An experienced nucleus of junior runners, strong sophomores and a talented group of freshmen hope to help the Nebraska men’s cross country team build off a strong 2013 finish as the Huskers head into the 2014 campaign.
In his third season at the helm of the Huskers, Coach David Harris is excited about the prospects for NU men following a ninth-place finish at the 2013 NCAA Midwest Regional Championships.
“That was the performance that we needed,” Harris said. “The confidence they had after their performance at the regional is key for the upcoming season. It was our best performance in four years, and I keep sounding the board to build and have confidence from that performance going into the 2014 season.”
The men’s team that Harris will put on the course will be Nebraska’s most talented and deep group in his tenure with the Huskers.
Seniors Connor Gibson, Sidney Madlock and Alney Tobias are expected to join four talented juniors in providing leadership for the Big Red.
The junior class is led by Jonah Heng, who was named Nebraska’s Most Improved Runner in 2013. Heng, who produced a pair of top six overall finishes while placing among NU’s top six in every competition last year, was joined by Jacob Olson, Matt Bloch and Matt Gilbert in Harris’ first recruiting class at Nebraska.
“The men’s team’s first recruiting class when I got here has come along, contributing as freshmen to now being juniors in our program,” Harris said. “Jacob Olson, Matt Bloch, Matt Gilbert and Jonah Heng are the type of guys that we want to lead our program and we have that this year.”
Olson, a native of Kearney, Neb., could be poised for strong third season in the program. Last season, Olson finished in the top five overall at three of Nebraska’s four regular-season meets. He was also NU’s No. 2 finisher at the Roy Griak Invitational and finished in the Huskers’ top five at both the Big Ten and NCAA Midwest Regional Championships.
“Jacob is a tremendous leader,” Harris said. “He has done a lot of things during the summer communicating with team, showing his true leadership qualities.”
Bloch and Gilbert both regularly finished among Nebraska’s top six runners last season, and will be looked to for improved performances as junior to help compensate for the loss of 2013 seniors Trevor Vidlak and Jarren Heng.
Another runner who could make a major jump in 2014 is sophomore Joe Harter. The two-time Nebraska High School Runner of the Year out of Millard West in Omaha was NU’s No. 1 finisher as a freshman at the 2013 Big Ten Championships. He added a No. 2 finish among the Huskers at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships. He added runner-up overall performances at the Augustana Twilight and the Tim Young Invitational last season.
“Joe is potentially our best runner going into the season. He has had a great summer and is ready to go. I am expecting really good things out of Joe this season,” Harris said. “The confidence is there, and I think he is more determined. Last year he figured out that collegiate cross country is a lot of work and he struggled sometimes, but he has responded really well. He knows he has to work hard in order to be a great runner in the Big Ten.”
In addition to Nebraska’s seven returning lettermen, a group of six true freshmen will be joined by a pair of redshirt freshmen and a junior college transfer in providing NU’s most depth under Harris.
The leader of Nebraska’s incoming freshman could be Wyatt McGuire. The native of North Platte, Neb., captured the 2013 Nebraska Class A State Cross Country Championship in a state record time of 15:26.6.