The Personalities: One tough Alaskan, Duluthian and other sorts

As you can tell from this blog, I believe a team championship is the more important part of the cross country championships. But, it is an individual effort, of course, so those outstanding few at the head of the race can’t be ignored.
While I suspect the men’s race will come down to a few individuals (like Amos Sang of Abilene Christian, Daniel Kirwa of Harding, Glarius Rop of American International, Michael Crouch of Queens and Neeley Spence of Shippensburg...well, just Neeley), I have to admit I’ll be watching the progress of these individuals.
Men
Meshack Koyiacki (Columbus State): There is something compelling about a guy who goes runs a 3:48 (metric mile) six months ago to repeatedly beating perhaps the best talent in D2 today (Crouch). And he does it at a school certainly not known for running. I’ll be interested to see if Coach J.D. Evilsizer’s preparation and Meschack’s obvious mental tenacity produce a national championship. That would be something.
Jake Parisien (Alaska-Anchorage): Sure, Anchorage has a lot of Rift Valley (or thereabouts) talent, but I’d argue the heart and soul of that team is homegrown Alaskan Parisien. 17th in 2008, he held himself out last year. Two weeks ago at the West Regionals, he fell twice, but rallied to finish seventh. This kid is tough. Coach Micheal Friess knows he has a good one. "Our Alaskans definitely feel like they are better runners and better performers because of our international athletes,” he told the Anchorage Daily News.
Jeff Veiga (Mass.-Lowell): Who is this guy? I mean really? The junior has a pedestrian 5K PR of 14:58 -- and then crushes a guy who nearly won the title in Evansville last year (Rop)? He’s a true local to boot, graduating from Lowell High. I love this guy's story. If Mass.-Lowell is going to make a run at some hardware, Veiga will again have to amaze.
Adam Volkert (Pittsburg State): He’s from Lee’s Summit (home of Mark Curp, I believe, a 1980s badass runner) had a quiet career for the Gorillas. Until now. He was one minute behind South Central regional winner Sang, but the promise he has showed this season bodes well for an All-American finish. He’s a sophomore, so he has time to develop. To me, he embodies the best of collegiate running -- far exceeding your high school performances and perhaps your own expectations.
Women
Megan Maceratini (Grand Valley State): After leading the Lakers all season last fall, she finished a distant 156th in Evansville (sick? injured? bad luck?). And her team barely lost to Adams State. That experience might crush a lesser athlete, but Maceratini appears to have ignored it and has again led the team in 2010. The senior has run outstanding times on the track and has achieved All America status twice. Again, as Maceratini goes, so goes Grand Valley State.
Morgan Place (Minnesota-Duluth): As a former resident of Duluth, I’m familiar with the Bulldogs cross country and track program. Disappointingly, her team didn’t qualify for the big show this fall. Place has been a stalwart on that team and has a garish total of 7 All America performances. Her worst finish at cross nationals is seventh. She has won 19 of 26 collegiate races. Can she beat Spence?
Alexis Skarda (Mesa State): It might be easy to be overlooked if you don’t run for one of the powerhouse D2 programs that comprise the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. But the Boulder native has made herself know, becoming the school’s first-ever All-American.
I admit I’ll be closely watching the progress of 14 certain runners from Adams State, too...