We know the field is loaded but the question is just how loaded? I'm wondering if it's ok to call it the greatest women's distance race in US history. Hear me out.
I'm virtually certain it's the first time that three sub-14:50 American women have ever raced each other (The only wayt that ouwlnd't be the case would be if Rowbury/Huddle/Flanagan raced each other at some point).
But we're just getting started.
It features six 2016 Olympians in Houlihan, Rowbury, Huddle, Frerichs, Cragg and Hall.
Has there ever been a race in US women's distance running history with six Olympians in it? If so, what year was it and were they nearly this good?
And then there is the likes of Schweizer, Schneirer, Thweat, Tuliamuk, Taylor and Bruce.
Please tell me a better race than this one.
Perhaps a marathon Trials race? I'd be shocked if there ever was such a stacked non-marathon race.
So help me out. What other races could compare to this field? I thin it would cool for the LRC community to compile a list of the 5 greatest US distance races in history. Maybe "greatest" isn't the right word. Deepest? What do you think.
Regarldess, it shows you the beauty of xc. Everyone - all events - in one race.