ACC XC Championships 2023 Discussion Thread

Tuohy looked VERY impressive this morning, and another course record!

I was surprised Chmiel got defeated by Maatoug (impressive!).

Good to see Leah Stephens hold on to her position after she noticeably dropped back (but she held on to that, so kudos!).

Quarzo was only 36 sec back of Chmiel - it was 68 sec at NCAA championships last year and 46 at ACCs. Only 10 sec back of Stephens with Bush in between. Spreads off of Tuohy or Valby are meaningless when measuring teams. But Wilson of FL was 84 sec back of Asekol. I can't see FL competing with NC St. Whether NC St can compete with NAU remains to be seen. Would need more than they showed today.

Tynnyssma didn't finish. wonder if she got hurt or her fitness still isn't there yet.

Vin Lananna one of the largest contracts in all of running and finished 3rd in both races. Is it time for uva to rethink their decision since he has no conference titles?

Just as a test I plugged in Bush and Quarzo times vs Stephens from today into Nuttycombe results and NC St would have scored about 75 points so still well back of NAU. Bottomline they need 2 runners right with Stephens running well.

Rocky has minor injury, will be back for regionals

Last year at this time Maatoug was an 800 runner who had dabbled a bit in cross country, and had self-evaluated that her kick was stronger at 1500 than 800. Twelve months later she is considerably more aware that longer distances are her strength, after 4th in European U23 cross country, 5th in NCAA 5000 and bronze in European U23 5000.

She seems to be experimenting with the best strategy in cross country. In her opener this year she was basically tied entering the final kilometer then faded to 7th. At Nuttycombe she hung way in 38th then rallied late. Today was beginning to piece it together. But she's still not willing to risk a breakaway with the elite. Every time that situation presents itself she settles back.

Maatoug is still very good at 800, but only indoors.

Chmiel was struggling in the outdoor season. She was 8th in the 10000 and 16th in the 5000m at NCAAs. At Joe Piane she finished just ahead of Churchill. I think injuries are a factor. She always seems to show up at Nationals in XC though.

So what happened to the Syracuse men? Just got beat?

I don't think she's injured. she's a senior who's been a workhorse for NC State since she arrived. all those years at that level will wear on your body - look what happened to Taylor Roe.

she's also wise and knows to save her legs for Nationals, that's what it's all about.

a short video on team IG site

https://www.instagram.com/wolfpack_tf_xc/?hl=en

I plugged the times for the NC State top 5 at today's meet into the results from the 2022 NCAA Meet ( held on same course in Tallahassee as we know) and it looks like that would leave them with about 145 -150 points, not good enough for a title and maybe even a low as third. That's the bad news. Good news is Bush appears to be rounding into form and hopefully Tyynismaa is okay and will be a threat at regionals and nationals. They clearly need both to do well to have much of a chance. I would have some concerns about Stephens maintaining a high level of racing over the entire season, but who knows?

I would have considered NAU the favorite before today and this just reinforces that thinking. But Henes didn't just fall off the turnip truck so I would not count them out yet.

I just posted similar in another thread. Lacctic has NC State and Florida basically dead even at 2 & 3 now. And we haven't seen a full strength ok state. So ... it's a race.

Oh wow. Does Katelyn Tuohy have a double? I’m shocked how much smaller she is after just two weeks. She also has more color. Was she a bit ill at Nuttycombe?

Jessica Riden: UNC Associate Director of Track and Field (Women's Distance/XC)

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2023 Cross Country Roster

The official 2023 Cross Country Roster for the University of North Carolina Heels

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Dyestat article on the women's race. A course record for Tuohy (she broke Orton's record), nice write up of Maatoug as well. Tyynismaa apparently dropped out because of cramps.

dyestat.com

DyeStat.com - News - Katelyn Tuohy Runs Course Record, Wins Second Consecutive ACC Title To Lead Wolfpack

Apalachee Regional Park Brings Another Special Moment To North Carolina State Women's ProgramBy Ricky Quintana for DyeStatPhoto by David HicksVIDEOSTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - North Carolina State’s Katelyn Touhy claimed her second i...

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It is a strange course. Sandy and divoted and you cannot really drop people. Maatoug had an interesting comment on the course. She said it favors mid-distance runners, 1500 runners. I agree.

"Looking ahead, Touhy said her fitness is where it should be. Her comments summed up what everyone will be looking forward to in the next few meets: The run to the national championship and the hope of feeling fresh for that epic showdown with Florida's Parker Valby in three weeks.
“Everything is feeling good. We had a couple of big training blocks leading up to this time of year so I think our bodies are pretty fit. Once we start tapering off a little bit, we’ll be fresh. I’m looking forward to feeling fresh going into the rest of the championships season,” Tuohy said."

as some have surmised Tuohy will probably be faster at Nationals than she was 2 weeks ago. Whether it will be fast enough we all will find out.

I'd still think sitting Stephens at Regionals would not be the worst thing.

They will have to be very, very good to beat NAU.

They need to be full strength. Tyynisma has to run at a high level. Bush needs to be top 30. That is the challenge.