What was the purpose of Tuohys ncaa racing tactic

Running wide didn’t cost her the race. Tuohy was better. I believe if Tuohy had gone with her at 1k, result would’ve been the same. Tuohy would’ve tucked in behind her and sprinted past on the final hill. i.e. spring nats.

Tuohy is currently on another level. Will Valby beat her later this year? Maybe. But the match ups say it all right now.

You managed to question the one and only person that doesn't need their racing tactics questioned.

The purpose of her racing tactic was to win. She did exactly that--brilliantly.

Lets take Katelyn out of the equation. Where would people rate Valby historically? Not in terms of career, but just talent. I don't recall ever seeing a women's college runner just blow away the field like she did race after race. How many college runners had the strength to do what she does, taking a race out fast and not fading? Was there someone else from previous years who was stronger in college than Valby?

Thanks for posting this...as I was reading the thread, this is exactly what I wanted to say. Tuohy clearly had a game plan...she was going to run at a certain pace and then time her move. Valby got further ahead than expected, so Tuohy's move also came sooner. She stated this. She knew that she was a stronger runner than Valby and that she could close (both on hill running and on the flats).

As for the rest of the field, yes it does show the respect that KT has that no was one willing to try and chase Valby if KT wasn't. But when Tuohy made her move, none of them were able to answer. Olemomoi tried, but gave that thought up very quickly.

The pace was fast...look how many runners broke the old course record.

I will also say, Tuohy was not staying with the pack to ensure the 'team' win. Tuohy ran at a pace that she knew she would be able to hammer the second half hard. She did not need to go out with Valby at the start. She knew her ability and executed perfectly.

So again, why did she run this strategy....because she knew she could win!!

Valby gave it a great effort. I do think she went too soon....simply because she slowed in the last km. Part of that would be just course knowledge though....she likely did not expect the hills to be so difficult. But that is hindsight....great to see a runner say 'F it!!' and give it a shot. A lot more exciting than watching all those track races where everyone paces slow for the final kick.

Amy Skierez, Michelle Dekker

Good names.

My feeling after watching some of her races this year is that she’s never been full out in any of them. Stay with the pack and take off when appropriate. But all those were without Valby. This time, when she went, she unleashed everything she had in pursuit. Valby wasn’t slowing much but you could see she was in a bit of distress.

Valby will be wicked on the track so there’s plenty more showdowns to come.

Valby ran a very strong race but no way was she beating KT. Tuohy made up over 11 seconds and gapper her by over 3 for a swing of ~15 seconds in 1.5k; she didn't just catch Valby, she basically ate her alive. Tuohy was not losing that race in any scenario other than the hamstring flaring up. If Valby paced it differently Tuohy simply would have adjusted accordingly.

I'm really looking forward to seeing them duke it out on the track in the spring; though I think Valby was never going to win Saturday she showed she's gritty and strong for sure. She gets her racing tactics figured out a bit better and she will be formidable indeed.

Valby will be a wicked pacesetter on the track, so there's plenty more opportunities for fast finishers to get towed along.

Valby got the best possible result for her on that day, so she did something right. Sure, running away after one km is a bit early but very little would have changed had she waited a bit longer. In fact, it must have had a bit of a shock value to see her go so early and had she waited until mid-race, someone else besides Tuohy might have gone with her and she might not have got 2nd place. Also, front runner types often don't like running in a pack, are sometimes prone to getting tripped, so they have to lead and others could draft, so they can run away early to keep to their own rhythm.

Except the sub 2 project showed the benefits of running in a pack. The issue with running WRs is that there is no pack that can keep up. In Sub 2 the runners in the pack rotated in and took turns.

The energy savings in cycling are far larger because the velocity is substantially larger. If you are the 4th guy in a line you are doing about 30% of the work of the guy in the lead.

Great point. It is the same way Tuohy needs to run the 1500m (for now) because as good as her kick is, she can't run a 400m close like the 800m/1500m runners ... yet. Tuohy pretty much has one way to win a 1500m (front run), and she has said that herself.

imho the big beneficiary of what Tuohy did was Chmiel. Tuohy staying where she was kept a big pack there, and tho Tuohy pretty much led that pack, Chmiel sat right in the middle of it, maybe until she started moving at around 5K.

I am more hesitant to speculate on Valby because tbh I have not seen more of her than the NCAA 5000m vs. Tuohy and the XC race two days ago. Frontrunners without a good kick usually have to be much better than the rest of the field, otherwise they are likely to be outkicked. Besides developing speed the best strategy might be to try to break away mid-race or (in longer races) try a fast last 800-1200m. Gidey did the latter in the 2019 Pre 3k, the Brussels DL 5k and the Doha 2019 WC 10k but Hassan was too strong. Some others were dropped who might have been a danger if it had come to the fast last lap only (Gidey got 3,2,2 in these races)

On a lower level, Can managed to run away midrace from McColgan in this years European 10k (and Can also did this in several european XC races successfully) but it didn't work in the 5k as Klosterhalfen caught her. In the 2019 European under 23 (so roughly college age) Alina Reh ran away easily in the 10k (with a sub 32 time) but was tailed and beaten in the 5k. (around 15:07 finishing time, the races might be findable still (partly) on youtube).

Tuohy seems fast enough at least for the "fast last km" strategy (her 1500 pb is rated slightly better in IAAF points than her 5000m) but she should develop it and get to sub 2:40 1k and eventually around 4 min 1500m.

Not so sure about Valby; the same applies but I don't know if she can realistically get to a 4:05 or faster 1500m while remaining as strong in the longer distances. So eventually she might have to go to the 10000m or road races.

Chmiel has the same final closing split (if I read it accurately) as Tuohy and finished within 7 seconds of Valby. She separated herself from the pack quite impressively.

Winning

Right she did, and I think being able to tuck in behind Tuohy and others for much of the race helped her conserve energy.