brad Nye (1:51 800; 4:04 Mile)
Jacob Heslington (4:12 1600; 8:59 3200; 28th NXN '12)
Brayden McClelland (4:14 1600; 9:09 3200; 8th NXN '12)
Analysis:
Coach Ed Eyestone and the BYU men are always in the mix for a top 10 finish at NCAAs. Unfortunately, last year did not go as planned as they finished a disappointing (by BYU’s standards) 16th place. 2015 looks to be a stronger year for the Cougars as they return a core of their 2014 squad and also add some new athletes back from Mormon Mission.
The Cougars will be led in 2015 by senior duo Jonathan Nelson and Aaron Fletcher. Both finished 98th and 102nd respectively, but their 2015 track season proved that this year should be the year they flirt with All-American status. Nelson has broken 29:00 in the 10K and Fletcher has broken 8:50 in the steeplechase. Sophomore Connor McMillan will be a strong #3 stick with his sub 14:00 5K, but more importantly freshman Dallin Farnsworth will make a big impact in his xc debut after running 13:53/29:25 this past year. Add in Mitchell Briggs who has broken 9:00 in the steeple and Erik Harris who will be returning from Mission and coach Eyestone will have the tools to put together a run for a top 10 finish.
BYU will also have an influx of new talent returning from Mormon Mission. Coach Ed Eyestone always does a great job with taking his athletes who have not trained hard for two years and transform them into impact athletes. Prime example being 800m stud Shaquille Walker. In Walker’s first season back from Mission he went on to run 1:45 in the 800, be an NCAA All-American and finish 6th at the USATF National Championships. BYU is hard to predict due to the Mormon Mission factor, but history speaks for itself, the BYU men will be contenders year in and year out.
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