MIAC Track 2017

Toolegittoquit wrote:

http://competitivetiming.com/results/165115O#%201M

27 flat at 5000 ft seems legit

Thanks for the info Cameron. Please tall yourself up some more.

He was 11th at MIAC. Top freshman and 4th non-senior. That seems pretty good, even if conference was weak this year.

Missoula isn't Flagstaff guys.

Unless the race was on top of Mt Sentinel (5000) or another mountain by Missoula, the elevation of the town itself is at 3,200 feet. Northfield is almost 1,000. A 2,200 increase is nothing. Sea level to 3,200 is still nothing.

I'll try and do one of these for each group.

Distance/Mid Distance Dark Horses:

Evan Jones: After being the first runner out of the national meet, he should be set up for a good track season. The thing is he hasn't ran track since his sophomore year, when he wasn't the MIAC's resident hipster and was nothing special. Any idea where he fits in?

Alex Berhe: I assume he'll be doing the 3k and 5k indoor and jump up to the 10 outdoor, but he could be an interesting guy to watch after being the Oles number 2 this fall.

Jack Henschel: Can Jack run fast during the frostier times of the year? Oh yeah. He's a heck of a miler, but will he be competitive in the mid D races?

Meikel and Dodge: Like it or not Dodge is a talented runner. Let's see how he does in the distance events. Let's also see if Meikel's "altitude" training can help him.

Timm and Ketola: Are they healthy? Please tell me they're healthy? Things are better when the Oles have a solid D squad. I like to think of a scenario where the Gusties, Oles and Bugler all battle it out in the 3k. It would give the distance races a slight sense of drama this year.

I'll try and do one of these for each group.

Distance/Mid Distance Dark Horses:

Evan Jones: After being the first runner out of the national meet, he should be set up for a good track season. The thing is he hasn't ran track since his sophomore year, when he wasn't the MIAC's resident hipster and was nothing special. Any idea where he fits in?

Alex Berhe: I assume he'll be doing the 3k and 5k indoor and jump up to the 10 outdoor, but he could be an interesting guy to watch after being the Oles number 2 this fall.

Jack Henschel: Can Jack run fast during the frostier times of the year? Oh yeah. He's a heck of a miler, but will he be competitive in the mid D races?

Meikel and Dodge: Like it or not Dodge is a talented runner. Let's see how he does in the distance events. Let's also see if Meikel's "altitude" training can help him.

Timm and Ketola: Are they healthy? Please tell me they're healthy? Things are better when the Oles have a solid D squad. I like to think of a scenario where the Gusties, Oles and Bugler all battle it out in the 3k. It would give the distance races a slight sense of drama this year.

None of those kids are dark horses.

If he was from Carleton, clearly he would have mentioned young Donson for the 8.

Nohesnot wrote:

If he was from Carleton, clearly he would have mentioned young Donson for the 8.

I think the defending champion is a little too obvious to throw in as a dark horse.

His brother n00b.

Here is my take on darkhorses for this upcoming indoor season. Most of them will not be contending for the win, but they all could very much place in the top 4-5 spots.

Daniel Mahota UST - ran 8:45 and was 9th last year at MIACs as a freshman and was a 4:28 miler indoors. He hovers around being good, but not good enough to mention on these boards. 6th best returning time this year.

Alex Wischnack GAC - ran 9:03 3k and a 15:55 5k indoors last year. Neither are very notable, but when you take in to account that he hasn't run outdoor yet, and this past fall was a huge jump for him, you can't help but take notice. He was 69th and 116th at conference then regions in 2015. This fall he was 22nd and 60th. He only ran the mile indoors once in 4:36, and that is decent, but not blazing. So, I suppose he would be more 5k this year.

Alex Berhe Olaf - Okay, we have to put him here. He is still a dark horse for track since we haven't really seen how his fitness in the fall will carry over. 4:29 mile indoors, 9:22 3k, 15:51 indoor 5k. All are laughable marks considering the jump he made from an Ole runner in the shadows of his superstar teammates, to their number 2 runner behind Coffee. I don't know where he will go in terms of race, 3k or 5k. My bet is that his best mark will be in the 3k, but he will run the 5k at conference considering how weak and open the event will be this year.

Austin O'Hare St. Mary's - This is someone who a lot of people who make a huge jump in cross this year, and he did, but not to where a lot of us figured he would be. 44th at MIAC and 80th at Regions in 2015h to 35th and 44th in 2016. Doesn't really reflect the incredible improvements he made on the track last spring. Running only a 9:02 3k indoors last year and not making the fast heat, to running a 9:40 steeple last year for 5th. I expect him to be in the mix for the 3k this year. His speed has been sneakily improving the past few years two, and that would very much aid him in a very likely sit-and-kick 3k.

