Running Lane - Saratoga Springs?

So what makes a meet s "true National Championship"? I see alot of people saying Runninglane isn't real because they aren't paying for everyone? Last time I checked alot of sports don't pay for athletes to compete. So because Nike has deep pockets and pays for everything that makes it a National meet? If you ran at the Nike Outdoor Nationals last year it wasnt paid for. So why is it different for r track vs XC, or swimming as an example. Kids don't have their way paid for by the organization putting on the meet to compete at swim nats. So please explain how not paying the way of every team de- legitimizez the event.

well, it is most often the case that high school sports do not have a true national championship.

so it's a national championship for those who have the means to afford to go. That's fine. I think it will be neat when Nike stops funding the event and the "national championship" is just a meet of rich people looking to brag about beating other rich people. I guess thats what a lot of club lacrosse and soccer "natioanal" showcases are as well.

Uh, I see you are a new high school coach: Foot Locker / Eastbay is a "true national championship". Has been for decades.

high school xc coach wrote:

well, it is most often the case that high school sports do not have a true national championship.

brrrrrrr wrote:

I’td be unfortunate if a team that declines to go to the only team national meet is somehow considered the #1. Hopefully Milesplit and Dyestat cap them at no. 2 and the season ending speed ratings back that up.

If you put any stock at all in the speed-ratings, this is beyond unlikely. Saratoga's got at least 4 team performances that are far superior to anything any other team has posted. They absolutely striped a very good F-M team on consecutive weekends.

Omicron! Omicron!

Stanely wrote:

Uh, I see you are a new high school coach: Foot Locker / Eastbay is a "true national championship". Has been for decades.

high school xc coach wrote:

well, it is most often the case that high school sports do not have a true national championship.

not referring to cross country. my post was in response to the guy comparing to track and field and swimming.

aklm wrote:

so it's a national championship for those who have the means to afford to go. That's fine. I think it will be neat when Nike stops funding the event and the "national championship" is just a meet of rich people looking to brag about beating other rich people. I guess thats what a lot of club lacrosse and soccer "natioanal" showcases are as well.

yes. and gymnastics. probably other things ive never heard of as well.

Our NXR is 400 miles away. It is no more expensive to go to Alabama.

Real Dealer wrote:

Our NXR is 400 miles away. It is no more expensive to go to Alabama.

Good point and all of the teams paying for regionals are just paying for the entry for the 30 or so teams that make nationals. So to say it is free is ridiculous, most of the best teams come from affluent areas anyways.

I find it funny that Saratoga usually does a long trip to start their XC season (Georgia, VA, etc). They did not this year but now can't afford to go to Running Lane. How do they pay for that trip? How is it that it is to expensive for Running Lane but not those trips?

Not a fan of the price structure of NXN as compared to Footlocker. I think Runninglane will suck both up though.

1) Do some of you not realize how far some teams/kids travel to compete in NXR and/or Eastbay regionals? Texas competes in the Eastbay South region, which is in North Carolina. Schools/athletes have to cover the travel costs for these qualifying meets

2) The NCAA does not pay all the expenses for teams competing at its XC championship? Do you not consider this a real championship?

3) Have you looked at the teams competing at Running Lane? It’s loaded with top teams. On the boys side, I’m not sure that any of the top teams are missing….

curious to know wrote:

3) Have you looked at the teams competing at Running Lane? It’s loaded with top teams. On the boys side, I’m not sure that any of the top teams are missing….

The top 11 boys teams in the country are all going. 6 of the top 10 girls teams by MileSplit National Rankings.

what team in the country does anyone think might be even close to as good as Saratoga?

duydiyf wrote:

I find it funny that Saratoga usually does a long trip to start their XC season (Georgia, VA, etc). They did not this year but now can't afford to go to Running Lane. How do they pay for that trip? How is it that it is to expensive for Running Lane but not those trips?

Don’t forget they traveled out to Eugene for nationals last spring as well.

duck sauce wrote:

what team in the country does anyone think might be even close to as good as Saratoga?

If only there were rankings that might tell us who the next closest would be:

Anyone watching the selection show today?

once a jogger wrote:

So what makes a meet s "true National Championship"? I see alot of people saying Runninglane isn't real because they aren't paying for everyone? Last time I checked alot of sports don't pay for athletes to compete. So because Nike has deep pockets and pays for everything that makes it a National meet? If you ran at the Nike Outdoor Nationals last year it wasnt paid for. So why is it different for r track vs XC, or swimming as an example. Kids don't have their way paid for by the organization putting on the meet to compete at swim nats. So please explain how not paying the way of every team de- legitimizez the event.

NXN is a true team national championship because every team is represented unless they choose not to be which I don't think has happen to a contending team ever. Even early on it was one girls team declined and maybe a Michigan team or two couldn't go but not championship contenders.

Runninglane has just decided to call themselves a national championship with nothing to back it up but the hopes that top teams will show up. It will skew geographically to the closer states which is similar to how New Balance Outdoor Nationals shapes up. New Balance isn't a true national championship because you get a fraction of the top competitors across the state to actually show up.

Hard to fault a team for not wanting to risk travelling to attend a glorified invitational. They had a great season and probably are the best team in the nation but winning at this meet won't validate that anymore than the other accomplishments they already have for the season. You don't know any of the circumstances of the athletes or their families that could be in play for Covid concerns or financial concerns so I would trust that they are making the best decision for themselves