MIAC XC 2023

Could the Olaf B Team (8-14 runners) get 2nd or 3rd at MIACs? That is the good question to ask here. We will find out in less than 2 weeks.

The A Team already has the real race wrapped up unless David Lynn crashes his car (with passengers Will Kelly, Andrew Skemp and Kevin Turlington) going 100mph into Sean Hartney and Anders Cote riding their bikes. If that happens we will have to reconsider how good Jack Deaver and Gabe Estrada are feeling on race day (...we already know Gael is ready to rock).

I don't know how you can get excited by a Bethel-Gustavus battle. If there is truly interest in that battle, maybe they should run a dual meet and have it televised on ESPN Ocho.

The word on the gravel road out by Olaf is if the school split, they could easily take the top two spots in conference and if they properly allocated talent they might get the top 3.

Also, based on the indoor 5k and last year’s conference meet, Mo Bati is still the man to beat at conference. Will Kelly and Calvin Boone may have more athlete of the weeks but based on my extensive research those don’t give you any bonus time at conference.

Not a bad question considering it's NotKevbot...

Methinks no on Minnesota and that it would be close with St. Thomas, but probably yes.

Don't call him Wilkie, it is either Matthew, Mr. Wilkinson or Mr. Steeplechase to you.

This isn't a slam dunk. Whichever group gets Jackson Marsh has to be careful he doesn't pull some serious Charles Manson-type stuff and brainwash those other guys. Right now, the Ole leadership has him under control, but you never know.

No, really...St. Olaf is great right now, but this illustrates the lack of respect they have for every other MIAC runner except for Bati. You could cut Bati's legs off and Ole runners would still be twitching because he might show up Oscar Pistorius-style. Bati lives in their minds rent free.

Do you have some intel on the Washington Generals for the Harlem Globetrotters too?

At MIACs...

How many Oles in the top 10?

How many non-Oles in the top 20?

How many guys within 2 minutes of Will Kelly?

How many Hamline guys finish the race?

Interesting points being made by summitbiel. Funny to see Ole propaganda make an appearance after months of hype for the Johnnies on the thread. While the Oles are certainly still big favorites to win, I think Carleton has shown that they can make conference an actual race on their home course rather than a coronation procession for the Oles. Top 10 individuals:

1. Mo Bati

2. Will Kelly

3. Lloyd Young

4. Gabe Nichols

5. Andrew Skemp

6. Calvin Boone

7. Lars DeWall

8. Kevin Turlington

9. Reece McKee

10. Sean Hartney

Honorable Mentions: David Lynn, Chris Melville, Roy Llewellyn

St. Johns is more vulnerable than I expected, with 26:21 guy Eamon Cavanaugh presumably banged up. So is Carter Grove on the mend and training? That would be a big factor at MIAC. Despite missing Crotteau and Olsson, Mac does have an opportunity to steal third if Ihrke continues his comeback and a #5 guy (Wiltse or Getty/Galloway/Moresi) steps up.

Best time of the season! Now we just wait for two weeks while St. Johns talks about how they're going to challenge Olaf before eventually grabbing 4th behind Macalester.

I'm sure the guys in up in collegeville are all great, but it's been over 15 years since they got a champion (individual or otherwise).

Winner: Olaf

2-4 (not fast enough crew, maybe next year): Carleton, Macalester, Johnnies

5: Lars and Calvin (featuring Nathan plus like 20-22% Gustie)

6-8: Bethel Concordia Gustavus

9 (on a good day they could be 6th but you have to prove it): Bati and hopefully a few other guys

10-11 (the real race): can St. Mary's build on their shocking win over Hamline last year? Or will Hamline surprise everyone with a full team and sneak back into the top ten?

Henry Bowman didn't run all of those miles in short shorts and come back for a 7th year at Carleton to finish outside the top 15.

If Carter Grove races, what is your guess at his place? Top 50, 25, All-Conference?

Interesting that the Johnnies still think they have something. Once again, they’ll get humbled by the time MIACs come around.

