2024 XC Pre-Nats

Sydney posted this on Sept 30th. Not sure what's going on. Hope whatever it is she gets better soon

No news here, but with Bunnage running Friday, the Cardinal could surprise.

Very strong top 4 of Bunnage, Dudek, Kennedy and Stewart, followed by Flynn and Dadamio battling for 5.

Not much depth, but if all goes right they are still quite good.

Maybe. Maybe not.

Barring further setups, targeting ACCs.

Blanks will win the men’s contest, if weather is good in course record time.

If she runs the 6K Friday that will be a huge surprise.....Saturday may be less of one.

What is the course record? Keep in mind that even though this is the pre-Nats, it is 8K and not 10K.

Since it is XC, Blanks will more than likely just be happy with the "W," regardless of the time.

Very possible.

Forecast for 10am - 11am: sunny & in the 50s with some wind.

And, firm footing -- no rain in Madison for past week or more.

Maybe Blanks, maybe Samuel, maybe one of the Arkansas or Iowa State guys breaks Wolfe's recent 23:04 CR. Seems the latter runners would have the edge over Blanks since this is his opener after a delayed start to this xc season.

However, whatever the record is by the noon hour, Evans Kurui/WSU could wipe it away in the "B" race.

Also, Valby's virtually incomprehensible 19:17.2 last year in the rain is also in jeopardy from Pamela Kosgei/NM and possibly Hilda Olemomoi/FL.

considering it's just pre-nats, basically a dress rehearsal, I wonder how many individuals or teams really hammer it. i'm talking about the teams who have all but already qualified for Nats. you'd think some of the coaches are trying to balance a solid confidence boosting effort but not show all their cards.

especially curious how BYU and NAU womens teams perform. might be a repeat of Dellinger where they basically pack run and maybe 1 or 2 of their top sticks go for it.

Given that both somewhat underperformed at Nationals last year, I bet both NAU and BYU want to prove to themselves they can get it done in a fast, competitive field.

i think this race for both of them is about confidence boosting. possibly first race of season for Elise Stearns, big day for her.

NAU underperformed last year, but BYU sh!t the bed at Nats because Diljeet Taylor's idea to send her team out fast and try to drop the field completely backfired. unless they've vastly improved their fitness no way she tries that again. i think Diljeet has her girls run with NAU and try to see how they perform so she can best position them at Nats. lot of chess playing.

Two Fri, Oct 18 meets to whet yr appetite:

Crimson Classic

AL, Clemson

https://live.pttiming.com/xc-ptt.html?mid=7495

Princeton Fall Classic

Gtown, Villanova, Providence, UNC, Penn St

https://results.leonetiming.com/xc.html?mid=7509

As will Stanford men who completely screwed up getting 20th at Nuttycombe last year.

Given great weather and firm footing, expecting fast, competitive races with a sub-23 men's CR very likely.

Habton Samuel may have something to say about that

May of Providence takes down Scrimgeour and the rest of the field including Nuttycombe winner Sigsfead. Georgetown for the win as a team 36-40 over Providence. First impression both of those teams ran well.

well time out they are revising the team scores still. 59-65 Georgetown still wins.

Lemngole and Tuwei of AL seemingly easily go 1-2 on the Clemson trio. Not sure what to conclude from that at this time.

Let me correct that - only Jelego and Chepngetich ran for Clemson so they held out Kosgei

Buddy take a breath and take your thumb out of your rear. It’s college running not the Vietnam draft.