that was a good race to watch
that was a good race to watch
I too thought the Men's 5k & 10k were very thrilling to watch, coming down to the final 100m. My question is this (correct me if I'm being too simple minded)- what of the guys in the 5k that don't run the 10k double? I understand championship races are tactical, etc...but it would seem inevitable and obvious that the most beneficial thing to the likes of Spain/Breitbach/etc. would be a slow pace in the 5k after being worn out in the 10k. So if you are only doing the 5k (like Salukumbo 14:17PR or Spandorfer) why not agree to go out and push it, not even that hard, even 14:35, which they are capable of, would have gotten them to the top of the podium.
Spandorfer actually ran the 10k. He was about 12th-14th and ran around 31 minutes. Not the best race, but not fresh.
Well according to the announcers, it was pretty windy. The hurdles results bear this out, with a wind reading of -2.6. As I was watching the race, I noticed that the pack kept bunching up on the home stretch. If it's really windy you're going to have a hard time keeping the pace honest. Not to mention that most of the guys weren't fresh and had no interest in keeping the pace fast.
Definitely was not what I would term as being "windy"... I was there and there was a TINY breeze. That really didn't play into it at all. Seemed that racers were content in letting various people do the work for awhile, then someone else would get the inspiration to do it for a bit, then would die out... I was surprised the North Central dude came back after doing the work on quite a few of those laps. He had a HUGE group of people in the middle of the backstretch cheering for him every time he passed by - probably about 40 people comprised of athletes, parents and coaches yelling at the top of their lungs every single lap. Most others got cheers that were barely audible (and probably not even heard by the runner)... but the North Central guy I am sure couldn't help but hear it. You could hear it clear as day all the way over in the stands on the other side of the track! That had to motivate him! Great race to watch! The women's race played out the same way... exciting right down to the last 100 meters!
It was also at least 80 degrees on the track.
I understand that some races are tactical and so on, but it does get a little frustrating, as a fan of track, knowing the NCAA meet will be so bad, especially for distance events. Everything longer than the 800 comes down to who has the fastest 600 after running X meters. Especially seeing that 5k won in 14:41-- it was like watching Butler in this year's basketball final, as in, how many dozens of D3 guys must have felt capable of that? It's a shame that those distance events get so atrocious, just from a perception standpoint. I'm beginning to think they should have a regular season champion and a meet champion... or at least make some rules adjustment that says the NCAA champ. must run below the auto. qualifying time in order to get the title.
jag wrote:
I understand that some races are tactical and so on, but it does get a little frustrating, as a fan of track, knowing the NCAA meet will be so bad, especially for distance events. Everything longer than the 800 comes down to who has the fastest 600 after running X meters. Especially seeing that 5k won in 14:41-- it was like watching Butler in this year's basketball final, as in, how many dozens of D3 guys must have felt capable of that? It's a shame that those distance events get so atrocious, just from a perception standpoint. I'm beginning to think they should have a regular season champion and a meet champion... or at least make some rules adjustment that says the NCAA champ. must run below the auto. qualifying time in order to get the title.
how about the 2 best people won both the 5 and 10k. I don't understand how you could be unhappy with the outcome. Spain crushed the field because he is a better runner than everyone else. Do you think they should not hand out an olympic medal to Bekele when he runs 13:01 because 3 Americans are capable of running that fast?? Don't be an idiot.
jag wrote:
I understand that some races are tactical and so on, but it does get a little frustrating, as a fan of track, knowing the NCAA meet will be so bad, especially for distance events. Everything longer than the 800 comes down to who has the fastest 600 after running X meters. Especially seeing that 5k won in 14:41-- it was like watching Butler in this year's basketball final, as in, how many dozens of D3 guys must have felt capable of that? It's a shame that those distance events get so atrocious, just from a perception standpoint. I'm beginning to think they should have a regular season champion and a meet champion... or at least make some rules adjustment that says the NCAA champ. must run below the auto. qualifying time in order to get the title.
Possibly the stupidest thing I have ever heard. You sir are truly the king idiot. I hope letsrun makes a Stupidest Post of the Year and awards it to you!
was there wrote:
Definitely was not what I would term as being "windy"... I was there and there was a TINY breeze. That really didn't play into it at all. Seemed that racers were content in letting various people do the work for awhile, then someone else would get the inspiration to do it for a bit, then would die out... I was surprised the North Central dude came back after doing the work on quite a few of those laps. He had a HUGE group of people in the middle of the backstretch cheering for him every time he passed by - probably about 40 people comprised of athletes, parents and coaches yelling at the top of their lungs every single lap. Most others got cheers that were barely audible (and probably not even heard by the runner)... but the North Central guy I am sure couldn't help but hear it. You could hear it clear as day all the way over in the stands on the other side of the track! That had to motivate him! Great race to watch! The women's race played out the same way... exciting right down to the last 100 meters!
