D II NATIONALS TEAMS

Yes, let us use rankings that are not really based off of actual facts for the most part.

Who can factually say that Wayne is not a top 6 team with their performance at regionals and that USI is not a top 10 team and that NKU is not a top 14 team and that Ashland is not a top 17 team and that the 2 other teams that finished with in 10 points of them at regionals aren't top 25 teams? In my honest opinion, there should be 7 ranked teams from the GL with 3 in the top 10. On any given day things can happen but if GVSU, Wayne and USI have just good days they will finish in the top 12.

The North Central teams get ranked high because they are in the North Central. Hopefully the weather is average at Missouri southern and the GL can bring home some scalps.

Don't use the rankings as an example of where teams should be. For god sakes, Queens and Florida Southern are ranked ahead of some teams that were ranked for most of the year and finished just behind the 21st ranked team in the country at regionals.

Great Lake Region performance on Saturday, November 17th:-

GVSU- 3rd

Wayne- 7th

Southern Indiana- 9th

NKU- 15th

wat do u think?

Anta Ceedent wrote:

Gale (3rd at Regionals, 4th at conference)

Young(4th at Regionals, 2nd at conference)

Polk (7th at Regionals, 5th at conference)

who gives a shit....same thing

Just because the run in Colorado doesnt make them any better.

Okay I tried to stay positive and not really rip on any schools but this is where I draw the line. The fans of GVSU are high on some type of drug to compare the Great Lakes to the North Central Region. I will use facts in order to sum this up.

Fact number 1: LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF TITLES FROM THE NCR VS THE GLR

Fact number 2: Take a historical look at the performances of GVSU @ NCAA's

Fact number 3: Lets take a look at the regional weekend

WSC had their top 4 runners ALL under 31 min for 10k.

Rasumessen ran a shocker of a race, but still enough to secure a win in the toughest region in DII XC

GVSU ran in Eduardsville (in Illinois and not that hilly of a place....I've seen it) Based on times Peck would have had WSC's 1-4 all comfortably ahead of him at the line. This is clearly enough to beat GVSU.

I do understand that no two xc courses are the same, but levels of competition can be compared. Nor do I believe that any school will put 4 runners ahead of Peck. The guy is top 10 material and could possibly take home a top 5 spot. I hate to say it, but look at the NCAA rankings. They are the way they are for a reason. It is the analysis of educated coaches around the nation. They take all factors into consideration.

Also keep in mind that neither race was run in Colorado. They were run in similar parts of the country. SIUE is a flat part of Illinois near the Missouri border and St. Louis. Vermillion is also flat and fast times can be run there.

WSC is ranked #1 for a reason. It would take a catastrophic event (lose a shoe, stress fracture fully breaks, fatigue, heat exhaustion all in one race) for GVSU to beat WSC this weekend.

I have a lot of respect for the guys who run at GVSU and even more for their coach(the guy has accomplished some major you know what) but i would just like to keep things into perspective

What happened to Suzie Rivard (DNF) from GVSU?

she fell at the regional and had a strained hamstring/ groin muscle that kept her out of most training the last two weeks

That's too bad about Suzie. It looks like her teammates came through.

I agree. Western didn't even perform to their full capability and easily crushed GV. Donnan has faded from early season form and clearly something was wrong with Rasmussen. Even Pennel is capable of better. While Hogarth came thru, Western was one race past its prime.

What happened to the Western women? Thats the worst team finish I have ever seen from them. Vandenbusche must be livid.

I don't think anyone can critizie Western. They ran very well yesterday 66 points!!! I agree Donnan and Rassamusen could have ran a little better but Rassamusen wasn't going to score, so it didn't really matter. Like I said they ran very well there was just a better team out there.

Rasmussen could have been an All- American and displaced the Abilene #4 or 5.

Which in the end result would make a difference how?!?

midist wrote:

I agree. Western didn't even perform to their full capability and easily crushed GV. Donnan has faded from early season form and clearly something was wrong with Rasmussen. Even Pennel is capable of better. While Hogarth came thru, Western was one race past its prime.

One race past its prime?? They put 5 runners in the top 20. That was the closest finish in DII history. Great team tactics among the 3 top teams. ACU just had better tactics. Nico knew that he would win the race and did he had to do in order to help his teamates hold on for a great performance. I can respect that. WSC put together a great race and anyone with a brain would see that. It is hard to lose any meet when you score 1-3-6.

Hats off to everyone who raced yesterday. I was impressed with the race. It was one of the best races I have ever seen.

It was a great race to watch. At 5 miles it looked like WSC could catch ACU but their front runners were too tough. I think the fast early pace caught up to some of the leaders as there were a few "running backwards" as they came down the track and crossed the mats. Congrats to all participants, GVSU and USI represented the region well. Central region needs to get about 7-8 teams out...