Matthew Burgstahler SJU - Another steepler to note here is Burgstahler from Saint John's. Came on later in the season last year. 4:28 miler, ran 9:47 3k indoors...then a 9:43 steeple outdoors... Not sure if that first 3k was a fluke, or if he improved by that much. Seemed to have been hurt just about all of cross this fall, bounced back crazy well, though. 72nd at La Crosse, then 26th at conference. He can be another name in that 3k, which by now I think you all know that I believe will be the deepest distance event.

Maxwell Kuzara SJU - Not necessarily a darkhorse because of his success in the 10k last spring, but his indoor success hasn't been to the same level as of yet. He is the top returner in the 10k this upcoming spring, was 8th at conference in cross, and is having his first full healthy season since his freshman year when he was the top freshman distance runner in the MIAC. He could very much be a dangerous darkhorse in contention for the win in that 5k indoors, an event he has yet to run indoors.

Of this list, my favorites to actually upset the (MIAC) world and win are Daniel Mahota, Berhe, and Kuzara.

I beat Mahota at conference. Am I dark horse?

Seriously how can you have him but not all of his teammates that consistently beat him the entire year?

How would you know O'Hare's speed is improving? If you actually look him up his mile pr is from high school and he doesn't run anything shorter than the 1500m.

Berhe, sure. Literally no speed, I bet that hurts him at the conference sit and kick.

SJU likes to train through indoor, but Kuzara and Burghstaler are distance guys so that won't hurt them too much.

My dark horse is Lillehaugen in whatever event he does. Probably the 800.

There's no way Kuzara will be winning the indoor 5K over guys like Newsum, Knobbe, and Lehn. If a Johnnie is in the mix it will be Bugler - and I'd say he's more likely to go mile/3K or DMR/3K.

Lehn is BACK baby!

I whole fully like that Lillehaugen dark horse pick. Great 800m speed and has some strength in him, too.

And I also doubt Bugler will do the 5k. Hes very predictable with his conference events. It would be very interesting to see what he can do in the mile, though. We haven't seen him go all out for one, yet. And I think it was on the last MIAC track thread someone said he closed his last 600m of his mile leg of the DMR under 1:28 or something. I'll have to look for that.

...he'll still lose to Coffee, Eggers, and Bjork but it's still be cool to see.

Also, completely forgot Lehn is back! He's a lock for the 5k if he's healthy in my opinion. Hell, I might even pick him to win the 3k if SJU trains through indoor like they typically do!

Odd Balls wrote:

Dodge: Like it or not Dodge is a talented runner.

Why would I not like it?

I'm going to throw a new name in the ring. Another Idaho bub who just happens to be the best freshmen coming into this season. Alec Getzloff of St. Olaf may be the true dark horse this season for the 800m. Ignore his cross country results as he only ran 6 miles all summer, but now he's decided to let the speed out and prove he's the best Idahoan around. Let's start with his accolades:

- His brother last year after nearly no running ran an impressive 2:01 off of no miles, but cannot avoid injury.

- Idaho City 800m Champion in 6th grade over high-school sub 4 minute miler Michael Slagowski showing he has impressive talent

-Clutch under pressure since he is a nearly professional kayaker

-4.0GPA at Boise High, he has knowledge and will show better race tactics than either of those Gallardo brothers

Prediction: Gallardo brothers lead 700 meters of the race with Sean Bjork following close, Bjork neighs causing the Gallardo brothers to tangle up in eachothers' legs only to see Getzloff take the title from under their noses in the slowest winning time ever, due to Donson making it tactical.

Cameron, Alec, Mahota, you guys have got to stop being so obvious with your self promotion. Watch how Gallardo does it. Or the Saint John's guys.

Me and 40 others wrote:

I beat Mahota at conference. Am I dark horse?

Seriously how can you have him but not all of his teammates that consistently beat him the entire year?

Berhe, sure. Literally no speed, I bet that hurts him at the conference sit and kick.

SJU likes to train through indoor, but Kuzara and Burghstaler are distance guys so that won't hurt them too much.

this is one of the filthiest posts ive ever read on letsrun. if you were trying to be funny it would be a decent post maybe, except you aren't so please get. if you want to mentioned on the boards, then run faster. the letsrunners will take notice. Also, Berhe might surprise this indoor season. he finally made a good jump this fall and is positioned well for indoor success. and can everyone please stop talking about st johns "training thru indoor?" that is so dumb. they just decide to run slow during indoor is what people actually mean by that. when you dont start track work and racing until Feb, what do you expect? Buglar will come thru i would hope, but other than that probly lots of 430s and 9:0xs from SJU.

Agree. Plus we've seen plenty of examples of good MIAC runners with zero kicking ability. Knobbe is a good current example. He has some good speed over a distance, but not so much in terms of a final 200m. Still a great runner.

And St John's is really never a factor in distance events on the track ever, really. If it weren't for Tommy or Ryan, would we ever really mention them?

They are good as a cross country team, and that is about it.