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Patty Mo wrote:

Ok, so I was thinking that I wouldn't put up my predictions seeing as how letsrun/socon thread tears people down, but this year is so close that it is hard not to have a prediction. My first thought is that many of the teams have elected to run on very fast and/or short courses (app has not, besides a dismal showing at Paul Real Short). I'm not sure how much we actually know about head to head battles. The Facts: Chelimo will win. The weather will be ideal/cool which benifits app. The course is hard, flat and fast. With that said here are team predictions:

1)Davidson (Solid group of guys with a small spread. They have a top running in Hopkins, but they also have seven guys that can be infront of anyother teams 5. That said, they have historically found ways lose it at the conference meet.)

2)Appy (They did it last year with the same tactics they are using this year, bunch up. Put 7 in front of UNCG 5 and its pretty much over. Too bad the pack will be slighly behind Davidson's.)

3)UNCG (Probably the best 3 front runners the socon has ever seen. If they go 1-2-3 it wouldn't suprise me, infact if they aren't all in the top 5 I will be suprised. BUT, this is a 5 man sport and teams live and die by that man. Unfortunatly for UNCG this proves the case.)

4)Furman (My boys in purple will do the school proud but this is one hell of a socon meet. Having two freshmen in your top five is not ideal, they tend to be glorious or blow up. Only way Furman is moving up is if Klecker and Jay Miller have great races. Lightning!!)

5)C of C (I know that no one has noticed, but they are moving up in the socon. Having 5 solid guys but little beyond that hurts. All they need to do is pack up. Home course can make the magic happen.)

6)Western (With 5 C of C infront of their 5th plus two freshmen in top 5 makes them a solid 6th place team. Any other year they would be going for top 3.)

7)Chatt (loss of vasquez really really hurts. Big Bill, you need more depth!)

8)Elon (not really their year, better luck next year.)

9)Samford (Well, the girls team is good.)

10)Citadel (Thanks god for Wofford)

11)Wofford (Mighty Mighty Terriers making last look real good)

And the Girly race which I don't follow quite as closely:

1)Furman PALADINS!!!
2)APP
3)Elon
4)Davidson
5)C of C

And yes I am a traitor to many schools. I just love watching people run their guts out. Good luck to all and please prove my predictions wrong. GO PALADINS!

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Geno Mullinski wrote:

This "Patty Mo" is a world class a-hole. Davidson #1? I think they'd rather be studying in the library than win this damn race. UNCG won't win because last time they had a team this good they shat the bed over in Chattanooga. Is that a good prediction? Absolutely not. They're loaded up front. Can App win? They always have a good chance, but they've typically done it with strong front runners. Should be a good one. In summation, Davidson would rather study and it's a two team race between App and UNCG.

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Socon wrote:

Anybody know the status of any of these runners?

Demetrios Pagonis, Davidson: didn't run at Charlotte - but I doubt he misses socon.

Josey Weaver, WCU: 7th last year. Has raced twice this season, but both times were unattached. I'm thinking he might be red-shirting? Who knows...

Josh Vasquez, Chatt: Top 20 finisher at conference the last 3 years; but he has yet to race this season.

Lee Gilmer, Furman: ran 24:41 earlier in the season, but he failed to break 27 minutes at App. What's up with that?

Stuart Graham, Furman: has only raced once this season - 24:59 at Clemson. He would certainly help Furman's out a lot if he were available.

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