I'm surprised that there hasn't been more on this thread (or on HTC) lately. Maybe people are focusing on their training?
One thing I do like about this discussion is the near-absence of trash talk.
I'm surprised that there hasn't been more on this thread (or on HTC) lately. Maybe people are focusing on their training?
One thing I do like about this discussion is the near-absence of trash talk.
No dog in this fight wrote:
I'm surprised that there hasn't been more on this thread (or on HTC) lately. Maybe people are focusing on their training?
One thing I do like about this discussion is the near-absence of trash talk.
Frankly I'm not surprised no one's been on here... there were some poor Ivy performances this past weekend. No one likes to talk about that.
Well...... wrote:
Frankly I'm not surprised no one's been on here... there were some poor Ivy performances this past weekend. No one likes to talk about that.
If you ask me, it makes the predictions on both the men's and women's sides more interesting. The departure of a stacked senior class has left the Ivy League arguably the weakest it's been in the last few years, but as a result the teams are a lot more evenly matched from 1 to 8 and it'll hopefully mix things up a little.
Curham and Awad notwithstanding, the top individual finishers are harder to predict than they have been in past years, and a bad day from either of them blows the race wide open (Dooney? Pons? Giordano? Spillane? among many others).
And the team races are even closer, with the possible exceptions of the Princeton men and Dartmouth women. It'll make for some fun spectating and speculating in the next few weeks.
What were the poor performances? Did Princeton run this past weekend?
After two big races on the men's side which showcased arguably two of the top 3 or 4 teams in the league (Princeton at Notre Dame and Yale at Paul Short) who would the favorites be at this point? It seems like neither Yale nor Princeton had an incredible performance this past weekend, and Penn didn't do much to excite anyone (though great race by Awad). I'd have to think it'd between Princeton, Yale, and Dartmouth at this point when you factor in the meet in Boston last weekend, but I could see Harvard or Columbia catching these three teams if they get their acts together for Heps. Thoughts on who the favorite is now?
Heppyhephepper wrote:
After two big races on the men's side which showcased arguably two of the top 3 or 4 teams in the league (Princeton at Notre Dame and Yale at Paul Short) who would the favorites be at this point? It seems like neither Yale nor Princeton had an incredible performance this past weekend, and Penn didn't do much to excite anyone (though great race by Awad). I'd have to think it'd between Princeton, Yale, and Dartmouth at this point when you factor in the meet in Boston last weekend, but I could see Harvard or Columbia catching these three teams if they get their acts together for Heps. Thoughts on who the favorite is now?
From what I've seen Yale or Princeton for the win. But still 1 month to go...
It is just me but the league looks much weaker this year on the men's side and is wide open?
Look to the East: there are big things happening in Providence, RI. As Abe Lincoln once said, "I will prepare and some day my day will come."
man's man wrote:
It is just me but the league looks much weaker this year on the men's side and is wide open?
Much weaker than 2013- just to compare at this time last year, Columbia and Princeton had gone 1-3 at the Notre Dame Invitational, with Columbia upsetting #7 ranked Tulsa. Then on the individual side, Leakos from Harvard had just run 23:13 at Paul Short.
Last year at Heps, Columbia had 3 guys under 23:50, and 5 under 24:15. This year, I think a team with 1 sub 24 and the rest under 24:25 may have a shot.
In the space of a few years, I think we've become a little bit spoiled.
I can remember--and I don't have to think too far back, either--when a sub-4:00 Ivy guy was immediately hailed as an all-time great. Now it's more like: "Hey, whaddaya know--another one."
What I find exciting is seeing that *top* high school kids in other events--not just the League's "traditionally" strong middle-distance and distance--are going Ivy. Some truly exceptional throwers are coming in (and not just to Ithaca, either); and we're seeing a bit of national-level sprint/hurdle talent (as well as well as jumpers).
I do wonder whether all the recent hooraw about football and head injuries might make more sprinters (and/or their families) opt for track-only at the college level, rather than the FB/TF combo. If so, the Ivies might reap even more sprint talent.
My thoughts:
for the men's individual title battle: Awad (Penn) vs Pons (Princeton)
dark horse: Dooney (Yale)
for the women's individual title battle: Spillane (Cornell) vs Giordano (Dartmouth) vs Garry (Yale)
dark horse: Curham (Princeton)
But I second Princeton men and Dartmouth women winning the team titles.
