2010 FloAwards, Release #1

As the season continues and drama begins to build, we've got our eye on the NCAA!  The 2010 FloAwards are here and taking a look at the top teams, individuals and freshman in the country.  We will be following the results around the country each week in an effort to award those who are tops in each category come November 22nd.  Stay tuned for our next release after PreNats on October 21st.

MEN Individual	WOMEN Individual
1 Sam Chelanga	1 Kendra Schaaf
Liberty I don't think we need to say much about this guy.  Returning champ, NCAA 10k record holder at 27:08. Will anyone challenge if he hammers from the gun?  Only Rupp has been able to do it the past couple years.	UNC The biggest transfer news of 2010, moving from Washington to UNC, she did not run this past track season, so as of now she is a bit of a mystery. But we do know her bread and butter is XC.  She is the top returner from the 2009 Championships, finishing second to Bizzarri and was also solid as a frosh in 12th.
2  David McNeill	2  Sheila Reid
NAU Behind Chelanga, most experienced when running for NCAA Championships.  NcNeill is the returning runner-up and beat the entire Stanford team, including Chris Derrick, last weekend.	Villanova Reid was undefeated through last year's regular season and regional.  She ran a gutsy race in Terre Haute helping her team to the National Title. In indoor, she set a big time PB of 9:01.13 3k and became an All-American twice over. She was fourth in the 1500 meters in the outdoor NCAA Championships.
3  Chris Derrick	3 Jordan Hasay
Stanford The only guy from 2009 to beat Chelanga in an XC race (PreNats).  He was injured through the winter but is healthy and ready to roll.  Ran with his team to lead them to a victory at the Stanford Invite last weekend.	Oregon Perhaps, the most highly anticipated freshman from last year had a very strong season. She was the number three freshman overall at last year's champs (18th overall). She was the top frosh at the NCAA outdoor championships finishing 3rd in the 1500. Went on to finish 4th at World Jrs in the event along with a top-10 finish at 3k. The country places high expectations on this young star...we think she'll deliver!
Sleeper Stephen Sambu	Sleeper Emily Infeld
Arizona Relatively unknown at the NCAA D1 level, Sambu comes from Rend Lake CC to Arizona this year have never lost a collegiate race.  He is undefeated in 2010 just having run the #2 time ever at Griak.  Definitely a "sleeper"!	Georgetown Infeld is one of the most well rounded mid-distance runners in the NCAA running 4:13 and 9:09 in her sophomore campaign.  Her 8th place finish last year was the second highest finish in Georgetown history.
Others Receiving Votes: German Fernandez (OK State), Luke Puskedra (Oregon), Dorian Ulrey (Arkansas), Girma Mecheso (Ok State), Jordan Chipangama (NAU), Ben Cheruiyot (Auburn)	Others Receiving Votes: Amanda Marino (Villanova), Betsy Saina (Iowa State), Alex Kosinski (Oregon), Catherine White (Virginia), Risper Kimayo (UTEP)
MEN TEAM	WOMEN TEAM
1 Stanford	1 Villanova
Cardinal The most dominant team through regionals in 2009, Stanford returns all but one and hopes to cap of the fall on top of the NCAA podium.  They have strong leadership up front with Derrick at the helm.  They beat a solid Arkansas team last weekend at home.	Wildcats The returning champs return their top 4 who, btw, all finished in the top 24 at last year's Championship. Can they really loose?  Look at Washington after 2008 domination.....oh yeah, anything can happen.  Will face their there first test this weekend at Notre Dame.
2  Oklahoma State	2 Florida State
Cowboys The returning champs loose leaders Vail, Kosgei, and Chirchir but on paper have the best trio up front with Mecheso, Fernandez, and Lowe.  If 4 and 5 are there, can you say repeat?  Won easily last weekend at home, first challege should be Chile Pepper.	Seminoles  Karen Harvey has found her FSU ladies on that podium and moving up the past few years.  They loose one of the best ever in Susan Kuijken, but return 2 thru 5 who all finished in the top 46 last year! Will be up in South Bend this weekend.
