15 Aussies to run in the NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championship.

This weekend NCAA followers will draw their attention to a small town in Indiana called Terre Haute. The event is well known for being one of the most competitive and unpredictable races of the year.

The focus of this event is as much about placing highly to assist your team score valuable points as it is on the individual performance to place on the podium. Last year saw Australian athletes Morgan McDonald (1^st) and Jessica Hull (3^rd) up on the podium.

Our individual podium potential is less obvious this year, but with 15 athletes making the trip to Terre Haute to compete alongside their teammates, there is no doubt that the Aussies will be valuable players in their teams overall point score.

In the men’s 10km journey, which starts at 11:15am (US, EST) (3:15am AEDT Sunday 24th) - Oliver Hoare who is returning to the NCAA XC Championships as a team leader for the University of Wisconsin will be hoping to position himself prominently in the lead pack. The former NSW runner has previously won the NCAA 1500m title on the track, but will be out to prove his versatility on the weekend, and lead the way for Wisconsin’s newest Australian recruit, Jackson Sharp.

The pointy end of the race should feature the aggressive frontrunning of Ed Goddard, who has only recently begun running for Iona. The unique style of Goddard is bold and assertive as seen in his results at the World University Games Half Marathon earlier this year, before showing his prowess in Cross Country placing third at the Australian Cross Country Championships in August. Lachlan Cook (Virginia) and Jordan Hewitt (Michigan) will look to advance their collegiate performances by pushing their teams towards top 10 finishes.

Villanova young guns Josh Philips and Haftu Strintzos took 3^rd and 4^th in their regional meet and will look to develop their experience and help their team crack a top 15 placing, with the hope of achieving greater glory in coming years.

In the women’s 6km race, which starts at 10:15am (US, EST) (2:15am AEDT Sunday 24th) it looks like there will be a strong group of Aussies in the lead pack. Melany Smart who has only recently made the transition to the University of Washington came away with the number one rank on their team with 3^rd the West Region. While this will be a big step up for Smart, the experience at this level will certainly develop her as a contender for individual honours in the future. Jess Pascoe from the University of Florida placed 2^nd at the South Region just ahead of Maudie Skyring 4^th from Florida State, which adds more firepower for the Australian’s in the lead pack. Whilst the Aussie prominence in the lead pack will give those at home something to cheer about, the focus on the day will be about representing their university.

Lauren Ryan will join Skyring on the startline with the aim of a top 10 finish for their team, a ranking of 9^th on a recent poll shows that they are improving at the right time. The team from Boise State sees three Australian women make up the team of six, so it is fair to say the trio of Maxine Paholek, Lara Hamilton and Clare O’Brien will be putting pressure on the lead pack to drag their team up in the final standings. Lucinda Crouch will be working with some well credentialed women in her team from the University of Wisconsin, who last year hosted this event. It’ll be a different crowd supporting her on Saturday.

Regardless of the University you went to, or the colours you like best, these talented young Aussies will certainly give us something to cheer for this weekend, and allows us all to get excited for what the future may hold for Australian distance running.

Women's 6km starts at 10:15am (US, EST) (2:15am AEDT Sunday 24th)

Men's 10km start at 11:15am (US, EST) (3:15am AEDT Sunday 24th).