2017 FloXC CountdownSep 5, 2017 by Lincoln Shryack
2017 FloXC Countdown: #10 Saginaw Valley State Men
2017 FloXC Countdown: #10 Saginaw Valley State Men
2017 FloXC Countdown: #10 Saginaw Valley State
Follow our 2017 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top ten cross country teams and individuals in the NCAA this season which will be LIVE on FloTrack. The No. 10 men's spot goes to Saginaw Valley State, and here's why:
SR Tom Goforth (8:12 3K; 14:18 5K; 30th at '16 NCAA XC)
JR Nate Frasier (76th at '16 NCAA XC)
SR Clyde Anderson (8:35 3K; 134th at '16 NCAA XC)
JR Parker Eisengruber (8:26 3K; 14:36 5K; 147th at '16 NCAA XC)
FR Ryan Talbott (9:10 3200)
We begin our men's countdown with Saginaw Valley State, a team that finished in this spot last November and return their top two scorers. The Cardinals will expect big things this fall from Tom Goforth and Nate Frasier, as the former was 30th at NCAAs and collected big PRs this spring while the latter was the team's top scorer at the Midwest regional. Despite losing three of their top five, SVSU will be formidable as long as Goforth and Frasier perform up to their capabilities.
Another reason to like the Cardinals is the improvement of their new three and four guys. Clyde Anderson took big strides forward on the track after finishing 134th at NCAAs while Parker Eisengruber was particularly strong on the oval, lowering his 3k best by 10 seconds and running a 14:36 5k in his event debut. That's a guy who is going to do a lot better than 147th at nationals this year.
The fifth man is a slight question mark, with SVSU needing to successfully bring along athletes without any 10k experience. The Cardinals do have a 9:10 3200m performer in freshman Ryan Talbott who could contribute, but the high school to college jump typically makes the first cross country season tough. Sophomores Ryan Silvestri and Rob Roest should also have a say in things, although they were just 66th and 68th, respectively, at last season's conference meet.
Saginaw Valley State doesn't have the depth they did a year ago when they finished 10th in the country, but the Cardinals will have a strong top duo and four athletes total with significant experience. With indications that improvements are coming for all of them, this team has a good chance to land in the top-10 once more.
FULL MEN'S RANKINGS HERE
Probable Top Five:
SR Tom Goforth (8:12 3K; 14:18 5K; 30th at '16 NCAA XC)
JR Nate Frasier (76th at '16 NCAA XC)
SR Clyde Anderson (8:35 3K; 134th at '16 NCAA XC)
JR Parker Eisengruber (8:26 3K; 14:36 5K; 147th at '16 NCAA XC)
FR Ryan Talbott (9:10 3200)
Analysis:
We begin our men's countdown with Saginaw Valley State, a team that finished in this spot last November and return their top two scorers. The Cardinals will expect big things this fall from Tom Goforth and Nate Frasier, as the former was 30th at NCAAs and collected big PRs this spring while the latter was the team's top scorer at the Midwest regional. Despite losing three of their top five, SVSU will be formidable as long as Goforth and Frasier perform up to their capabilities.
Another reason to like the Cardinals is the improvement of their new three and four guys. Clyde Anderson took big strides forward on the track after finishing 134th at NCAAs while Parker Eisengruber was particularly strong on the oval, lowering his 3k best by 10 seconds and running a 14:36 5k in his event debut. That's a guy who is going to do a lot better than 147th at nationals this year.
The fifth man is a slight question mark, with SVSU needing to successfully bring along athletes without any 10k experience. The Cardinals do have a 9:10 3200m performer in freshman Ryan Talbott who could contribute, but the high school to college jump typically makes the first cross country season tough. Sophomores Ryan Silvestri and Rob Roest should also have a say in things, although they were just 66th and 68th, respectively, at last season's conference meet.
Saginaw Valley State doesn't have the depth they did a year ago when they finished 10th in the country, but the Cardinals will have a strong top duo and four athletes total with significant experience. With indications that improvements are coming for all of them, this team has a good chance to land in the top-10 once more.
FULL MEN'S RANKINGS HERE