by Larry Eder
This is a short commentary on the 2022 NCAA DI XC Broadcast and the embed of the actual broadcast, courtesy of USTFCCCA’s Sam Seames.
This was the finest broadcast of a cross-country race that I have ever seen! The broadcast kept our attention from the first drone shot to the final shot of the Northern Arizona team.
USTFCCCA took over the NCAA Division I Cross Country Broadcast production in 2020, doing two broadcasts in 2021. The first, March 15, 2021, was for the 2020 season, and the November 20, 2021, was for the actual 2021 season.
The quality of the production, with incredible drone shots, and exciting live coverage of the races, with to-the-minute updates of the team battles and individual athletes, is provided by wonderful graphics!
The TV color commentary was done by John Anderson and Carrie Tollefson. John and Carrie have done this for several years and are at their very best. Kyle Merber, who was doing his first actual TV broadcast! Carrie and John are fantastic: they know when to talk and know when to let the broadcast and digital graphics do its’ magic. Kyle Merber, a 3:52.2 miler who is incredibly articulate and relaxed, complemented the dynamic duo through both races, previews, and post-race commentaries.
This show has a fantastic audience, which grows each year. I hope to see a smart brand or two that wants to court and converse with a new generation of consumers.
My only criticism was to acknowledge a tweet by Jesse Williams, principal of Sound Running, who noted that ESPN used a photo of track & field athletes to promote the NCAA Cross Country broadcast. Surely, with the money that ESPN makes from athletics broadcast, they could do their homework on promotional photos.
