NXN Midwest Regional - LaVern Gibson, Terre Haute

Here is the clip of Aden Bandukwala winning the state meet 1600, from being what looked like impossibly behind.

That was pretty awesome.

I just looked at his mileplit profile. He's committed to Duke so he is also smart. The kid seems to have a bright future.

It would appear that Mines went out too fast and faded but he actually ran even splits, the rest of the field was dogging it until the last lap. Whatever happened to Mines this year? Is he going to go to the Colorado School of Mines? Haha.

Aden is the more talented runner by far over Dylon. Dylon throws down ridiculous mileage and cookie cutter workouts, using his dad and himself as a trainer instead of his actual coach, who is very qualified, to race fast all season but not really peak. Aden carefully builds milage over the season and listens to his coach, who is extremely experienced, peaks at the right times to throw down incredible performances when it counts. You heard it here first, Aden beats Dylon at NXN and is the top IL finisher.

I don't know, I think Mines is super talented as well. And Viger who got 2nd (he was 19th overall at NXR Midwest two days ago - I think he will qualify with his team "at large") is headed to New Mexico; I hope he does well there. Bandukwala & Viger went 1 & 2 at the state XC meet 10 days ago in the 3A, large school division. Obvi they're both super talented runners.
It's been discussed on this forum before: Mines doesn't come from a "powerhouse distance" school, it's Joliet West H.S. Not to talk smack about their coaches, I have no idea who they are - I don't have one iota of information about them. From my own personal experience, I had to do it all *by myself* in track.My senior year, something happened (early in the season) where I decided not to trust my coaches anymore; I ended up writing the workouts for the distance team my senior year (and the coaches let me). Then one day I got punished for running fast at a track meet. Let me say that again for the people in the back: I GOT PUNISHED. for RUNNING FAST. at a TRACK MEET. Here's the story since no one will believe me: at the last minute, the distance runners (me & my teammates) decided to put together a B Team for the 4x400m relay. Then the B-team (aka, distance team) beat the A-team (aka, the sprinters). Lol.

for reasons - for which I am unsure of to this day (I think it was some kind of parent b.s.) - the coaches decided to *punish me* because I was the anchor leg who blew past the A-team to win the race. I wasn't advised pre-race that I wasn't supposed to win. So, overall, complete nonsense. I finished the h.s. career being 2nd in the state my senior year in track.

Not to make this all about me. My point is, Aden Bandukwala, 1st place in the above race = known to have a good coach. Camyn Viger, 2nd place in the above race = known to have a good coach. Marcellus Mines, 3rd place, obviously very talented, but coaching situation unknown. Remember those of us who have to "do it all on our own," and how much harder it is. (disclaimer: I'm not saying Mines has a cra##y coach, but not everyone has the advantages) The interesting thing about Mines is that he started out very good, even by sophomore year, if you look at his athletic net. Not sure who was coaching him. According to athletic net, he didn't run XC this fall.

I don't think he likes longer distances, what was his best time on Detweiller? Can't find any past results because these websites won't let you look at individual stats unless you pay.

They're also getting Connell Alford from Michigan, who was 10th on Sunday.

It’s hard not to be fans of both kids but i spoke with Nalley’s High School coach at length at Detweiler. Nalley is definitely not training like the other high school kids in illinois and it wasn’t cookie cutter. His mileage was nothing outlandish. His team won state and definitely peaked at the right time. I think we all love bunny but Nalley has proven to be able to handle fast races from the gun….He showed that against bunny at Richard Sprint. I think Nalley finishes the highest from the MW with faster competitors in the race handling the work load on a challenging course.

The Nalley kid just ran an IL #1 all time at Laverne Gibson, back to back xc state champion, 3 of some of the fastest times ever at Detweiler, and broke the all time record at Richard Spring which is one of the most prestigious meets in the US. I would say he runs fast when it matters. I don't care if his neighbor and the local preacher are his coaches ill send my kids to them tomorrow. I'm a fan of the kid from a small town at the bottom of Illinois. The hinsdale kid is legit as well. I hope both of them do well and i'm sure if they do they don't care who beats who. A bunch of haters that make stuff up.

Aden has respect for Viger and Nalley, and he mentions that respect in a Milesplit video from a couple of days ago. He is a genuinely nice kid and I think at Nationals he will not run from behind, which he has done too often. My take on Mines was that he lacked coaching, making the point that some of you have- I thought he needed to run a bit smarter; I was sure he would not win taking it out that far that fast. But he is also a real talent, who was hampered by injury earlier. The coaching for Bandukwala and Nalley is really good. I know one of the coaches really well. They are committed to their athletes.

As I remember the biggest criteria for an at large team is beating an Auto Qualifier during the season. I'd think the girls would be a lock as the beat the two Auto Qs 3 times each. I also believe South beat North a couple of times.

Good, roe treats women horribly. He called one girl "beefy." He needs to be reported to title 9.

How would Mas. Jackson (OH) have done in this race?

South beat North 3 times during the season - at Plainfield City Championships, at Palatine, and at the conference meet.

I'm also wondering if Barrington girls will get consideration based on the same criteria. They beat Prospect 3 times; Palatine, Sectional and State and beat DGN at Palatine too.

Dont think they would've advanced. On their best day, maybe top 5 or 6. Those Illinois teams are powerhouses. All 5 under 16 at LG? Yikes.

Based on how Olentangy and Mason did, probably top 7 at best.