The NXN course location needs to change!

Too Sloppy wrote:

rjakson wrote:

You realize last year's conditions were worse, right? Every returning kid said it in interviews. What you fail to realize on Saturday is the Hedengren effect on the boys: the boys race went out so conservative and soft. No one wanted to lead. No one wanted to push. Someone could have raced like Hedengren and yet no one did. That's why you are having trouble comparing times. My kid ran 15:30s last year and 15:40s this year.

I was there last year and this year. This year was far worse for the boys. They raced first last year so the course was wrecked ahead of time. It was missing the lake this year, but it was worse in general. The course got so bad towards the end.

I can't even comment on the suggestion that Hendengren's racing strategy all of sudden made her better than a lot 9:10 and 4:20 kids.

2023: Jojo Jourdan was 2:58-6:01.

2024: Vause was 2:57-6:03.

Douchebagsanonymous wrote:

KelsunCA wrote:

Footlocker has existed since the late 1970s. Nike butted in with the bigger name and money, and has really diluted Footlocker unfortunately. Shame Sadie E and Rylee Blade nit running Dec 14 FL in SD where they both live in So Cal. Hope Chiara Daly wins. NXN really ruined it. Footlocker a better course and way better weather!

FL champions still outperform NXN post High School.

Cole Hocker, Grant Fisher and Edward Cheserek have more NCAA championships and Olympic Medals, ARs, than..... well, basically only Nico Young who has 2x indoor NCAA championships and that's it.

In fact, NXN champs on the boys side seem to cursed.

As far as courses go, they've both attained iconic status and shouldn't be changed. Over the years of watching, each course has instantly recognizable features that are great to watch either in person or on TV. Portland offers more weather variations but it's a true xc challenge, both as a course and as a team event. FL course has hills and downhill and only 40 very fast runners making it extreme exciting to watch.

They've both become classic events and their respective courses should stay put. ...I'm personally glad NXN has returned to full status following the contrived, too fast (flat and short) Runninglane event!

CoachMostert wrote:

RichardRider wrote:

Yeah, I guess we better get rid of the steeplechase in track too.

Charlie Vause, not mentioned as a favorite to win said with 1k to go he thought he had a chance to win. Personally, I think he was physically stronger for those conditions than the others and he knew it. Not sure what the other guys were thinking at any point in the race. The Oregon kid hung it out there and did his best to lead or hang with the leaders most of the way finishing 11th. He probably really didnt belong there either since his credentials coming into the race werent as stellar as many others.

So, between those two guys alone, Id have to go with the fact that they werent there to complain about not ideal conditions and just did their best with the cards dealt to them. Most of tbose athletes probably did the same.

It's unfortunate that some, OP and a few others, here just dont see it their way. Id say you probably just didnt get a well rounded experience with the sport and that's ok. But Im just curious as to why you want to push your values on their experience that they had. IF you were there, in the race, then Id say you have a right to complain. Nobody would probably listen to you seriously though. Face it, some people dont like sunny, hot and humid conditions either but it happens. Some people like it to be absolutely miserable and pray for the worse scenario because they know there are soft folk that wont be able to handle it mentally.

I would think you would have a bigger argument for 3rd or 4th place teams at some regionals being much better that some region champions. Oh, wait, which team was top 3 but got beat at state or which team had to get an at large bid and still made podium?

And all you want is a dry, flat course to produce record times by the obvious favorites. Oh, wait, that happened too. Damn! You need to find something else to complain about.

PS. Congratulations to all who were there, YOU earned it and will always remember it! Spectators: thank you for slopping around the course to support your favorite runners and teams, even those who didnt have their best day!!!

Looking forward to next year! See you in Portland, OR for a great tradition! Thanks Phil for the opportunity!!!

"There is no such thing as bad weather, just soft people." - Bill Bowerman

Coloradeo wrote:

All teams run the same course, so nobody really has an advantage. At the end of the day, the SW schools are simply better. The sport is popular there. If you go to NXR SW, the finish area is six layers deep with people trying to watch the race. There are fifteen different high school sections of races plus two citizens races. Heck, the Southwest states (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and Colorado) are some of the driest states in the country and hardly have any rain or mud, especially in the fall. But they run just fine in the mud in Oregon (top girls and boys teams, 15 of the top 50 in the girl’s race, 14 boys in the top 40). Heck, Rio Rancho, Provo, Niwot and Highlands Ranch are all well below the US average when it comes to precipitation. If any regions should have an advantage, it’s the S, the SE, the NW, the NE, the MW, NY, etc.

Link:worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankin...

12345678 wrote:

Douchebagsanonymous wrote:

FL champions still outperform NXN post High School.

Cole Hocker, Grant Fisher and Edward Cheserek have more NCAA championships and Olympic Medals, ARs, than..... well, basically only Nico Young who has 2x indoor NCAA championships and that's it.

In fact, NXN champs on the boys side seem to cursed.

As far as courses go, they've both attained iconic status and shouldn't be changed. Over the years of watching, each course has instantly recognizable features that are great to watch either in person or on TV. Portland offers more weather variations but it's a true xc challenge, both as a course and as a team event. FL course has hills and downhill and only 40 very fast runners making it extreme exciting to watch.

They've both become classic events and their respective courses should stay put. ...I'm personally glad NXN has returned to full status following the contrived, too fast (flat and short) Runninglane event!

Hocker and Chez both ran NXN (and Chez won btw, over a young Verzbicas). Hocker finished 2nd