Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown: #16 UCLA Men

Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown: #16 UCLA Men

Sep 1, 2015 by Gordon Mack
Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown: #16 UCLA Men




Probable Top Five:

SR Lane Werley (8:00 3K; 13:53 5K; 29:45 10K; 92nd NCAA XC ’14)
SR Sergey Sushchickh (8:17 3K; 14:19 5K; 29:53 10K; 54th NCAA XC ’14)
JR Ferdinand Edman (3:45 1500; 8:10 3K; 9:04 3K Steeple; 13:56 5K; 208th NCAA XC ’14)
SR Nick Hartle (1:47 800; 3:45 1500; 113th NCAA XC ’14)
JR Austin O’Neil (3:42 1500; 8:18 3K; 14:18 5K; 238th NCAA XC ’14)
 

Top Five Contenders:

JR Jonah Diaz (125th NCAA XC ’14)
SO Myles Smith (30:29 10K; 158th NCAA XC ’14)
 

Analysis:

The UCLA men coming off their 18th place finish last year look to improve in 2015 on the backs of veteran leadership. The Bruins return their top 5 from last year’s squad primarily consisting of 5th year seniors. Leading the charge will be senior duo Lane Werley and Sergey Sushchickh. Werley has impressive PBs on the track 8:00/13:53/29:45 but was only 92nd last year. However, if you flashback to Werley’s sophomore year Werley finished 25th in 2012. If Werley can get back his sophomore magic, his low stick in combination with Sushchickh’s flirting with All-American status will be a formidable 1-2 punch.
 
Outside of UCLA’s top two runners are a group of five athletes capable of filling in the 3-5 positions. Typically teams with depth in the 3-5 range succeed during Championship season due to having the luxury of not needing all five athletes to have a perfect day. Coaches love when their 6/7 men can easily fill in as the 4/5 men.
 
Junior Ferdinand Edman has strong track PBs including a sub 14:00 5K. Senior Nick Hartle is a strong middle distance runner, so he will be clutch in a sit and kick 10K. Juniors Austin O’Neil and Jonah Diaz are up and coming talents. And lastly the youngest man of the group is sophomore Myles Smith who recently ran 30:29 in the 10K.