Bower Man wrote:
GBPUSD = 1.39 wrote:
German's 14:24 Woodward is also probably the second greatest individual HS XC performance ever, behind Ritz's 14:10 MI state win. Other contenders are Craig Virgin's 13:50 (and LV's 13:53), Sarah Baxter's absurd 2012 NXN win, and Ritz and LV's 2000 and 2010 FL wins respectively...but 14:24 solo at Woodward is otherworldly.
Agree that 14:24 on WP's accurate 5k course with one big hill, a small hill, lots of twists and turns, and several surface changes is close to, if not equal to, Ritz's 14:10 on the superfast Michigan Speedway course.
Just a small nitpick correction . . . don't forget Josh Methner's 13:49/3 mile IL state win a couple years ago to break Craig's 13:50 Detweiller Park course record.
However, have to state that a select few vintage East Course courses -- such as Holmdel Hills/NJ and Wickham Park/CT -- are so hilly that time comparisons to flat courses like Michigan Speedway or Woodbridge/CA are pretty much impossible.
If Aaron Sahlman or the Young bros don't break German's record next year, have to believe that 14:24 will last a few more generations.
Thanks for mentioning Methner's record -- I knew it had been broken, but I was under the impression that there was some issue with the course changing that year. I did a little digging and apparently I was incorrect -- Methner's record definitely belongs with the other greats.
FWIW, I'm trying my best to compare performances rather than just look at times -- i.e., why I mention Baxter's 2012 NXN win (over Cain, Efraimson, Cranny, and an otherwise absurd field), which she won in 19:17 in the most godawful course conditions imaginable. I'm unfortunately just not knowledgable enough about east coast XC history to include everything -- I'm sure Tuohy had some record shattering performances in there.