2014 USATF National Club XC, NIKE BTC team to beat

When was the last time you checked because they do qualify as USATF Club. From the list described as "The following are USATF-registered member organizations and competitive clubs in the Oregon Association.":

Club name: Bowerman Track Club

Club no.: 37-0820

Location: Beaverton, OR

Phone: (503) 970-7885

Again do you have a different definition of USATF club that you're using? You seem to be making up the rules in your head as you go along.

Club Kid wrote:

agip wrote:

I completely disagree - I particularly like the democratic aspect of it - get five people, show up and race. Profesh, amateur, whatever - throw 'em all in the same race.

It's awesome.

That's not how it works but it's OK. USATF has a whole host of byzantine rules for who can and cannot compete for a club. If you think that 5 random people can show up and race for a team, you have a lot of learning to do about this meet.

well right, within the USATF framework of club competition. I live in NYC with dozens of clubs, from grass roots to sub elite - fun to be able to jump into a race with elites.

I see your complaint - Bowerman and NOP are 'clubs' in a different sense than a local grass roots club.

But that's the nature of running- there's always a bigger fish. 99.9% of us lose every time we get on the line.

If a runner isn't good enough to be in a club why would another team want to pick him or her up?

Aren't clubs like BTC and OTC an elite part of a larger club?

http://bac.runnerspace.com/

http://www.runnerspace.com/oregontrackclub

There's the elite side of the club, but there is also the other non pro athletes.

Also, to the person bringing in the aspect of corporate, don't we agree that professional contracts seem to be void of club designation? We have Shalene, Kara, Webb all be sponsored by Nike but bounce around to different groups. I bet the same could be pointed out for other runners associated with other brands.

This. Absolutely this. Cross Country is all about the best distance runner on the best day; background be damned. Having "amateurs" vs. "pros" is compelling as I would wager (aside from Derrick) there are no true XC specialists representing the Nike brand against the talent I've seen from elsewhere.

Club Kid wrote:

ACLU? I have no idea why you think the ACLU has anything to do with this meet. Are you expecting Susan Herman to show up?

Last I checked I never said that NIKE BTC doesn't qualify as a USATF CLUB.

The "point" of the meet is to have the best CLUBS compete with clubs being the operative word. A bunch of Nike funded professional athletes who also happen to be loosely included in a secondary club is stretching that definition to its limit. I'm glad that you are happy that a bunch of Nike full-time professional athletes are expected to drop in to Lehigh next weekend to duel it out with other "clubs." How nice of them.

Yeah, it really sucks that some of our country's best athletes are going to compete in this race. Man, I'm glad I'm not going so I don't have to see that.

If I were running, I'd be really upset that I'd place 205th instead of 200th, and that my club would be 22nd instead of 21st. That would really burn me up.

clubkid/others, go back and read seb coe's quote from today's front page.

nailed it.

got to think differently. . .

who cares who is a pro or am?

line 'em all up and run.

at some point ustaf will catch on and water down their ridiculous team qualifying rules . . .they hand out a few thousand dollars to the winning club. . . .

a pro golfer hands that to his caddie when he doesn't make the cut. . . .

wake up running community - more crazy combo teams at club nats the better.

I think it's ironic Club Kid doesn't want BTC to race. Most of the posts on LR are hammering on the BTC guys for not racing enough...

Smart money is on the Aggies, not BTC.

Aggies

Zap

BTC if they even field a full team.

agip wrote:

Club Kid wrote:

Why are professional runners showing up to CLUB championships? Something doesn't seem right there. I get it that they loosely are affiliated with BTC but having a bunch of full-time professionals show up to this meet isn't what it's about.

I completely disagree - I particularly like the democratic aspect of it - get five people, show up and race. Profesh, amateur, whatever - throw 'em all in the same race.

It's awesome.

Well put.

Howbout some individual predictions? like top 10 or top 15?

also, I understand that the top 7 or so will get to go to Edinburgh to race Mo and probably some cool africans, but did I see that this is also a qualifier for NACAC? how does that work?

Emily Infeld, Angela Bizzarri,Jennifer Bergman, Neely Spence, Julie Culley for the women individuals.

Boston Athletic Association, New York Athletic Club (NYAC), New Balance Boston for women teams

Men's will go OTC,Zap,Asics, BRC. Derrick will win with Pennel in it.

Women's will go... BRC, BAC, not sure. Infield FTW with one of the BRC girls in 2.

I can roll with those predictions...

Clubbin wrote:

Men's will go OTC,Zap,Asics, BRC. Derrick will win with Pennel in it.

Women's will go... BRC, BAC, not sure. Infield FTW with one of the BRC girls in 2.

women: I'll take Luara Thweatt ftw, edging out Infield. She took down Simpson at US cross, so should be a good match up. teams - HTS, BAA, BRC or RogueAC.

men: Derrick ftw. teams: Nike/BTC, ZAP, Asics Aggies. BAA will be solid too.

Bump

Dang...He had a great shot to win

Chris Derrick ‏@CDerrickRun 2h2 hours ago

Regretfully, I will not be running Club Cross. I twisted my ankle on a run (like an idiot) and it's not yet cross country certified.

Here's betting BTC won't get a score now. Between Teg, Solinsky, and German I bet one of the 3 will DNF.