runn wrote:
I know all that, but still- if you stick my boy's speed ratings into the NXN race we would finish about 15th- we didn't even win our class at states and didn't make the Federation meet even after some schools dropped out to concentrate on the regionals.
The East Aurora girls would have been top 13 or so- based on speed ratings.
I have consistent girls teams where the top 7 all run under 22:00 and we seldom win our sectional meet.
I know 22:00 isn't earth shattering, but it's competitive, especially on the hilly courses we run.
But, like I said earlier, any 1/2 way decent Texas football team would make a mockery of even the NY State Champs.
Why?
Sticking raw speed ratings into NXN doesn't have as much meaning as you're assigning them. Other than the FM girls, no team ran that close to their pre-race ratings.
As to the NY running advantages, having 7th and 8th graders train and race with older runners doesn't hurt, especially on the girl's side. If football and other "major" sports aren't as important to kids and families in NY, that would have a positive effect on cross country. As compared to CA "speedways" (as they have been described here), running slower, tougher courses in NY has to help when the end of the season arrives.