BYU vs. Portland-WCC drama?!

I would be amazed if Conner actually cares about the WCC meet. He's always been more focused on the West Regional and getting to Nationals. Winning the WCC meet doesn't get you to nationals, it's just an annoying speed bump on the road to nationals.

I think Conner might care if his Conference championship winning streak is on the line. It's going to be a battle regardless though.

Interesting side note:

BYU's top 4 guys all went to High School in Utah, that's not much of a shock, but considering how many people live there per capita, Utah puts out some pretty good runners.

uh... wrote:

Interesting side note:

BYU's top 4 guys all went to High School in Utah, that's not much of a shock, but considering how many people live there per capita, Utah puts out some pretty good runners.

Just think how they would look if their fifth guy was another Utah product -- Puskedra!

Connor does care about the WCC meet and the streak. Does he care enough to run his varsity squad? We shall see.

12 scholarships?! You're not in Stillwater anymore.

If either coach is smart they'll save their guys for nationals. I've met Eyestone a few time, I don't think he'll sacrifice this year's squad for small-time conference glory.

AK-53 wrote:

Recently heard about this. WTF is BYU doing in WCC???? Yeah, yeah, TV revenue politics for football, but this is ridiculous. Would enjoy watching the conference meet this year.

Don't hate on the WCC! The WCC is getting deeper every year. In the west, while the top 5 ranked teams are from the Pac-12, the next team is from the WCC. Tara Erdmann is legit in the 10k, and the USF women are on their way to NCAA's this year. Yes, they beat BYU in Wisconsin.

For the men, Portland has a ridiculous streak (though it was close last year). They usually try to peak at Regionals and NCAA's and don't do a lot during the regular season, at least in the past. This year will definitely be different with BYU and I don't see Portland wanting to give up their streak and hand it to BYU. It's going to be a battle.

LMU men laid an egg at Pre-Nats, but if they regain their form with Joerger getting into shape, Gonzaga needs to step up. USF #3 was 24:31 last week and LMU #3 beat USF #3 at Stanford. Bor and Garboden have run unattached for USF all season, but one of them is likely break their redshirt which gives USF 4 guys at 24:33 or better. Gonzaga with its tightly bunched group needs to have a break out race to compete. Gesell is the fasterst Gonzaga runner at 24:50 this year, so they are extremely close to LMU and USF.

On the other hand, I believe Gonzaga women have a better shot at knocking off a LMU team as long as Thomas performs.

I believe Osoro coming into shape and Portland's experience on Crystal Springs will give them a razor thin advantage over BYU.

I believe BYU women, which had a faster team time than USF and beat them in dual meet scoring at Wisconsin, has a razor thin advantage. The #4 and #5 runners from both schools were within 1.7 seconds of each other at Wisconsin. But BYU has depth and with 9 in the mix for BYU that are better than USF's #6, it will be a challenge again for USF to have all five spot on to win a championship.

I don't think you can call a team "Blue Collar" if you complain about a somewhat hilly course that you race over 3 weeks before nationals. Cross Country is dead in America.

My god, why do we even run any f*cking meets before nationals? What's the point?

North wrote:

I don't think you can call a team "Blue Collar" if you complain about a somewhat hilly course that you race over 3 weeks before nationals. Cross Country is dead in America.

Yeah! Everything in America sucks! Down with pansy Americans!

Give me a break. How often do the "real" XC runners race in the rest of the world? Get a clue bro ho.

My God, Yes! I hate the wussification of XC that's happened over the years. Everyone wants to create the fastest courses that don't take anything out of there athletes... PLEASE! Crystal Springs is a Badass course and there should be more Cross Country races there. It's too bad everyone ducks real XC these days!

I know for a fact that portland does not have 12 scholarships to work with on the men's side. Not even close to 12. While it is a private school, there are only 3500 kids and they aren't in a bcs type conference so the money isn't exactly flowing in. They don't even have their own track facility for crying out loud! They do a great job recruiting the under the radar kids with a stud mixed in every few years, and training them rather progressively over 4 years.

SayWhat?? wrote:

Portland is made up of a bunch of sub 9:00 2 milers and foreigners splitting their 12 scholarships only among the xc team and yet somehow they're the blue collar ones?

a bunch of sub 9:00 2 milers and foreigners huh?

OK he has four foreigners. Joash Osoro, Alfred Kipchumba, Craig Hopkins and Erik Lars Malde

As for the sub 9:00 2 miles...that would be Dunbar and...who?

Scott Fauble 9:07

David Perry 9:11

Cody Wells 9:20

Matt Frerker 9:05

Charlie McDonald 9:21

Woody Kincaid 9:06

Chase Caulkins 9:08

Chris Borg 9:14

David Perry 9:11

Conner Whan 9:20

Jarred Bassett 8:41 3K

Those guys along with Dunbar and the four foreigners pretty much round out the top 15 at Portland.

And no, they dont get the full 12 scholarships. But they do use more than most.

Is it true that a team can run 10 runners this year?

Will the USF women make it to nationals for the first time ever?

just wait till you see the flannel and the beards; they're fast but they're still from Portland.

wow you got those times wrong. Half these guys broke 9 in highschool lol.

Osoro has lived in North Dakota since 8th grade