Head Coach:
Rob Connor (25th Year)

 

Last Year:

2nd West Coast

3rd West Regional

7th NCAA 

 

Probable Top Five:

SR Scott Fauble (8:09 3k; 14:00 5k; 28:43 10k; 13th NCAA XC '13)

SR William Kincaid (13:58 5k; 29:49 10k; 57th NCAA XC '12)

SR Ryan Poland (8:00 3k; 14:03 5k; 29:30 10k; 66th NCAA XC '13)

SR David Perry (8:08 3k; 13:58 5k; 28:42 10k; 102nd NCAA XC '13)

SO Danny Martinez (14:15 5k; 29:29 10k; 116th NCAA XC '13)

 

Impact Freshman/Recruits:

Reid Buchanon - Kansas (8:14 3k; 13:59 5k; 142nd NCAA XC '13)*

Nick Hauger - Shadle Park, WA (4:22 1600m; 9:07 3200m)

Logan Orndorf - Cedarcrest, WA (4:17 1600m; 9:10 3200m)

Noah Kemp - St. Augustine, FL (4:23 1600m; 9:17 3200m)

Fabian Tomas - Belen Jesuit, FL (4:22 1600m; 9:27 3200m)
Gabriel Haughey - Daniel, SC (9:26 3200m; 14:47 5k)

*Transfer from Kansas

 

Analysis:

A quarter of a century is a long time to coach at one place and still keep your fire. Rob Connor has got it down. Every year his Pilots are nationally ranked and this year may be his best team ever. Led by four Colorado high school stars, who are now all seniors, Coach Connor has some horses back.

Let’s start with Scott Fauble. Fauble was a spectacular 13th place last year at the NCAA Champs. He ran 28:43 for 10k on the track last spring and was one second slower than fellow returnee, David Perry, who should be even better than last year’s 102nd place.

Running better in Terre Haute than Perry were Ryan Poland (Oklahoma transfer who was 66th) and William Kincaid (57th). Kincaid ran 13:58 for 5k in the spring and Poland an 8:00 for 3k, and 29:30 for 10k. Solid efforts. Danny Martinez has an outstanding freshman year locking down the 116th spot at Nationals and ran a very nice 29:29 10k on the track. A transfer from Kansas, Reid Buchanon, was no slouch last year for the Jayhawks placing 142nd, and he will be wearing Pilot purple this year.

Connor has this solid six and another 6 incoming freshmen with good credentials to fill out his seven. That spot should be between a couple of Washington stars, Logan Omdorf and Nick Hauger, who ran 9:10 and 9:07 on the track for 3200 meters.

Good talent is starting to gravitate to Portland with their success at the conference, regional, and national level competitions, and Connor’s ability to make people better is becoming an established fact. The odd thing is that they are doing it without a single Oregon native in their scoring bunch. Look for the Pilots to soar again into the top ten led by the boys from the high altitude of Colorado.

#6 Florida State Women
#7 Indiana Men