2015 NCAA Men's 5K Preview

Jan 3, 2015 by Taylor Dutch

Edward Cheserek, Oregon (PB 13:18.71)

Last Year: 1st Indoors, 2nd Outdoors

King Ches returns to the track after winning his second consecutive NCAA cross country title in Terre Haute. As a freshman, the Oregon Duck had a near perfect 2014 track season with NCAA titles in the indoor 3k, 5k and outdoor 10k. Without the intense rivalry between Arizona’s Lawi Lalang, Cheserek should easily repeat as the indoor and outdoor champion in the event.

Eric Jenkins, Oregon (PB 13:18.57)

Last Year: N/A Indoors, 4th Outdoors

Jenkins follows his training partner as one of the favorites to take one of the top spots in Fayetteville after finishing runner-up to Ches at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. He redshirted the 2014 indoor track season, but earned his first All American honor as a Duck with a fourth-place finish in the 5k at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Joe Rosa, Stanford (PB 13:29.84*)

Last Year: 5th Indoors, 7th Outdoors

Rosa is returning from an impressive cross country season where he contributed to the Stanford Cardinal’s runner-up team finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. In the 2014 track season, Rosa had a continuous upward trend, starting with a huge personal best in the 5k at the MPSF Indoor Championships (13:44), earning his first All American honor at the NCAA Indoor Championships, and continuing through outdoor with another personal best at Payton Jordan (13:33) and his second All American honor and personal best (13:31) at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Parker Stinson, Oregon (PB 13:28.46*)
Last Year: 3rd Indoors, 14th Outdoors
Stinson used up his cross country eligibility in the fall, but returns to complete his career as an Oregon Duck after clocking a third-place finish at last year’s NCAA Indoor Championships and a 14th-place finish in the 5k at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. With personal bests of 13:31 for 5k and 28:34 for 10k, the three-time All American returns with impressive credentials to do some damage in his final indoor season of eligibility.

Brian Shrader, Northern Arizona (PB 13:40.94)

Last Year: 11th Indoors, N/A Outdoors
Shrader did not compete in the fall for the NAU Lumberjacks’ cross country team, but took advantage of the training block with a U.S. 12k title in Nov. and a huge personal best in the 5k (13:40) at the Hoosier Open. His 34:11 performance at the U.S. 12k Championships secured a new American record and took down a pack of professionals, including Mexican Olympian Diego Estrada, defending champ Aaron Braun, and Christo Landry.

Patrick Tiernan, Villanova (PB 13:31.25)

Last Year: 7th Indoors, 6th Outdoors

In his freshman season, Tiernan shocked the track world with two NCAA All American finishes, multiple Big East titles and a school record in the indoor 5k (13:37). His 13:31 performance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships was a huge personal best for the Wildcat and puts him No. 3 on the all-time list at Villanova. He is returning from another All American finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships with an 18th-place finish and should carry over some major momentum into the indoor track season.

Erik Olson, Stanford (PB 13:36.91)
Last Year: 12th Indoors, N/A Outdoors
The redshirt senior earned his first All American honor last year at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a seventh-place finish in the 3k, and returns to complete his career as a Stanford Cardinal. In the outdoor season, he posted a huge personal best in the 5k at the Payton Jordan Invitational with a 13:36 performance. He barely missed qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, but will return for some redemption in 2015.

Sean McGorty, Stanford (PB 13:37.64)

Last Year: N/A Indoors, N/A Outdoors

He redshirted both indoor and outdoor seasons in 2014, but returns after finishing 20th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships to help his Cardinal squad to a runner-up team finish. McGorty recorded numerous personal bests in 2014 while running unattached, including improved marks in the mile (4:00), 1500m (3:44) and the 5k (13:37).