By Craig Pearson
Tiny Liberty University could have its second individual NCAA cross country champion in the past three seasons as Kenyan Sam Chelanga tries to match Josh McDougal’s 2007 title.
Chelanga was runner-up last year to Oregon’s Galen Rupp, who ran a 10,000-meter course record time of 29:03.8, outkicking Chelanga to the finish.
As Thanksgiving approaches, Chelanga voiced his pleasure with the course conditions, which should provide fast racing for fans.
“The weather’s nice and we should be thankful for that,” Chelanga said.
Several young runners hope to challenge Chelanga, including No. 1 Stanford’s sophomore Chris Derrick.
Derrick said Sunday he’s focused on helping his team take home the Cardinal’s first men’s national title snice 2003. Since 1996, Stanford has more national titles than anyone on the men’s side. Oregon won the last two team championships.
“We’re in better shape than last year,” said Derrick, who was seventh overall as a freshman in 2008. “We’re definitely looking at more realistic chance of winning the title. It’s definitely more exciting to have that focus …”
Stanford coach Jason Dunn has witnessed his team have as consistent season as he could ask for this fall, including a strong Pre-Nationals performance in which Derrick outraced Chelanga.
“We’re going to go out and do what we’ve been doing all season long: go out and take care of business,” Dunn said.
Second-ranked Oklahoma State, which hasn’t faced Stanford head-to-head this season, may have a team that can beat the Cardinal.
“I think you’ve got an epic battle with these two [teams],” said coach Joe Walker of third-ranked Alabama. “We’ll try to follow.”
Sophomore phenom German Fernandez, the NCAA champion in the 1,500 meters as a freshman, was in place for an All-American finish last year in Terre Haute, but he dropped out with an injury late in the race.
“It was a pretty depressing day for not only me but the whole team,” said Fernandez, the 2009 Big 12 cross countrty champion. “We have more confidence.”
Fernandez said he’s learned under team leader Ryan Vail the past two seasons, and looks forward to taking on that role in the future. But a paramount performance by Fernandez today could definitely spark the Cowboys.
Vail was 18th in the NCAA meet a year ago, and the Cowboys also have two strong Kenyan runners, David Chirchir and John Kosgei, who are both seniors.
Coach Dave Smith also had the No. 2 team last season, but the Cowboys couldn’t make up ground later in the race after trying to conserve early in the 10K.
“For a team trying to contend, it was too far back. And that was my fault,” Smith said. “We’ll be a little more aggressive, but the general philosophy’s the same. We’ll try to stay patient, be poised. The intensity for that race, especially in the first 5K, can be really unsettling if you’re not ready for it, not aware.”
Indiana State senior Eric Schulz is representing the Sycamores this season.
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The NCAA Cross Country Championships will return in 2010 and perhaps beyond. Many coaches continue to voice their happiness with the improvements of the course and the support of the Terre Haute community.
“Terre Haute’s become synonymous with cross country,” Princeton women’s coach Peter Farrell said. “Just walking on that course, you go out there and you feel it’s about cross country.”
Farrell is from New York City.
“I think of cross country as urban parks, not midwestern cross country and the grass. I was not quite sure this was the place for the cross country championships, but having been here so many times, this is it. It’s terrific. This is the mecca of cross country.”
Washington women’s coach Greg Metcalf couldn’t agree more, he said.
“It’s great. Just like Omaha is for college baseball, I think Terre Haute, we should just be here forever. It’s right in the middle of the United States,” Metcalf said.
