I was just wondering which states are the best and which are the worst overall.
I was just wondering which states are the best and which are the worst overall.
try searching your thread title and look at the numerous threads on this that already have lots of responses.
In all seriousness, right now and for the next couple years Ohio has to be up there. The talent in this state right now is pretty crazy. Also, I like that they run 5000 meters, not 3 miles or 2.98 miles or some other weird distance.
Always tough to beat California just due to sheer numbers, but Ohio is very strong right now, and there will be some great times put up in the fall.
the Michiganders will be out in droves pretty soon. It doesn't usually take them long to take over the a thread like this.
VA has to be in the running.
Both Foot Locker National Champs this year, along with Kate Murphy, Rachel Macarthur, Libby Davidson, Total of seven Virginians at FL Nats this year, along with 2 at least at NXN.
Washington and Oregon are both super strong.
From Oregon we have Matthew Maton and Joshua Schumacher on the men's side, Ella Donaghu and Mackenna Schumacher and freshman phenom Ember Stratton on the women's side
Washington has produced Alexa Efraimson and the entire Camas squad.
Utah, don't count out utah my friend. Also I have always viewed Utah and California as pretty well matched for the most competitive HS cross states.
Strong history, west to east:
West Coast - very strong for decades, CA, OR, WA
Rocky Mountains - UT and CO often under the radar but per capita they do well to very well. Hon mention to MT.
Plains states - not really, Texas due to sheer size and there are some excellent programs in that state (Woodlands).
Midwest - Illinois and Minnesota well ahead of others in the region.
Great Lakes - MI, OH, WI always tough and deep.
South and southeast - not so much other than VA, NC, and FL and those are more like the less deep Midwest states (e.g., IN, IA, MO)
Northeast and New England - Hotbed like West Coast and Great Lakes states, with NY, MA producing the most talent. But little NH and ME have had their share.
California and NY are very strong.
Texas/ Oregon also strong.
Weakest. Probably like Idaho. Wyoming.
Oklahoma is pretty weak.
Marco Brolo wrote:
California and NY are very strong.
Texas/ Oregon also strong.
Weakest. Probably like Idaho. Wyoming.
Idaho produced Slagowski.
California have 4 consecutive World Junior X-C champions in the seventies (1974-1977).
Marco Brolo wrote:
California and NY are very strong.
Texas/ Oregon also strong.
Weakest. Probably like Idaho. Wyoming.
Washington stronger than Oregon year after year. Larger this is due to much higher population in Washington, but they win the Border Clash every year. Sadly, no more Border Clash races will be held to settle the issue.
One mid distance runner. Yay!
Marco Brolo wrote:
Weakest. Probably like Idaho. Wyoming.
That's a pretty terrible answer. Per capita, Idaho and Wyoming are among the strongest. They have much smaller populations than most states, so yeah, you're gonna get more good runners out of Cali, which has more than 20 times Idaho's population...
But even if you're not talking per capita, Idaho beats the s*** out of lots of larger states. For example, compare track times for Louisiana vs Idaho:
http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/Division/Event.aspx?DivID=71763&Event=52vs
http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/Division/Event.aspx?DivID=71763&Event=52.
Idaho dominates, despite having a much smaller population and dealing with higher elevation and harsher winters.
Exactly he asked overall not per capita....
So yes the smaller states are worse OVERALL.
I am surprised the poster didn't figure this out on his own.
For what it's worth Utah teams went 2, 5, 11 at NXN, along with the 1st and 3rd place individuals. All from a state with a population of under 4 million.
Deadman Running wrote:
Marco Brolo wrote:California and NY are very strong.
Texas/ Oregon also strong.
Weakest. Probably like Idaho. Wyoming.
Washington stronger than Oregon year after year. Larger this is due to much higher population in Washington, but they win the Border Clash every year. Sadly, no more Border Clash races will be held to settle the issue.
What???!!! What happened to Border Clash??? (and I agree, it's been years since Oregon won on either side)
Spike-ee wrote:
Deadman Running wrote:Washington stronger than Oregon year after year. Larger this is due to much higher population in Washington, but they win the Border Clash every year. Sadly, no more Border Clash races will be held to settle the issue.
What???!!! What happened to Border Clash??? (and I agree, it's been years since Oregon won on either side)
What???!!!! That was one of my favorite memories of HS running.