3  Northern Arizona	3  Washington
Lumberjacks If healthy at the NCAA Championships in 2009, this team could have been the spoiler with two in the top 5!  They've got a solid #5 in Ashkettle (59th last two years).  If good health can stay with Estrada and Osman, this could be the team to beat. Finished behind Stanford and Arkansas out west without their full squad.	Huskies No Schaaf and no Follett, but yes to Babcock (8th in '08) and Lawrence (25th in '08).  Add experience with Campell and Saylor (41st in '08) then throw in potential FloFrosh Megan Goethals (#2 all-time HS 2 mile)....these gals could be VERY good.  Next race: Notre Dame.
Sleeper Wisconsin	Sleeper  Oregon
Badgers The Badgers return 4 of their top 5 from last years 7th place team.  They have a lot of room for improvement with last year's FloFrosh, Mo Ahmed, and Landon Peacock who finished 21st two years ago.  Add potential FloFrosh Alex Hatz, the team may also have to rely on shoes to be filled from sophomores Reed Connor and Rob Finnerty.	Ducks The Ducks were runner-up in '07 and '08, while only finishing 9th last year with a strong returning squad.  They loose two of the top five, including Nicole Blood, but add Zoe Buckman (39th as a soph) and an experienced Ann Kesselring.  With Hasay up front with Kosinski (13th as a frosh, 8th as soph), don't "sleep" on these ladies.
Others Receiving Votes: Oregon, Alabama, Colorado, Arkansas, Iona	Others Receiving Votes: Texas Tech, Florida, Arizona, Stanford
Under Armour FLOFrosh (M)*	Under Armour FLOFrosh (W)*
1 Parker Stinson (174)	1 Emily Sisson (173)
Oregon Surprised many with his 29:32 at the World Jrs this past summer.  Stinson may not have shined like others on the high school national stage, but with his experience at 10k he gets the nod.  Also second highest in fan votes.	Wisconsin Sisson was 3rd at the Footlocker Champs in '09 and had an incredible summer on the track setting PBs in both the 3k (9:16.80) and 5k (15:48.91) at the World Jr Championships. She has the fastest 5k PB of anyone women in the NCAA and coaches are already saying she's top in the Big 10.  How high can she go on the national stage?
2 Brian Schrader (93)	2 Laura Hoer (115)
Oregon Schrader, the second Duck in the running for FloFrosh, is popular among the fans and a true talent with a top 5 finish at Footlocker last year.  Has run 8:53, but even more impressive, won the triple at the AZ state meet with 1:52, 4:13 and 9:10.	NC State Hoer let her presence be felt at Roy Griak becoming the 3rd fastest individual ever on the course for 6k and beating many returning All-Americans.  A many time over North Carolina State Champion, she only finished 45th at Nike Cross Country Nationals in 2009 and just broke 5:00 for 1600. She has started her career undefeated after two races, how long can she ride the wave?
3 Mo Abushouk (300)	3 Jessica Tonn (195)
UNC Abushouk, a big of an unknown, was the NB Nationals runner-up at 5k in 14:41.  Also has PB in 3k of 8:26.  The fans seem to love this guy (#1 fan votes by 126 votes) and word on the street is he's one of the top frosh in the young camp over in Chapel Hill.	Stanford A rare four time footlocker finalist this Stanford freshman sat out the Stanford invitational. She gets the number three spot based on her #1 polling in fan votes.
Sleeper Alex Hatz (83)	Sleeper Megan Goethals (55)
Wisconsin Alex Hatz is a proven threat at the mile distance but how can he contribute at Wisco over the 8k/10k distances.  The fans seem to have faith as Hatz was #4 in the polls. Wisco hosts their own invite this weekend in Madison.	Washington Sleeper is probably not the right title for this frosh as she is the #2 all-time HS 2 miler and the 2009 Foot Locker XC Champ. She placed 2nd for the Huskies at Sundodger and 4th overall with a time of 20:54.  She have her first real test this weekend at Notre Dame.  Look for her to move up on this list.
Others Receiving Votes: Matt McElroy (Ok State - 68), Jakub Zivec (FSU - 57), Erik Olson (Stanford - 56), Kirubel Erassa (Ok State - 46), Jake Hurysz (UNC - 40)	Others Receiving Votes: Joanna Stevens (Georgetown - 104), Sarah Andrews (Oregon - 86), Emily Lipari (Villanova - 86), Katie Flood (Washington - 21), Sierra Vega (UCLA - 12)
* Fan Votes in ()	* Fan Votes in ()