NCAA Womens XC National Championships!!! Predictions, Discussion, Analysis!!!

wow, that looks really bad on the NCAA. I always assumed that they were forced to pick that date for some specific reason, but that doesn't appear so. Why in the world would they put them days apart...even one week later would have made a huge difference.

What a disappointment to all the athletes in both the Indoors and XC....it likely means that both meets may not get the best vs best.

This schedule provides for huge savings in travel costs and it decreases Covid exposure due to so many less flights. It makes sense.

predictor of this wrote:

This schedule provides for huge savings in travel costs and it decreases Covid exposure due to so many less flights. It makes sense.

The ncaa doesnt care too much about covid, lol.

There are so few athletes at Indoor Nationals. Only 16 per event with some doubling. It makes sense to hold the XC Nationals on the 15th. Only very few are affected by participating the Indoor meet. This way the XC kids can compete, get a down week after it and get ready for outdoors. You can't feel sorry for the Arkansas team. They sit there and have indoor meet after indoor meet with their facility. They had many more opportunities than other teams for indoor meets. So pick which meet you want to do, and stop whining.

Jedsdead wrote:

Curious about Clairmont...is she not racing the XC? The NCAA XC show made it sound like she was running., and I haven't seen anything saying otherwise.

Clairmonte is one of 10 athletes listed for NC State (as is Tuohy) but no Starliper

* 12athletes if I could count I would be dangerous

I have BYU, Stanford, and Arkansas. BYU s team has run completely separate from the indoor team even practicing separately from each other so really isn't impacted by this crazy scheduling. The one thing with BYU is Whittni Orton and whether she will run and how healthy she will be if she does.

I do think if she runs, it will be that she's ready to go and ready help the team out and I think BYU takes it. If she does not, BYU probably won't be top 3. The difference between a top 5 runner nationally and BYU's 5th runner most likely would be a 50+ point difference

mark22b wrote:

I have BYU, Stanford, and Arkansas. BYU s team has run completely separate from the indoor team even practicing separately from each other so really isn't impacted by this crazy scheduling. The one thing with BYU is Whittni Orton and whether she will run and how healthy she will be if she does.

I do think if she runs, it will be that she's ready to go and ready help the team out and I think BYU takes it. If she does not, BYU probably won't be top 3. The difference between a top 5 runner nationally and BYU's 5th runner most likely would be a 50+ point difference

Agree with this. Hoping Orton runs and Lawson doesn't pull out a top 5 performance like she seemed to be capable of going into the season. Either of those could make Stanford the winner, both would make it nearly a certainty.

Stanford by 50. 2 in the top 5 makes it hard to lose.

Looks like Orton is running for BYU....I would certainly think that places them as the solid favorite (in my mind). With Clairmonte likely running, that puts NC State in contention for podium although alot of uncertainty with their squad. Stanford looks solid, their 1 & 2 should top 5 - 8...just depends if the other 3 can run a decent race. NM looks solid.

Arkansas would be my dark horse...

My pics:

BYU

Stanford

NC

NM

Ark

Jedsdead wrote:

Looks like Orton is running for BYU....I would certainly think that places them as the solid favorite (in my mind). With Clairmonte likely running, that puts NC State in contention for podium although alot of uncertainty with their squad. Stanford looks solid, their 1 & 2 should top 5 - 8...just depends if the other 3 can run a decent race. NM looks solid.

Arkansas would be my dark horse...

My pics:

BYU

Stanford

NC

NM

Ark

Too many uncertainties, but I think if both Orton and Clairmonte run and run pretty well BYU and NC State become favorites. I have a fair amount of doubt in that. Stanford looks like a sure podium, relying on the 5th runner to a large degree. finishing in top 70 they would be tough to beat.

Stanford certainly has the most talent who are guaranteed to run, and who are healthy. NM is not too far off of them.

Orton is not 100%, but who knows how close she actually is. But even at 90%, I think BYU takes it.

NC has great upfront talent, but Clairmonte's health is unknown and 2 of the top 3 are running 5k on Friday. I actually think Chmiel could have been a top 10 contender individually had it not been for the 5k. Her ACC run in Oct was disappointing, but I fully expected that she would continue to improve on 2019's performance. Same thing for Steelman.

i have no idea what to expect from Arkansas...there are probably 4 or 5 other teams who could easily surprise the field.

As a few have mentioned on here already, the team race is going to be determined how far back the 5th runner is...could be a high number. Should be a very interesting race. Much more so than the mens...where the team event is likely locked up between the top 2.

I may have been mistaken on Clairmonte. I think we may see her on Monday, though maybe not at 100%. We'll have to see how Steelman and Chmiel are able to recover from the 5k tonight. It's gonna be an uphill battle for the Pack. Pun intended.

I don't think running the 5K is a big deal. I'm sure Runners who are looking ahead to Monday will not kill themselves tonight. I don't think NC state has any chance to medal in indoor so I'm sure the runners will keep in mind they have much more of a chance on Monday.

He-Man Womxn Hater Club wrote:

Should be womxn.

I predict Arkansas will run terrible and not even podium. And this will come right after they blow the indoor meet as well. No championships for the hogs this year.

BOOM! Called it baby!

JiffyMix wrote:

I think that Henes did medal in the 5000 but she has no xc eligibility remaining so it's a moot point anyway. As an aside, she's the best looking female collegiate distance runner.

I am sure Luis thinks so

Fairly certain Arkansas and NC State are now out of the xc title conversation. Down to Stanford, NM and BYU and maybe Colorado due to Wetmore.

naw wrote:

Fairly certain Arkansas and NC State are now out of the xc title conversation. Down to Stanford, NM and BYU and maybe Colorado due to Wetmore.

I don't know. BYU with Orton, Stanford and NM look like the top 3 then it gets messy.

Who is Luis?