2015 Men's Cross Country

[1972Shocker]

Sounds like Coach Hunter has one of the strongest, if not the strongest men's XC teams he has had at WSU. The Shocker men have not won an MVC XC title since 1987. That is a really long drought (28 years). The Shocks are picked to finish 3rd this year after a 5th place finish last year. Sounds like their off-season work has been very good. Maybe that will be enough allow them to be a serious contender for an MVC title this year.

http://www.kansas.com/sports/college/wichita-state/article33212040.html

:poster_shocks:

[WuDrWu]

Had a chance to talk to Bolt recently and he really thinks it's a toss up. He likes his team as much as anyone's. The men's race, unlike the women's, is wide open.

[RoyalShock]

110-130 miles a week is serious running when you're training for 8k races.

[shocktheheart]

110-130 miles a week is serious running when you're training for 8k races.

Sad that just in 2010 they were only running around 30 miles a week. My son's high school team runs about double that a week, but maybe that is why they have won state 5 out of the last 6 years.

[1972Shocker]

Brady Johnson broke a 23 year old record (to the day) held by Shocker All-American Mornay Annandale with a 23:54.16 at the University of Arkansas Chile Pepper Festival 8K XC race leading the Shockers to a 3rd place finish in the 15-team field. Coach Kirk Hunter said that Brady really doesn't have his race legs yet so this was a pretty impressive run.

http://www.goshockers.com/news/2015/10/3/XC_1003153136.aspx

Congratulations Brady!

[1972Shocker]

The first Valley titles are up for grabs with today's MVC Cross Country Championships in Evansville, IN. Sounds like the races will be very competitive for both the men and the women but especially in the men's race. The Shocker men are picked 3rd and the Shocker women are picked 2nd.

http://www.goshockers.com/news/2015/10/30/XC_1030152054.aspx

The men's 8k race starts at 10:30a followed by the women's 5K race at 11:30p. Looks like the weather will be cloudy with temps in the 50's and a chance of occasional light rain and with winds 8-9 mph. As long as their is not too much rain and the footing remains solid that sounds like pretty good conditions for XC.

[1972Shocker]

The Shocker men finished 5th last year and the Shocker Women finished 4th so the Shocks have a good opportunity this year to get the All Sports competition off to a strong start if they can live up to their pre-race expectations of a 3rd and 2nd place finish respectively.

Bradley is favored to win both races but that will probably be the high point of Bradley's All-Sport efforts this year.

[1972Shocker]

2015 MVC XC Championships Live Stats

[WuDrWu]

BU and WSU look to be in the best shape after a mile, but a blanket covers most of the field other than UE, DU and UNI.

[1972Shocker]

As expected Indiana State's John Mascari finishes ahead of the field finishing in 23:39.06

Brady Johnson and Ugis Jocis are the 1st Shocks in at 11th and 12th.

[1972Shocker]

Kyle Larkin in at 16th for the Shocks.

Paul Raymond in at 19th and Dray Carson at 20th giving the Shocks 5 finishers in the Top 20.

[1972Shocker]

Gage Garcia in at 24th and Nathan Wickoren in at 25th for the Shocks. 7 runners in the Top 25. Seems like a good, solid team effort today.

The Shockers final runner, Reno Law is in at 34th.

Awaiting for final results.

[WuDrWu]

I think we're 2nd, behind BU and just ahead of Illinois State but no promises.

[1972Shocker]

Extremely tight race with Bradley winning as expected with 65 points. Illinois State came in 2nd at 76 points just barely edging out the Shockers who finished at 78 points. Indiana State followed with 86 points.

The Shocks may have had the best balance being the only team in the Top 5 to put 5 runners in the Top 20. However, the other 4 Top 5 teams each had 2 runners in the Top 10 (Bradley had 3) and the Shocks had none and unfortunately, their balance could not overcome that disadvantage.

[WuDrWu]

Brady Johnson (11th) for WSU finished .25 of a second behind Klye Mattis (10th) for ISU. That's the difference between 2nd and 3rd.