Junior World Cross Country Championships - Make Your Predictions for Our 3 Young Studs Here, & Gregson Too!

i don't get why people have so little confidence in derrick. hes never been far behind puskedra, and has beaten him the only two times they've raced recently. both are focusing on world cross, it seems.

and why do people think that derrick of all people will fold under pressure? he's NEVER really had a bad race since he became elite in high school. he's always cool and collected. i dunno, he may have a bad day but it seems like everything thinks he's a nobody or a poor racer.

also derrick and puskedra are NOT worse than GF was last year. Whoever is making such predictions is a moron.

6- Fernandez

14- Derrick

17- Puskedra

21- Gregson

25- Moen

Moen trains three times a day in his home town of Trondheim near the arctic circle with Sundays off. Hes more of an endurance guy than say German and Gregson. Maybe if Marius was around the forum he could tell us more. All the articles are in norse.

Here's some history. Americans won the Junior individual titles four years in a row from 1974-77. The best U.S. team showing since 1997 (don't have stats before then) was 4th place in 2001, when Dathan Ritzenhein placed 3rd, and the winner was Kenenisa Bekele.

2008

1st Kenya, 21

2nd Ethiopia, 28

3rd Uganda, 37

6th USA, 138

01 Ibrahim Jeilan, 22:38

02 Ayele Abshero, 22:40

25 German Fernandez , 24:15

26 Emil Heineking, 24:16

35 Kevin Williams, 24:34

52 Ryan Sheridan, 25:03

72 Benjamin Johnson, 25:37

86 Robert Moldovan, 25:49

2007 - DNS

01 Asbel Kiprop, Kenya, 24:07

56 Kenny Klotz, USA, 27:11

2006 – 9th

01 Mang’ata Kimai Ndiwa, KEN, 23:53

34 Kiel Uhl, USA, 25:31

2005 – 7th

01 Augustine Kiprono Choge, KEN, 23:59

20 Galen Rupp, USA, 25:05

2004 – 7th

01 Meba Tadesse, ETH, 24:01

34 Ryan Deak, USA, 26:27

2003 – 8th

01 Eliud Kipchoge, KEN, 22:47

26 William Nelson, USA, 24:52

2002 – 7th

01 Gebremariam Gebre-egziabher, ETH, 23:18

30 Koborsi Rod, USA, 25:14

2001 – 4th

01 Kenenisa Bekele, ETH, 25:04

03 Dathan Ritzenhein, USA, 25:46

2000 – 9th

01 Robert Kipchumba, KEN, 22:49

28 Franklyn Sanchez, USA, 24:45

1999 – 6th

01 Hailu Mekonnen, ETH, 25:38

24 Fasil Bizuneh, USA, 28:02

1998 – 7th

01 Million Wolde, ETH, 22:47

20 Ryan Shay, USA, 24:22

1997 – 14th

01 Elijah Korir, KEN, 24:21

51 Abdul Alizindani, USA, 26:58

1977

01 Thom Hunt, USA

1976

01 Eric Hulst, USA

1975

01 Bob Thomas, USA

1974

01 Rich Kimball, USA

German Fernandez > top 5*

Luke Puskedra > 17th

Chris Derrick > 18th

Ryan Gregson > 35th

*provided he runs his own race, or 22nd if he runs like last fall.

Some more results (1st. over-all/and 1st american).

1979 Ireland

1) Eddy DePauw BEL

4) Jeff Nelson USA

1980 France

1) Jorg Garcia ESP

2) Ed Eyestone USA

Puskedra had his moment to shine at NCAAs. The rest of his career will be in Derrick's shadow.

GF finishes 18th...the rest are irrelevant.

6-Fernandez

15-Derek

17-Gregson

18-Puskedra

I'll chime in.

Derrick: 14th

Puskedra: 17th

German: DNF

Gregson: 30th

ahhh i can never remember and recall this. Between Derrick and Puskedra, which is the one that got mono last year?

And which is the one that performed better during the NCAA XC season?

Japan and Norway have a good runner each in this race too.

For the American runners to go top 20 or better, they will need to stay in touch from the start;

1. Kenyan

2. Bhrain - Bekele

3. Kenyan

6. Fernandez

10. Japanese

11. Derrick

14. Luke

16. Norwegian

17. Everett

22. Gregson

I'm glad someone finally mentoined the Japanese kid, I'm interested to see what he'll do. He did beat German last year and that might not be the case this year, but he should be someone to watch.

You guys are assuming Kenya and Ethiopia are the only African nations vying for the team and individual title. Don't forget the nations surrounding Kenya, Bahrain (Kenyans), and Morocco.

With that said though, there are probably 2 or 3 guys - besides GFern - who are capable of running close to 3:55. Judging by his recent speed, I would favor a good showing by German IF it's a slow race. He has to, essentially, run a tactical race not unlike super miler Hicham ran against a horde of Kenyans & Ethios at WC 5000m and Olys 5000m.

over the past decade, if you look at the guys who finish at or near the top for the Junior races..most of them have become world class runners...Bekele, Chipchoge, Augustine Choge, Asbel Kiprop,etc...

If German wins it, he is the real deal - take it to the bank. This race has historically shown that the winners go on to great careers. You can't say the same for NCAA champs.

Fastnbulbous wrote:

2001 – 4th

01 Kenenisa Bekele, ETH, 25:04

03 Dathan Ritzenhein, USA, 25:46

...05 Matt Tegenkamp, USA, 25:55

It is NORWEGIAN, not norse.

Anyway, here are some facts on Sondre Norstad Moen.

Was good at an early age. Ran 18:15 5k at age 11, 16:57 5k at age 12.

Started out as a xc skier in the winter and ran in the summer, at this point he is pretty much only a runner. Some earlier articles mentions that he has 12 practice sessions per week.

Got silver in the European Jr XC championship in '08 (behind Florian Carvalho).

Current PRs are 8:12, 14:02, 29:21 on track, although he is a better XC runner.

He is sponsored by ENWA Water Treatment.