The Cobras are coming off of a decisive NAIA Region XII championship where VIC took eight of the top nine spots in winning the region title and earning their first national championships berth.
VIC is led by a trio of strong runners who all look to figure in the individual title race. Freshman David Cheromei has only been beaten by one NAIA runner the entire season, that being teammate and roommate Fernando Cabada. Cheromei, recognized as the pre-race favorite, broke the 8k course record at the region meet in a time of 24:09. VI's region meet was held on the same Louisville, KY course that held the national meet last year, and is again host this year.
Cabada, who is a senior, is aiming to be the first American since 1989 to win the overall title. He was runner-up to Cheromei at regionals with a 24:35, ranking him top 10 on the course. Cabada transferred in with coach Scott Simmons and has the benefit of a full year's training under his program, as is senior Corey Duquette. Duquette is a much improved two-time track All-American who has raced successfully against the best in the NAIA and will challenge to be in the top 10. His best 8k this season is 24:57.
Virginia Intermont's most important strength, however, may lie in its depth, as opposed to its top guns. VIC has a pack of runners looking to break into the top 30 and earn All-American honors. Freshman Ondrej Puskar, from Slovakia, has consistently run #4 for the Cobras with a season best 25:27and looks to be on at nationals. James Mousseau, 26:12, VI's fifth, has battled back problems for much of the season, but may be seeing light at the end of the tunnel. In the event Mousseau is not healthy, VIC has a host of runners ready to step up and fill the crucial fifth-man slot. Nick Glimsdahl, 26:02, and Mudasar Haidat, 26:28, have both finished as VI's 5th during the season. Intermont can also depend on a deep bench that includes All-Conference and All-Region runner Elkana Chepsiror, 26:07, and veteran Pat Marion, 26:48.
And if experience counts, Virginia Intermont has it. Duquette, Glimsdahl and Marion were all members of last year's national championship team while with Simmons at Minot State in North Dakota.
"The national meet is simply about the best team on one given day," says coach Simmons. "Of course, we have focused and trained to be as prepared as we can, but anything can happen on that day."
Simmons knows this to be true as he twice led his team to national titles while at Minot State. Simmons led the Beavers to the title last year after only entering the national meet with a season high ranking of 11th. Last year's pre-race favorite, Eastern Oregon, ended up falling to 10th.
"My teams have been very good at being their best when it counts and that's the only way to win regardless of how good you really are," said Simmons. "That's the beauty of this sport, that an underdog can take it all"
Ranked behind the top two teams, Virginia Intermont with 175 points and all seven first place votes, and Simon Fraser (B.C.) with 168 points, is Aquinas College (Mich.) in third with 161 points, Azusa Pacific (Calif.) in fourth with 154 points and Concordia (Neb.) in fifth with 147 points.
There is only one other current NAIA coach who has won a men's championship and that would be Malone College's Jack Hazen who led the Pioneers to the title in 1972. Malone had the top ranking earlier in the season, but has dropped to #18. Simon Fraser, under a different coach, took the men's championship in 1982.