Nuttycombe Invitational 2022

"Group of 5 women coming across 5k in 16:07, with an awesome battle during that final kilometer run in 3:10 for the victor, final time of 19:17 with Tuohy for the win."

Who will push the pace that fast in this field?

It is still odd that the same 2 went 1-2 in the other order but in a slower time at Louisville in the NCAA championship that year. Decent weather there too.

Tuohy will. She’ll know that if McCabe is with her, she’ll have to face an unforgiving kick. She’ll try to run that kick out of McCabe, which should put them through that 5k in about 16:07.

The course was changed in 2018, the year Wisco hosted nationals and I think is now a tad longer. I don’t think you should compare times pre/post 2018.

UW told me it was modified but did not answer when I asked if it affected times....

Tactical start going out in 2k at 6:40 (3:20/km). They weren’t going for the fastest time ever, just focused on the win. Seidel and Ostrander hit 5k in 16:25-ish (hard to tell from camera angle), which lowered their per km average to 3:17-ish, Seidel’s final km was about 3:03, she just BLASTED that…

It doesn't look like Mccabe is running though.... WV not listed

Well that’s disappointing. Tuohy is certainly the class of this field then.

Well, it’s not like Tuohy hasn’t ever been the lone runner out there in front by a LONG way and just running to run and still obliterating records. Self-motivated record attempt this upcoming weekend then.

I don't see it. I see it more like the NCAA regional 5000.

You know Tuohy is self-motivated by running fast. She already set a course record on her first outing this year. She’s going into this race, now knowing that without a shadow of a doubt, she’s the class of this field. Her motivation won’t be to win, she already knows she will win.

Her motivation will be to beat the course. The only way to measure that is by time, the fastest ever run.

Agreed the hill at 4k and the hill at 5k are generally where you see big moves. No reason to go earlier. The field is too good.

This field is FANTASTIC from a team perspective, absolutely.

From an individual perspective, for Tuohy, it is not. She’s going to want to challenge herself on a hilly course. Here’s her opportunity, already knowing she’s going to win. So, she’s going to want to test her fitness on a hilly course, out in front, for the record.

You are correct, both the Men's course and the Women's course were lengthen with the adjustment of the course. As I understand it Sean Hartnett was involved in the redesign and measurement. You will see his name on many of the course map graphics that have kilometer splits. He is a recently retired geography prof with a specialty in GIS. He also provides the elevation profile on the UW course and some of the Marathon Majors.

And note that courses with curves can be "cut" differently year-to-year which can have at least a modest effect on the length. This probably affects new courses more than those in place for a longer period. In some cases the difference in distance might not matter if those running inside are running on rough terrain with higher and uneven growth. When fields are big and many teams are about equal so that many runners are together for much of the race you are going to get some runners almost edged in to that rougher terrain. In many Regional races, however, the runner quality is much more spread out so the pack thins quickly.

And, yes, these are cross country courses and the same course can be different year-to-year because of terrain - muddy, snow, hard packed - and the conditions at race time (hot, cold, windy). The UW course has never been hot for the Nutty race and probably will never be.

Well, it could be hot in those years where the race is held two weeks earlier due to hosting the NCAA Championship and having PreNats at the normal slot for Nutty.

This isn’t HS. She wants to win NCAA in late November. She certainly wants to win Nutty but this meet is Oct 14. She’s proven herself to be a savvy racer in college using race tactics that suggest she will go for the win off a big move in the last 2k. The time is irrelevant.

It’s not a matter of it not being HS. It’s a matter of what DRIVES her. There is no reason for her to use tactics next week, she already knows she’ll win. The only motivation for her next week will be to test herself in a 6k, to test herself on a hilly course, to test herself; not against the field, but against the clock…

I see her motivation in helping get the team as ready as possible to defend.....and in that Nov race to win. Nuttycombe is a good opportunity for the top group to race together against good competition.

I more often than not completely agree with you. However; in this situation, her hanging back to run in a pack with her team is of no benefit to the team. They already know she will win this race, and for Henes, Tuohy and the team itself, it’s better for Tuohy imho to test HERSELF. Example being at Joe Piane; she didn’t have to beat Chelangat by 12 seconds, and set a new course record, she put on the gas and ripped a fast final 1k. I don’t think that’ll be the test for her this weekend, she already tested that. I feel this weekend’s test will be for her to run fast the entire course on the hills and test her overall fitness. If she hangs back, she’s not testing herself.

Regardless of what happens, the fun thing is this: They haven’t even tapered yet…

You have not followed D1 women’s cross country very closely over the past 5 years if you are so sure any woman or team is good enough to run away and hide in a race with 20+ ranked teams. I’m guessing you also haven’t been to this race to see how it typically evolves.