Macalaster is a scary good team but I still think they aren’t there yet as a team, and the odds of enough lowballers from other schools (Calvin, Lars, Graber, Bati, etc) can disrupt and dismantle the Scots.

Bethel-Gustavus is still the most interesting two team matchup in the conference, and , by only two points Bethel triumphed on Saturday at Jim Drews. Still, I can’t help but think that the Gusties aren’t racing at their full potential, and, even they’re no scorers can still be a driving factor in two weeks time. Compare that to the Royals, who have a much steeper drop off in talent after 5, and even steeper after 7 as they dip into mediocrity. Gustavus wins fair and square by 10 at MIAC.

Hamline-St. Mary’s: The Booty Bowl. If tanking worked in D3 cross, then the Carolina Panthers-Chicago Bears would be proud of these guys. Still, I believe Hamline should have a fire under their butts after last year and, despite arduous conditions including but not limited to needing an entire scoring roster to finish next Saturday, they pull out the victory over St. Mary’s and shock all 19 people who stuck around to watch runners in the 40s to finish the race.

Despite the haters in the Olefanboy subreddit, I'm back with your must-read content.

My first take - the Carls had a better meet than the Oles last weekend. If I were an Ole I'd be losing sleep. Everyone knows how good of a postseason coach Ricks is. Despite his constant social media posting, Power hasn't proven he has that edge yet. He's still relying on Phil's recruits, which should be good enough for second and will make up for lack of coaching acumen. Maybe. Poor Ian Curtis must be hoping he'd stayed in Montana and drew oddly graphic math equations to show his stuffed animal collection in his parents basement instead of wasting away in Northfield.

Two - Maxwell hasn't kept Tim Miles around to merely whisper sweet nothings in his ear. The Johnnies may have some flaws at the moment, but have proven throughout time they are peak at meets that matter.

Three - A Northfielder will be top three, but it's not an Ole! Gabe Nichols has the talent and military background to run with Lloyd to effectively block Kelly. Bati will of course, win. I expect Skemp to go out too hard and fade out of the top ten. Lars and Calvin will close that door. Lars is running like an All-American at the moment.

Four - sorry Mac. You're going to be fourth. Ihrke is getting back to his top form. They could be a top 2 team next year if everyone is healthy and on campus.

Five - How short was the course the Oles ran last weekend? Four under 25 is hilarious.

Six - I could see a scenario where Lars/Calvin go 3-4 and edge Nichols out.

Top 15 -

Bati

Lloyd

Gabe

Lars

Calvin

Kelly

Roy

Turlington

McKee

Melville

Bowman

Skemp

Graber

Lyness

Allen

You focus on some weird things fuzzy nuts. The mediocre bowl and the toilet bowl excite you. I am more interested to see if St. Olaf can score under 30 points as a team. Or if they can get a non-scorer/pusher as all-conference. I like greatness, and with Bethel-Gustavus we aren't talking Greeno or Stumbo anymore. I also eat downvotes for breakfast.

This is excellent Carleton content! Macalester: Step up your game! Start smack-talking the Johnnies or you might not only finish 4th, but maybe even 5th if Boone and Dewall find a computer in the Duluth snowbank and figure out what the letsrun message board is.

Also, Will Kelly 6th...pure genius. Written by someone with pipe dreams. I approve.

Wait, that is 5 all-conference Carleton guys...Jesus H. Christ. Pass me the bong! I want some.

Lets stop picking on Macalester here. It's pretty common knowledge that the Macalester College network blocks Letsrun for it's alt-right content.

My secret pleasure is letting air out of Power’s tires every time I run by his house.

Your Top 15 is missing one notable name that actually hasn't raced yet this season:
Jonah Herzog.

Sweet! I thought he had choir duties that day. I can't wait to see him race. Who's picking him up from Benedictine Living and bringing him to the meet?

That reminds me, where are Ethan Ash and Brett Hanley?!? ...abroad?, hurt?, did they quit? Any chance they have been training with some Sith Lord running master this fall and will still run at MIACs?