NCAA XC Countdown #18: Florida State Men and San Francisco Women

Aug 5, 2013 by Isaac Wood

For the next month, The Wood Report will be counting down projected team finishes in this year's NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, IN. Make sure to stay up-to-date with The Wood Report throughout the season. You should follow him on Twitter, too.

View the full NCAA Top 31 Countdown HERE.

#18

Florida State Men

Head Coach: Bob Braman (14th Season)

2012 National Finish- 5th

Key Returners from 2012

Jakub Zivec (Sr., 21st NCAA XC '12, 3:44 1500m, 8:04 Open 3k, 14:10 5k)
Zak Seddon (So., 3:45 1500m, 8:34 3k Steeple)

Impact Recruits/Transfers

Bryant Blahnik (Jr., 14:25 5k, 30:09 10k, 11th SEC XC '12)
Glen Yarham (Jr., 14:07 5k, 15th World Junior XC '11)
Kevin Johnson (Sr., 14:26 5k, 30:10 10k)
Grant Nykaza (Fr., 9:07 3200m, 2 X FL Finalist)

Season Preview

After a very impressive finish to 2012 where the Seminoles won the South Regional and went on to place 5th as a team at NCAAs (#2 highest finish ever), only two of those that scored for them at Nats return. Somehow, Coach Braman has managed to acquire several key transfers that will keep the 'Noles relevant on the national level in 2013.

The key to any success that FSU will have lies in Zivec. He is one of the top seniors returning in the country from last season and is their leader. An injury-filled track season kept him out of competition in the spring. If Zivec can get back to his fitness from 2012 and stay healthy, he is one of the best low-sticks in the country.

Another critical piece to the FSU NCAAs puzzle is the other returner Zak Seddon. Following his somewhat sub-par finish to the cross country season, Seddon broke out in track where he became one of the nation's finest steeplers in the country. His PR of 8:34 is very good for a freshman and that should translate into much better cross country performance in 2013. In fact, with him and Zivec leading the way up front, that is a very good 1-2 and both Zivec and Seddon are likely to be All-American.

The rest of any hope to make the National Championships this season lies in a slew of very good transfers and recruits coming in for this season. Glen Yarham of Australia is the most likely option to step in right away and make an immediate impact. He has had very good experience competing as a junior, placing well in the World Junior XC Meet in 2011. He has solid track PRs to go with his ability in cross which will benefit him as the season goes on.

Bryant Blahnik transferred from Missouri and is also a good cross guy who placed 11th at SECs in 2012. The ACC is brutally tough this season and for him to repeat what he did in 2012 at the SECs in 2013 in his new conference, would be amazing. Regardless, he is a very good pack runner for the 'Noles and will be counted on to keep the 1-5 spread close.

Kevin Johnson is a very untapped and talented graduate student who is coming from Cornell. An injury-laden career has kept him out of really spreading his wings in the NCAA, but if healthy he could be the darkhorse of this team. Grant Nykaza is a very experienced incoming freshman having made two Foot Locker Finals. Any help from him is definitely icing on the cake, but that kind of experience at the highest level in high school, will certainly benefit him on the next level.

Coach Braman always gets his guys ready to roll when it matters. The surprise fifth place finish in 2012 and the shocking second place finish at NCAAs in 2010 are indicators of his ability to peak his athletes at the right time. If anyone can pull a group like this together and make them great, he can do it. A core group of solid athletes with a very good 1-2, if healthy, can lead these 'Noles back to Terre Haute in 2013.

#18

San Francisco

Head Coach: Helen Lehman-Winters (10th Season)

2012 National Finish- N/A

Key Returners from 2012

Eva Krchova (Sr., 9:17 Open 3k, 9:54 3k Steeple)
Jana Soethout (Sr., 16:11 5k, 34:07 10k)
Sophie Curl (Sr., 4:18 1500m, 9:27 Open 3k)
Laura Suur (Sr., 9:14 Open 3k, 16:23 5k)
Elena Burkard (So., 20th West Region, 2nd WCC, 17:03 5k)

Impact Recruits/Transfers

Bridget Dahlberg (Sr., 9:20 Open 3k, 16:05 5k)

Season Preview

This completely senior-laden squad is quite possibly the best team in San Francisco's history and is ready for big things in 2013. Coming out of the West Regional is nigh to impossible every year and has played a big role in why USF has not made more NCAAs. This is the year that USF could shock the country and many teams in their region.

With all but one girl in their top seven being a senior, the Dons are stacked with talent, experience and motivated athletes.

Four foreign girls lead this team and add high level experience having run at the top levels in Europe for the majority of their lives (in the off-season). This will prove helpful in the big races that matter because these women have the experience and the race savvy so crucial to running well in big races.

The most intriguing aspect of this team lies in the battle for the no. 1 spot. Any one of these six girls listed above are capable of being no. 1 at any race. This will make USF that much better as each runner will be battling to get for the top position at every meet.

Eva Krchova is the team's best steepler (9th at the World University Games this summer) and her size (6'1") will come to help her in the big races as she will command space up front. Jana Soethout was a NCAA qualifier in the 10k and will be motivated to improve from a less than stellar outing there (DNF). Her ability to go long is going to be crucial towards the end of the season and especially after the quick turn around to NCAAs after Regionals.

Laura Suur is another tall European athlete (5'10") that did not race this past spring outdoors and should be fit and healthy heading into the upcoming season. Sophie Curl has the best speed of the group and redshirted cross in 2012, but finished 87th at NCAAs in 2011. Elena Burkard was a pleasant surprise for the Dons in 2012 where she finished second on the team at West Coast Conference and was 20th overall at the West Regional. As the lone non-senior in this top seven, she might have the greatest upside on the team. Maor Tiyouri is another very solid pack runner that proves consistency and stability.

The wildcard for USF is Boston College grad student transfer Bridget Dahlberg. Dahlberg is another very quality and experienced veteran of cross country and will provide "instant offense" to the Dons up front. Bridget has the best 5k track PR on the team and will immediately impact the top five up front for Coach Winters' squad.

The only thing keeping USF back from the NCAA meet is the West Regional. For the past few years this has been arguably the toughest region in the land and will prove difficult for the Dons once again. if they can finish top five and earn the credential points early on, they should see themselves at the Big Dance where they will make a splash with the excellent group of girls returning that are motivated for success at the national level.