Kirwa wins makes him fall cross favorite

Man of the meet: Daniel Kirwa of Harding didn't look good on paper, but resoundingly swept the longer distances at the NCAA II National Championships in San Angelo, Tex., last week.

He was the defending 10,000 champ, but his best times this season put him fifth-fastest in that race and 13th-fastest in the 5,000. Sixth at cross nats last year, the Harding athlete is my early favorite to take the individual race in Evansville this fall.

Performance of the meet: Adams States' Reuben Chebon-Mwei decisively dispatched last year's champ Daniel Maina (Abilene Christian) in the steeplechase. Chebon-Mwei's time of 8:47, which he got by powering off the final water barrier, was the best quality time posted in San Angelo.

Finish of the meet: Queens (N.C.) soph Michael Crouch skipped the 5,000 -- which he won indoors -- and edged two-time 1,500 champ Aaron Braun (Adams State) by .10 in a slow race, as these affairs typically are in a championship.

Runners-up of the meet: Including the 800, Adams State took three second-place finishes in San Angelo, easily scoring more points out of the distance races than any other school. It's hard to look past this squad as the early team favorite in Evansville.

Meet scorecard: I nailed only one winner (Chebon-Mwei) and picked seven of 12 top-three finishers (this doesn't include the 800). I completely whiffed on the 5000 (my winner finished ninth), but picked the top three (albeit not in the right order) in the 1,500 and got a Daily Double in the steeple.

Your meet thoughts: Send 'em my way.