With the size of its program, Iona’s streak of placing in the top 10 at the NCAA meet nine consecutive times is very impressive. This Monday they get the chance to carry that streak into the double digits. Being led by senior Lenny Korir, who’s touted as one of the favorites for the individual title, the Gaels head into “the big dance” as the recent runners-up at the Northeast Regional.

The seven runners making the trek to Indiana will most likely include senior Matt Bayler, freshman Jake Byrne, senior Mitch Goose, freshman Andrew Kowalsky, Korir, senior Alexander Soderberg, and senior Jason Weller.

While they took second to Syracuse at regionals, it should be noted that the Gaels sat Byrne, Kowalsky and Weller in preparation for NCAAs. Having these fresh legs back and coming off of conditions optimal to allow recovery, Iona will have the opportunity to go 100%, said head coach Ricardo Santos over the phone earlier this week.

“We still have the potential to make the podium,” Santos said. “The regional course was a good, soft course with wind, which should let our guys recover well.”

The team battle won’t be the only attraction in the men’s race, as Iona’s lead man, Korir, finds himself on a collision course with Arizona’s freshman Lawi Lalang. The two individuals haven’t squared off yet this fall as both Lalang and Korir are undefeated.

As Lalang has won his races in dominating fashion, setting course records at the Wisconsin Invitational and the Roy Griak Invitational, Korir was victorious at the Pre-National meet before taking his respective conference and regional titles. It’s obvious that as a freshman, Lalang doesn’t have the NCAA championship experience that Korir has, which could come into play on Monday, as Korir has had a knack for taking out favorites.

At the most recent NCAA outdoor championships, Korir defeated reigning cross country champion and 10,000-meter record holder Sam Chelanga after shocking the NCAA world by winning the indoor 5k over Chelanga. Last year, Korir placed fourth overall last fall in cross country. This year, Santos won’t reveal any sort of strategy but plans to have the race go out in a fashion that gives Korir a chance at the best result.

“They’re all going to go out and do what they’re used to,” Santos said. “We’re going to make it a race that plays to his (Korir’s) strengths.”