Oregon 6A State Meet Preview

In my opinion it will be quite a toss up at state between those top 3. Only one of them is a senior and none have won xc titles (although Bloomer took the 3000m last season). The Sandelie invite seemed way fast, but the conditions were perfect. All in all i would take Bloomer, but who knows?

Looking at results from Sandelie you should rethink your rankings. From a review of the results it looks like 90% of the field ran PBs and SBs, so it is pretty much a given the course was short. I'd say Muhumed is a top 5 candidate, but Bloomer beat him at Pre-Nats and Mestler from Sheldon was only 2 seconds behind in that race, so there is an arguable 1-2. Then 10 seconds behind you have Khaira from Sunset. A lot can change in the six weeks from Pre-Nats to State, but don't let this past Friday's results sway you. Bloomer looked great at Sunfair and went from 11th to 4th in the final mile.

Not sure how Zack did in Clovis, but he was the third CC runner at Nike Pre-Nats. I wouldn't put him in the top 5 at State quite yet. I'd wait to see his results from Districts.

Team-wise you have to wonder if Central is vulnerable this year. Pre-Nats had South Eugene and Sunset not too far behind them. It could be interesting.

Ground Beef Chalupa wrote:

Team-wise you have to wonder if Central is vulnerable this year. Pre-Nats had South Eugene and Sunset not too far behind them. It could be interesting.

Central will get a boost from their sophomore who is moving up. He won the JV meet at Clovis and will continue to improve with better competition and more experience.

Sandelie is a short course, along with it being flatter than a pancake. Plus Roman ollars 15:18 was on a 3 mile course put into athletic.net as a 5k time. I have my bet on bloomer.

Is anyone else disappointed with Central Catholic this year? I thought with all the hype they were receiving and the amount of returners they had from last year they would be more dominant than what they have been.

Listen to Facts and Reason wrote:

Is anyone else disappointed with Central Catholic this year? I thought with all the hype they were receiving and the amount of returners they had from last year they would be more dominant than what they have been.

Totally disappointed, Central was overhyped, unless Gunnar Vik can repeat his state meet performance central will have had a worse team than last year.

Though they are not 6A, I think that valley catholic is insanely good for a school of only 400 students. From what I hear, they do not do over 60 miles a week.

SHort course wrote:

Sandelie is a short course, along with it being flatter than a pancake. Plus Roman ollars 15:18 was on a 3 mile course put into athletic.net as a 5k time. I have my bet on bloomer.

Has anyone actually measured Sandelie? It could very well be short, but when the weather is nice, course conditions are also about as perfect as you can get (relatively flat, firm, manicured golf course fairways, and good fields). I'm not ready to declare it as 100% short, but clearly whatever the distance is you have to view times there with a grain of salt compared to most other courses.

I'm guessing Central would have liked to run a little better in some of their big races, but Central Catholic has a strong history of performing well when it counts at the state meet. I think it is possible they could be upset, but I would not bet on it. It looks like they have all the pieces, they just need them to come together on one day (obviously easier said then done). What I'd love to see is Summit in the 6A race, as right now they may be running the best of any Oregon boys team. It does look like the 6A boys team race is going to be more competitive than I would have guessed at the start of the year.

Hayward102,

The funny thing is Summit, and Bend HS, are 6A-sized, but they petitioned the OSAA to play down to keep the area league intact and to cut down travel expenses.

Honestly, seems like a poor decision on Summit and the OSAA's part.

Listen to Facts and Reason wrote:

Is anyone else disappointed with Central Catholic this year? I thought with all the hype they were receiving and the amount of returners they had from last year they would be more dominant than what they have been.

I know this team very well and I can't explain what I've been seeing, lately. They were crushing all summer and doing some big workouts early in the year. They may have had such high expectations that they just over did it.

With a little rest they can pull it back together at the right time but it kills your confidence to get trounced at the late season invitationals.

pilbooster wrote:

Hayward102,

The funny thing is Summit, and Bend HS, are 6A-sized, but they petitioned the OSAA to play down to keep the area league intact and to cut down travel expenses.

Honestly, seems like a poor decision on Summit and the OSAA's part.

Agreed. The OSAA should go back to 4 classes so they don't have to worry about things like that.

Also, +1 to everything hayward said.

Just would like everyone to note how 6 of my top 7 ended up in the top 7. I'll be here all week.

Just want to point out that Gunnar Vik DID return to form, taking ninth after a year of being injured. The Ram men are trained to run their best for the end of the season races.

watchoutxcrankings wrote:

pilbooster wrote:

Hayward102,

The funny thing is Summit, and Bend HS, are 6A-sized, but they petitioned the OSAA to play down to keep the area league intact and to cut down travel expenses.

Honestly, seems like a poor decision on Summit and the OSAA's part.

Agreed. The OSAA should go back to 4 classes so they don't have to worry about things like that.

Also, +1 to everything hayward said.

I still haven't heard a rational argument for Oregon's 6 classes. It makes for watered down competition across the board.

The course that Roman Ollar supposedly ran 15:18 on was a legit 5k. His time was entered incorrectly on athletic.net. He actually ran 15:58 that day. As for Sandelie, I'm fairly certain that it's also a legit 5k, but there are a lot of long straight stretches with a couple of long downhill sections. The footing and conditions were perfect that day as well.

I don't expect anyone to believe me but Sandelie is without a doubt a full 5k. It's just flat, with great footing. Add some weather to it and kids are going to run fast. As long as you didn't get out and bonk you were going to pr on this course.