1. Josh McDougal- VCP 5k record, 4th at FL nats, 205 speed rating. 2. John Trautmann- Saratoga record (14:35), Bear Mountain record (14:24), 2nd at FL nats as a Junior 3. John Gregorek- Sunken Meadow record holder, and won Feds twice I think? 4. Marty Beauchamp- VCP 5k record holder (15:15), 3rd at FL nats 5. Charles Millioen had the Fed record and was 4th behind Ritz, Hall, and Webb at FL nats. (not to mention the others)
Murdock is a NY legend, and I don't think he'd be more than 2-3 seconds behind if they were all at their top, but I don't think I could add him to the top 5.
You have McDougal way too high, for one thing. He could focus his whole season on the championship races, since he had no team obligations, yet managed only 4th at FL Nats. Murdock was 3rd at FL Nats (204 SR) the week after winning handily at NTN (202 SR)… the culmination of a 7-week meat-grinder of championship races and qualifiers that by itself was better than McDougal’s entire HS XC career.
Charlie M was really good… but doesn’t belong on this list. Same goes for Meindl.
I definitely don't think McDougal is too high. He also ran 15:08 at VCP (204 SR). Murdock had the opportunity for a better HS XC career I agree, but this is talking about who would provide the best individual performance.
Charles M was 4th behind the Big 3, had a 204 SR, and the Fed record. He's not underrated, although I could see this 5th spot being quite close.
Pennsylvania has had some great runners and teams and challenging courses, such as Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia. Our all time list is impressive. Who would you add?
Drew Griffith: Butler, 1st Footlocker 2023 Ryan Pajak: Ringgold, 2nd Footlocker 2023 Patrick Anderson: Mount Lebanon, 3rd Footlocker 2019 Paul Vandegrift: Archbishop Kennedy, 4th at Kinney 1986 Noah Affolder: Carlisle, 6th Footlocker 2016 Dan Coval: 7th Footlocker 1999
Prior era:
John Burns: LaSalle, Set many course records
Tom Donnelly: LaSalle, Briefly held the VCP record
1. California 2. Illinois 3. Michigan 4. Indiana 5. Ohio
Utah’s top-5 arguably doesn’t include two NXN champs (Troutner and Jourdon) and a sub 8:40 two-miler (Evans). Utah is a top-5 state.
I mentioned who I think are the big 3 (Kennedy, Scharsu, and Zishka), but I also forgot to mention Scott Fry. That's a solid 4, and not sure who their 5th would be.
You have McDougal way too high, for one thing. He could focus his whole season on the championship races, since he had no team obligations, yet managed only 4th at FL Nats. Murdock was 3rd at FL Nats (204 SR) the week after winning handily at NTN (202 SR)… the culmination of a 7-week meat-grinder of championship races and qualifiers that by itself was better than McDougal’s entire HS XC career.
Charlie M was really good… but doesn’t belong on this list. Same goes for Meindl.
I definitely don't think McDougal is too high. He also ran 15:08 at VCP (204 SR). Murdock had the opportunity for a better HS XC career I agree, but this is talking about who would provide the best individual performance.
Charles M was 4th behind the Big 3, had a 204 SR, and the Fed record. He's not underrated, although I could see this 5th spot being quite close.
no way Mcdougal should be higher than Trautman.. It's 40 years later and Trautman still has both of those course records
1976 had Chapa, Eric Hulst (World Junior XC champion), Thom Hunt (2nd in WJR XC that year, 1st the following year as a college freshman), and Alberto Salazar (5th in WJR XC).
Didn't it also have Bill McChesney Jr? Absolutely stacked year.
I mentioned who I think are the big 3 (Kennedy, Scharsu, and Zishka), but I also forgot to mention Scott Fry. That's a solid 4, and not sure who their 5th would be.
Hocker? FL champ. Indiana would be top 10 with that lineup.
There was also Trautmann who ran for Minnesota. He was somewhat legendary as he had a tremendous kick for a 2 miler! I doubt if he won a state title though.
5. Sintayehu Taye (former freshman mile record holder for almost a decade 4:09)
6. Will Geoghegan
Geoghegan never went to Footlocker but his collegiate career was where he luckily got to show a lot of his full potential helping Cheserek and the Oregon Ducks win indoor and outdoor titles. Ran 13:17 the summer after his senior year in college and got injured afterwards never to run at that level again. Still my pick after all these years as the most talented long distance runner to come out of Maine. Obviously greatest Mainer period would have to go to Bruce Bickford (ranked #1 in the 10k 1985), Erik Nadeau ('95 Barclona Indoor 1500m Bronze), and Ben True.
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