2017 FloXC CountdownSep 9, 2017 by Lincoln Shryack
2017 FloXC Countdown: #6 CSU-Pueblo Men
2017 FloXC Countdown: #6 CSU-Pueblo Men
2017 FloXC Countdown: #6 CSU-Pueblo Men
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. 6 men's spot goes to CSU-Pueblo, and here's why:
JR Marcelo Laguera (8:26 3K; 14:33 5K; 22nd at ’16 NCAA XC)
SO Paul Roberts (8:18 3K; 14:31 5K; 47th at ’16 NCAA XC)
SO Michael Duran (3:53 1500; 125th at ’16 NCAA XC)
JR Devundrick Walker (1:50 800; 4:08 Mile; 141st at ’16 NCAA XC)
JR Alex Choury (163rd at ’16 NCAA XC)
CSU-Pueblo qualified for NCAAs as a team for the first time last fall, finishing a respectable ninth. But that placing must’ve felt bittersweet for the ThunderWolves, even in their first ever appearance at nationals, as junior All-American Derrick Williams had to drop out of the race with an injury. If he could have replicated his 14th place from NCAAs the year before, his team would have finished fifth. Even though Williams has left the team, a big portion of the squad that helped shoot the program to national prominence remains. CSU-Pueblo is no longer a punching bag for conference and in-state rivals Adams State, Colorado Mines, and Western State.
Junior Marcelo Laguera is a top-15 threat in 2017 as he has finished 25th and 22nd in his first two tries at NCAAs. He’ll need that type of finish to put CSU Pueblo within shouting distance of the podium. Each top four squad at NCAAs last fall had at least one man in the top 20, and each team ahead of them in this rankings has at least two returning All-Americans.
Sophomore Paul Roberts just missed All-American honors himself last fall, but should get there this year. Coupled with a great track season, Roberts won the USATF junior cross country title. Quite the resume for a #2 man on a DII team. His 8:18 3k and 14:31 5k as a freshman bode well for a big jump from his 47th place finish last fall.
The top five is rounded out with three men with championship experience. If Michael Duran and Devundrick Walker can both improve to step inside the top 100 at nationals, CSU-Pueblo becomes all the more dangerous. With a strong possibility to have two All-Americans, and three solid contributors behind them, the ThunderWolves’ ceiling is no doubt somewhere on the podium. Even with only a ninth place finish to show so far, CSU-Pueblo should have higher aspirations.
FULL MEN'S RANKINGS HERE
Probable Top Five:
JR Marcelo Laguera (8:26 3K; 14:33 5K; 22nd at ’16 NCAA XC)
SO Paul Roberts (8:18 3K; 14:31 5K; 47th at ’16 NCAA XC)
SO Michael Duran (3:53 1500; 125th at ’16 NCAA XC)
JR Devundrick Walker (1:50 800; 4:08 Mile; 141st at ’16 NCAA XC)
JR Alex Choury (163rd at ’16 NCAA XC)
Analysis:
CSU-Pueblo qualified for NCAAs as a team for the first time last fall, finishing a respectable ninth. But that placing must’ve felt bittersweet for the ThunderWolves, even in their first ever appearance at nationals, as junior All-American Derrick Williams had to drop out of the race with an injury. If he could have replicated his 14th place from NCAAs the year before, his team would have finished fifth. Even though Williams has left the team, a big portion of the squad that helped shoot the program to national prominence remains. CSU-Pueblo is no longer a punching bag for conference and in-state rivals Adams State, Colorado Mines, and Western State.
Junior Marcelo Laguera is a top-15 threat in 2017 as he has finished 25th and 22nd in his first two tries at NCAAs. He’ll need that type of finish to put CSU Pueblo within shouting distance of the podium. Each top four squad at NCAAs last fall had at least one man in the top 20, and each team ahead of them in this rankings has at least two returning All-Americans.
Sophomore Paul Roberts just missed All-American honors himself last fall, but should get there this year. Coupled with a great track season, Roberts won the USATF junior cross country title. Quite the resume for a #2 man on a DII team. His 8:18 3k and 14:31 5k as a freshman bode well for a big jump from his 47th place finish last fall.
The top five is rounded out with three men with championship experience. If Michael Duran and Devundrick Walker can both improve to step inside the top 100 at nationals, CSU-Pueblo becomes all the more dangerous. With a strong possibility to have two All-Americans, and three solid contributors behind them, the ThunderWolves’ ceiling is no doubt somewhere on the podium. Even with only a ninth place finish to show so far, CSU-Pueblo should have higher aspirations.
FULL MEN'S RANKINGS HERE