Weakest U.S. XC Team Since I've Been Following the Sport

hmmmm wrote:

not making excuses for him (as he has not either for all the poeple who like to give him shit about that) but its absolutely obvious that ritz had an extremely off day at nationals

...believe it or not folks everyone has bad days, ritz too

and it doesnt indicate anything about his career or his season

calm down

Even if someone has a bad day, it was nationals. Isn't it a cliche on this board to say, "never mind this nothing meet. Wait until nationals to judge". It also isn't just 1 off day.

This time was nationals, last year it was worlds, and also missing track nationals from injury. Before that he finished last at the trials and DNF'd at the Olympics, both from injury. It's not just 1 race, and recognizing this doesn't make a "naysayer, basher, hater, etc...". It's recognizing the truth: He's had some bad races in big moments. Sometimes from (another) injury and sometimes because he wasn't good enough.

Saying that something's wrong doesn't mean we think his career's over or aren't behind him. It's telling it correctly.

I just want to know as Ritz crying after the 12k, or was he injured or what. I really wnat to still like him but the more I see him race the less and less I can. Maybe he'll pop a big race at worlds though and everybody will jump back on the bandwagon. And why would Hall not double, or torres for that matter?

Keep bumping this thread until Fukuoka. I can't wait to see the idiot who started this get ass-f***ed when he sees how strong the young American team runs.

mikeinboston wrote:

It's true, we need to take every opportunity to SUPPORT American runners. People from other countries must surf onto this site and ask themselves why all the runners in this country hate all the other runners in this country.

We do. You make good points.

How high and mighty of you, so maybe you should coach Ritz or better yet race him to prove what superior runner you are. JACKASS!

4k team: Goucher, Lincoln, Hall, Torres, Watson, Dobson, (maybe Famiglietti)

I don't know how much experience Famiglietti or Lincoln have with international cross, but Torres and Watson do, and Dobson and Hall ran pretty well at some African cross meet sometime in the fall(Hall running 13:22 and Dobson winning his leg in 13:45), and after Hall's trouncing(even though it was a national fair and some might say, 'well we're just comparing him to other Americans', it was still a big trouncing(27 seconds +)), I think the 4k team has a pretty decent squad going. Torres had placed 11th and 13th at worlds before, so he deffinately knows what he's up against, and I think Watson placed 38th a couple years back in the 4k. It would be nice if Dobson ran, but what're you gonna do? I could see Goucher, Torres, and Hall finishing in the 10th - 25th range, with a Luke Watson or a Daniel Lincoln close within the 40th place range. That would give(say 10 + 15 + 25 + 40) a score of around 90 points. That should be good enough for a top 5 team placing, maybe even a medal.

In the 12k team: Hall, Torres, King, Ritzenhein, Hartmann, and Gabrielson

Let's assume all those guys run the 12k also. Hall and Torres will be tired, Ritzenhein might race well, Gabrielson has been to worlds before, and Hartmann has but only for the junior 8k race. I hope they race well, whoever ends up racing on the 12k team. Best of luck.