You don't need to wait for ratings to see that these kids are flying
You don't need to wait for ratings to see that these kids are flying
Bethlehem over Shen in a close one at McQuaid. This has been said so many times already, and will be said a hundred more times before the end of the season but Shen’s gap from 4 to 5 is just brutal. Surprising to see too given the depth that they usually have.
I think it's most surprising bc Shen is such a massive school and had decently fast runners (5-7) returning from last year- did they all get injured or quit?
NYrunner fan wrote:
I think it's most surprising bc Shen is such a massive school and had decently fast runners (5-7) returning from last year- did they all get injured or quit?
They were 6-deep last year, and one of them graduated, and another quit XC for soccer
Section 2 Fan wrote:
Bethlehem over Shen in a close one at McQuaid. This has been said so many times already, and will be said a hundred more times before the end of the season but Shen’s gap from 4 to 5 is just brutal. Surprising to see too given the depth that they usually have.
As an aside… nothing says Amateur Hour like having your event website crash on race-day.
tale as old a time... will be excited this season though to see a back and forth between Shen and Bethlehem this year though
Corning boys second to Great Oak.
They have a solid top-4 now, with their 5th runner almost a minute back
Section 2 Fan wrote:
Bethlehem over Shen in a close one at McQuaid. This has been said so many times already, and will be said a hundred more times before the end of the season but Shen’s gap from 4 to 5 is just brutal. Surprising to see too given the depth that they usually have.
What hurts more is that if this years SR are even close to last years; after today’s performance they would be a podium favorite at NXN if they have that 4th. You’re talking ~ 150, 141, 136, 136, 124. That would have been insanely strong.
teams with that kind of structuring/imbalance really goes to show that your most important runner (for being competitive at a high level) is your fifth runner! you can have four girls running in the 135-150 SR, but if your fifth runner is well below 100 SR you're pretty much cooked (or going to squeak out close wins over balanced teams who can fit 7 runners before your fifth)
Ward Melville wins Suffolk Coach’s invitational
Chaminade got destroyed by Bishop Hendricken RI. They are lacking a 5th runner at the moment, but the same would have happened if they had a 5th.
If there was no NY team better than Chaminade, it would tell a lot about the NY region
Shen curse sounds like (even though the graduation/soccer excuse explains it pretty well). I just remember Shen losing to Saratoga at sectionals back in 2014 via tie breaker. Looked totally dominant through four, but their fifth was too far back...
Ward Melville look like a competent squad at least. Corning were better here than pre-states but 5th man is still a sticking point. Speed ratings will be some additional context but guessing they will be something like 180-171-167-166-149...
Ward Melville feels like they’re in a similar camp to some other teams we’ve seen recently, great top 2, passable 3-4, tough drop off to the 5.
Brighton was only 6 points behind Corning and actually beat them in the merge because of that brutal drop off at the 5 that Corning also has.
I’m not sure what’s going on with Fairport, maybe people constantly trashing them for peaking too early has them swinging totally in the opposite direction but they seemed to be running enough of their top guys that as of right now it doesn’t look like they’re getting past Brighton in section 5.
Section 2 Fan wrote:
Bethlehem over Shen in a close one at McQuaid. This has been said so many times already, and will be said a hundred more times before the end of the season but Shen’s gap from 4 to 5 is just brutal. Surprising to see too given the depth that they usually have.
Shen's #5-#10 were separated by 32 seconds (19:53-20:25). Someone needs to emerge from that group. In any large field Shen will be absolutely screwed. Maybe they can squeak through sectionals. But today they had a 26 point lead thru the top four and gave it all away on their #5.
Section 2 Fan wrote:
I’m not sure what’s going on with Fairport, maybe people constantly trashing them for peaking too early has them swinging totally in the opposite direction but they seemed to be running enough of their top guys that as of right now it doesn’t look like they’re getting past Brighton in section 5.
Fairport was missing one of their top 5 runners Hickey. Not sure how much that would have helped them.
Interesting to note that the guy who joined XC for the first time (Pacer) was their top guy today. He had a solid track season
Section 2 Fan wrote:
Ward Melville feels like they’re in a similar camp to some other teams we’ve seen recently, great top 2, passable 3-4, tough drop off to the 5.
Brighton was only 6 points behind Corning and actually beat them in the merge because of that brutal drop off at the 5 that Corning also has.
I’m not sure what’s going on with Fairport, maybe people constantly trashing them for peaking too early has them swinging totally in the opposite direction but they seemed to be running enough of their top guys that as of right now it doesn’t look like they’re getting past Brighton in section 5.
It sucks that Melville had a low stick last year who graduated, and this year has a top 4 who is very good with a drop to 5.
On another note, Sloan Wasserman finishes top 20 in the merge including the boys at the Admiral Harrier. She was second at class b states last year. She’s looking like a threat to go top 25 in the nation this year.
On the boys side, it looks like Ward Melville and North Rockland are the 2 favorites right now.
WM had better speed ratings, but North Rockland hasn’t raced since September 5. Ward Melville’s first race was at Queensbury.
None of the teams hit a 170 speed rating average for the top 5 scorers yet
At Mcquaid is that great oak Canada or California?
Hell of a trip from California if so. Also, if you’re going to go across the country, why not just go to manhattan in a few weeks.
Speedmatters wrote:
At Mcquaid is that great oak Canada or California?
California