The "North Central guy" is Mike Spain and he deserves all of the attention. Being in the same conference as North Central and having watched him race (sometimes tripling), I know what he is capable of. Ultimately, this athlete could have run faster if he needed to, he didn't need the NCC fans cheering. The fact that he didn't PR in a championship race does not in any way diminish his performance; that is the way championship races work.
All I have to say is that D-III running deserves more attention. All of the runners you see at D-III nats and many more could be very competitive in D-I and D-II programs. Runners like Nick Guarino, Mike Spain, Dan Benton, etc. and programs like UW-La Crosse, North central, McMurry, etc. all command respect. I would love to see how D-III athletes would compete in Stanford Meets.
3than wrote:
All I have to say is that D-III running deserves more attention. All of the runners you see at D-III nats and many more could be very competitive in D-I and D-II programs. Runners like Nick Guarino, Mike Spain, Dan Benton, etc. and programs like UW-La Crosse, North central, McMurry, etc. all command respect. I would love to see how D-III athletes would compete in Stanford Meets.
I'm sorry, but that is just wrong. I'm a d3 guy, and I love d3, and Mike Spain would kick my ass. But they(top d3 guys) would get their ass's kicked in d1. take a look at the performance list on directathletics for the 5k. He wouldnt even be in the top 100. Sorry to be a debbie-downer, but its just the truth
I'm going to have to agree here. Even though I was the fastest D3 runner in my event the year I graduated, I was barely competitive against D1 regional qualifiers even after improving. Guys who run 46/1:48/3:44/13:50 (all-time D3 times) are chumps when you upgrade to the big boy leagues. I used to defend D3, but the "D1 level" guys come around only every few years, if that.
not so much wrote:
3than wrote:All I have to say is that D-III running deserves more attention. All of the runners you see at D-III nats and many more could be very competitive in D-I and D-II programs. Runners like Nick Guarino, Mike Spain, Dan Benton, etc. and programs like UW-La Crosse, North central, McMurry, etc. all command respect. I would love to see how D-III athletes would compete in Stanford Meets.
I'm sorry, but that is just wrong. I'm a d3 guy, and I love d3, and Mike Spain would kick my ass. But they(top d3 guys) would get their ass's kicked in d1. take a look at the performance list on directathletics for the 5k. He wouldnt even be in the top 100. Sorry to be a debbie-downer, but its just the truth
Look outside distance running! Eric Woodruff jogged 21.15 in the 200m prelims and set a meet record last year with a 20.85. He got screwed with a real bad head wind in the finals though. Women's 100m had top women's seeds running 11.66 and 11.67, with one of those women running 23.96! Ashlyn Chavis' LJ was 20' 3" and she is only a junior. Of course let's not forget TWO 3:45 1500 runs this year and a 1:48 800 as well. Face it kids, D3 isn't very deep. But the top tier kids would put up a fairly good fight in a lot of D1 meets... Regionals included. D3 has become more competitive and much more telented in the last 5-6 years.
not so much wrote:
I'm sorry, but that is just wrong. I'm a d3 guy, and I love d3, and Mike Spain would kick my ass. But they(top d3 guys) would get their ass's kicked in d1. take a look at the performance list on directathletics for the 5k. He wouldnt even be in the top 100. Sorry to be a debbie-downer, but its just the truth
isn\'t that why there\'s 3 separate divisions in ncaa??? to compete at different levels of ability and school size? enough with debating this topic. let\'s talk about how impressive some guys were yesterday and accomplished their own goals and stop comparing them against obviously superior and more accomplished athletes. how about how sick guarino\'s and spain\'s doubles were. i don\'t care what division they\'re in. they raced tough and proved that they\'ve been working their asses off all season.
1:48 doesn't even compare to the 1:44-45-46 times that A LOT of the best 800m runners in D1 have run. Lets face it, D3 talent has for sure improved these last 5 years or so, but D1 has improved even more and now these guys(D3 and D2)are just further and further out of the real pool of talent and I promise you the D2 and D3 guys will be really struggling to be getting a shoe contract come June and July.
You are a moron if you think A LOT of d1 guys run 1:44 or 1:45. Hell even 1:46 is a pretty impressive D1 time. How many guys do that per year? 5-6? Do you understand what "a lot" means?
I have been holding this in all weekend, but now that the meet is over... how about the East coast choking on a fat one again... hahaha... Midwest all the way baby. We be rollin all yall in trakk son. word.
Joe Mama wrote:
I have been holding this in all weekend, but now that the meet is over... how about the East coast choking on a fat one again... hahaha... Midwest all the way baby. We be rollin all yall in trakk son. word.
and what did you do to contribute?
Joe Mama wrote:
I have been holding this in all weekend, but now that the meet is over... how about the East coast choking on a fat one again... hahaha... Midwest all the way baby. We be rollin all yall in trakk son. word.
At least people in the East use proper English and grammar!
BTW - East won both 100 and 200 races, 800, 1500, steeple and 4x4 on the men's side. Also won the javelin in the field. Choke on that fat one.