McFatty wrote:
"newname" is an idiot. NXN runs about 198 kids in their races and NCAA runs about 215. The difference is negligible.
Reread what I wrote. How would you fold all the individuals that go to FL into the field now and have it grow? I am assuming that you think that all the top teams that attend NXN NOW should still be going? I assume that you would want all the nation's best that go to FL NOW to also be running?
The NCAA field is not all decided by the District Meet, it is decided by a highly selective committee. So, the point is that right now NXN sorts out most (but not all) of the nation's best teams and FL sorts out most (but not all) of the nation's best individuals. Combine the two fields and you have MORE runners on a 5k course. Too many.
Some great runners don't go to FL for different reasons. Some good teams don't go to NXN. If there was an all-in meet probably everybody under 15:30, and every good team would try to make it.
I guess you could limit the field to 16-20 teams and 48 or 64 individuals (12 or 16 per region) and then you would come up with your 160-204 runners. I just don't think it would be a "real" individual national championship like FL if you have to wade through all those runners, whether you are at the front or the middle.
You're free to feel differently, that's what makes the world go 'round. I don't think you are an idiot for thinking that.
A while back HS'ers had track post-season meets like the Keebler Invitational and the Golden West ot go to and this is where the best raced people from far away. Now we have the NB Nationals indoor and outdoor and the Keebler meet is no more and the Golden West is a shadow of its former self. Things change and maybe these XC meets will have a different emphasis in the future.
When I ran FL it was even more selective. It only allowed 32 boys and 32 girls. Things change over time, but I was still not an idiot.