SR Jim Rosa (13:50 5K; 28:57 10K; 5th NCAA XC ’13)

JR Sean McGorty (3:59 Mile; 13:48 5K; 20th NCAA XC ’14)

SR Joe Rosa (13:31 5K; 29:16 10K; 33rd NCAA XC ’14)

FR Grant Fisher (3:59 Mile; 8:43 2 Mile; 1st FL ’13 & ’14)

SO Sam Wharton (14:04 5K; 29:23 10K; 39th NCAA ’14)

Grant Fisher via Grand Blanc, MI (3:59 Mile; 8:43 2-Mile; 1st FL ’13, ’14)

Collin Leibold via Georgetown University (4:03 Mile; 8:00 3K; 13:54 5K)

Alex Ostberg via Darien, CT (8:43 3200; 14:16 5K; 9th FL ’14)*

 

*Plans To Redshirt

Entering 2014, the Stanford men had developed the unfortunate reputation of being NCAA XC choke artists, as they had significantly underperformed at nationals the last several years despite their high ranking during the regular season. When top returner Jim Rosa (5th at NCAA XC ’13) went down with an injury early last season, it seemed that the Cardinal’s streak of disappointing fall finishes would continue.

 

Wow, were we (and a lot of other people) wrong. Riding All-American performances from their entire top five, coach Chris Miltenburg’s squad finished 2nd in Terre Haute, the school’s highest placing at NCAAs since their 2003 national title. With the NCAA monkey finally off their back, Stanford is now ready to contend for an NCAA title in 2015.

 

Gone is #1 man Maksim Korolev, who was 4th in 2014, but Stanford replaces his production with the return of Jim Rosa, who is finally healthy after missing a majority of the 2014-2015 XC/track seasons. Miltenberg will almost certainly tread lightly with his fragile star, so we may not see Rosa until Wisco, but if he’s fit by November then he’s top five material. 

 

Either junior Sean McGorty or Jim’s twin brother Joe could be the Cardinal’s #2 man this fall, as each are proven on the national stage. Joe was 3rd at PAC-12s last season and 33rd at NCAAs despite having an off day, but just like his brother, missed the entire track season. The Rosas have dealt with injuries throughout their careers, but since they both competed at Pan-Ams in July, the twins should be healthy.

 

McGorty is ready to have a huge fall. He was 20th at NCAAs as only a sophomore, and followed that up with a successful track season, including an 8th place finish in the outdoor 5,000m. Don’t be surprised if McGorty ends up leading the Cardinal in 2015.

 

Figuring out Stanford’s 4-5 guys is where things get interesting. Milt has returning All-American Sam Wharton, who was a pleasant surprise with his 39th place finish in 2014 as just a freshman. Wharton’s performance at NCAAs was particularly impressive considering he was only 40th at the West regional, so the jury is still out on whether or not his NCAA race was just a career day, or if Wharton will continue to perform at that level this season. Regardless, Wharton is an important piece for this team.

 

The biggest X-Factor for the Cardinal to take down the two-defending champions (you know who they are) just might be the nation’s top recruit, Grant Fisher. The freshman enters this fall with more hype and expectation surrounding his first year in the NCAA than perhaps any athlete since Lukas Verzbicas or Edward Cheserek, and for good reason, as he won Foot Locker in 2013 and 2014. Not only does the Grand Blanc (MI) product have XC strength, but he also has sub-4:00 mile speed, two factors that figure to make him a superstar in the NCAA. Miltenberg is going to bring Fisher along slowly this season, but make no mistake, the freshman will play a tremendous part in Stanford’s chances to win their first NCAA title in 12 seasons. 

 

This Cardinal team has the potential to be very, very good. With the Rosas back at full strength, Sean McGorty firing on all cylinders, and Fisher having a big 1st season in Palo Alto, this group could have the pieces to win it all. Yes, the team standing in their way is likely to be one of the best ever, but last year showed us that this group is very tough, something we wouldn’t have said about Stanford in the past.