And yes, we have been spoiled these last few years given the amount of talent we have witnessed in the conference. I am not anticipating anything close to the record number of people making NCAAs this year as they did last year (I'm thinking 2 teams for each gender, and maybe up to 7 individuals based off what I have seen so far). But that's what will make HepsXC that much more intriguing.
Was that Browns varsity squad at new England's today?
Yes, Brown ran their varsity at New Englands.
New England results: http://www.neicaaa.org/XC/2014XC/2014xchome.html#MV8K
Weekend of who is where and when:
Friday -
Wisconsin adidas Invite:
Columbia, Cornell (w), Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton (m)
Rothenberg Run:
Brown, Dartmouth
Saturday -
Princeton Invite:
Columbia, Cornell (m), Harvard, Penn, Princeton
PreNats:
Cornell (m), Yale, Princeton (w)
Given the results on the men's side from Wisconsin and Prenats, this really looks like a year when all 8 teams are going to show up at Princeton in 2 weeks thinking that they have a chance at winning!
Not sure I'd say all eight ;-), but certainly several!
I was impressed with Cornell's top-ten finish at Terre Haute, despite fifth-man problems. (They showed some good performances at Princeton on Saturday, so depth is not likely to be such a problem for them at Heps, where you can run twelve men.) I honestly had not expected them to compete at that level this year.
Some predictions to get some discussion going. This year will be very interesting - I think Princeton is the slight favorite, with the top 6 all showing potential to steal the win.
Awad is the clear favorite but I think penn will struggle with depth, at least looking at their results from this past weekend. Brown hasn't impressed much this year but they've shown up for heps in the past.
Aside from awad, there are a few individuals who can vie for the title. One guy that hasn't been called out is Gorman - he showed up big last year and is obviously a talented runner, although he hasn't done much yet this season.
1. Princeton
3. Dartmouth
3. Columbia
3. Cornell
5. Yale
5. Harvard
7. Penn
8. Brown
Looking at the contrast between yesterday's pleasantly- (or maybe unpleasantly-, if you were running) warm temps at Princeton, and today's much colder weather, I was somehow reminded of a similar situation about three years ago. Friday was a picture-perfect fall day in Princeton; the next day was Heps:
The women's race conditions might look worse, but I think the guys had it tougher. There was a cold hard rain just before the start, and everyone was already freezing on the starting line. Then the rain turned to ice, then snow. I have never felt more sorry for a field of runners in my life. I was wearing six layers and wished I'd put on seven, or maybe eight.
PS Replay quality is very poor on my computer--hope it's better on yours.
Hep$ wrote:
Aside from awad, there are a few individuals who can vie for the title. One guy that hasn't been called out is Gorman - he showed up big last year and is obviously a talented runner, although he hasn't done much yet this season.
1. Princeton
3. Dartmouth
3. Columbia
3. Cornell
5. Yale
5. Harvard
7. Penn
8. Brown
Your predictions are good but I think you're missing some things. First, you meant to make the second 3 teams tied for second, not third.
Also, what have Columbia and Cornell done to show they're tied with Dartmouth? I think that Princeton may be the slight favorite for the title, but Dartmouth has shown they're on line with Princeton at Wisconsin. Dartmouth's 5th runner was way back at Wisco, but Gorman clearly had a very bad day and if he's up with their 1-4 like he should be based off BC this year and Heps/regionals last year, Dartmouth crushes Princeton (though Pons had a bad day, although nowhere near as bad as Gorman). I think Princeton and Dartmouth are clear favorites, Columbia and Harvard have been beaten by Dartmouth solidly twice each this season, Penn has not shown they're on par with the rest of the Ivies yet but could surprise. Brown has lost to most Ivies already though they could be 5th or 6th on a good day.
That leaves Yale and Cornell. Yale could upset if they have a great day, and Cornell showed this past weekend they have a shot to win. I think that Heps will be really close this year with 3-4 teams having two guys in the top 12 or so, and two more guys in the top 18-20. It will come down to who has the most depth through 7 guys because one or two in the top 7 is bound to have a bad race, and you can't afford your 5th guy to be back at 30th at Heps and still win. I think Princeton and Dartmouth have the most depth through 7 (and 12, too) and which ever one of those teams has a 5th guy in the top 20 should be able to pull out the win. My predictions:
1. Princeton
2. Dartmouth
3. Cornell
4. Columbia
5. Yale
6. Harvard
7. Penn
8. Brown