D3 Outdoor track, time to get big

For the sake of simplification, lets say the NCAA allows 3 females and 3 males to compete at the NCAA Championships and the qualifiers declare as follows:

Women:

100: Runner A, Runner B, Runner C

200: Runner A, Runner B

400: Runner A, Runner C

Male:

100: Runner A

200: Runner B

400: Runner C

There are still 3 athletes for each gender going, but since more females are doubling, the field sizes are larger. Virtually every year, the # of women doubling is > than men doubling, thus the field sizes are larger, but NOT the # competing.

Does anybody know if there will be a live feed of the Outdoor Championships? There was a great feed of Indoors.

live feed links here:

http://bishops.owu.edu/ncaatf/links.html

heat sheets:

http://www.deltatiming.com/events/2011/2011-ncaa-division-3-outdoor-championship/heat_sheets.pdf

10k: Spain, Breitbach, Heymann

Spain wins this easily. Breitbach has run some good times but not at the level of Spain and doesn't have the experience either. Heymann is the only guy who at his best has run at the level of Spain, but he hasn't looked that impressive in outdoors and never has run particularly well at Nationals.

Steeple: Lang, Pecora, McCarthy

This race is going to be really interesting, with the 3rd, 4th and 8th place finishers from last year returning, plus three other guys that have run 9:01 or faster. There's a lot of speed in this race too, as Pecora and McCarthy have run 3:50, Davies has run 3:53, and Josh Guarino has a 3:52 and 1:53 to his name. In the steeple that speed doesn't always make a difference though, and I think Lang seems to really have the steeple nailed, and ran 9:00 for 4th last year at nationals, so I think he'll be able to hold of the speedier guys.

1500: Guarino, Schoch, Turlip

Nobody has been able to touch Guarino in the 1500/mile in the last two years, and I don't see any reason for this to change. Turlip's 3:45 is impressive, but unless someone takes the race out in 60/61s (which I suppose Turlip could do) I don't think he has the speed to beat everyone else in the race. Schoch has been running really well recently with a 1:50 last week, though Drew Clark also has run 1:50 and hasn't lost a race in a while, so he could be up there as well. I also have to say I think its a bit ridiculous Jackson Brainerd qualified for the second year in a row based on an altitude-converted time.

800: Scheetz, Guarino, Waterman

Guarino vs. Scheetz will be a pretty intense battle as they are two of the best runners in all of division 3 right now, but I think Scheetz just has too much speed (47 in the open 400) to lose unless he screws up tactically. I think Guarino will win the 15 easily enough that it won't take too much out of him, but enough for him to really make the hard move from a ways out that it would take to beat Scheetz. Waterman almost held beat Scheetz indoors when Scheetz was doubling back after the 4, so he's a good pick for third.

5000: Butzler, Spain, Salukombo

This is going to be an interesting race given that 5 of the top 7 entries are from guys who will be running it fresh, whereas usually most people are coming back from an earlier event for the 52. Butzler was the only guy who was close to being in Spain's league for the indoor 5k and I think it will be similar outdoors, but given that Butzler will be fresh and has a nasty kick (not to mention his epic leg speed), I think he'll get the win. Salukombo has looked real good this season and could be up there as well, though he hasn't done that well at nationals in the past (was last in the indoor mile final) so its hard to say. Could see Berube or really any of the other guys who ran an auto up there as well making things interesting, but I'm guessing people will be watching Spain and Butzler to see what they do.

Also with regard to how competitive D3 is compared to past years, I looked up on raceberryjam the number of people who had run under a couple different times that I deemed (1) generally autos (2) generally qualifiers and (3) just under provo. I won't try and interpret it too much, other than to say that all across the board its a really strong year, particularly in the 5000 and 1500. Also, the 1500 is wayyy better now than it used to be

800:

Year Sub 1:51 Sub 1:52 Sub 1:53

2011 9 17 32

2010 4 18 39

2009 5 21 32

2008 5 18 29

2007 4 11 30

2006 4 14 30

2005 2 8 19

2004 4 12 22

1500:

Year Sub 3:50 Sub 3:51.5 Sub 3:53

2011 5 20 33

2010 6 15 27

2009 6 18 26

2008 2 8 16

2007 7 13 16

2006 5 10 15

2005 1 4 12

2004 1 11 17

5000:

Year Sub 14:26 Sub 14:34 Sub 14:42

2011 8 17 27

2010 5 11 23

2009 5 13 22

2008 3 15 24

2007 3 13 30

2006 2 6 16

2005 4 14 22

2004 3 14 26

10000:

Year Sub 30:10 Sub 30:35 Sub 31:00

2011 5 15 35

2010 5 14 27

2009 3 17 33

2008 2 12 27

2007 3 13 31

2006 6 11 19

2005 6 22 32

2004 5 17 24

Steeple:

Year Sub 9:06 Sub 9:13 Sub 9:20

2011 5 16 28

2010 3 21 27

2009 4 13 23

2008 2 9 23

2007 4 21 34

2006 0 8 21

2005 3 15 26

2004 2 15 23

To people saying the fields are way too big: have you ever been to a D3 national championship as a spectator? Frankly, the ones I've been at have been pretty boring (save a few flashes) from a distance perspective. All-American doesn't really mean much when 8 out of 14 guys get it, and the prelims are a waste of everybody's time when you're eliminating 2-4 kids. The expanded field sizes are fantastic.

I couldn't agree more with expanding the field. Its been something that has needed to have been done for the longest time. As devo said, it used to be a walk in the park in some events to get all-american because prelims became a joke. Example- indoor nationals, where it took 4:10ish to get into the meet, and 4:16-4:17 to make finals? I know championship style races are for winning and not for times, but having a prelim, to eliminate just a few guys is pointless. If you're going to run prelims, might as well make them worthwhile and expand the field. Not only does it give more individuals a chance to race at nationals who deserve it, it makes the team race more interesting and is going to make the distance races much more exciting to watch.

I have mixed feelings about the field size increasing. I think it happened to let a lot of really undeserving women in this year. The 10k is embarrassingly slow at the bottom. Same with the 1500, as was pointed out earlier. The men's fields seem more legit and needed to expand... I know you can't do it for just the men, but I have to say I think the fields should increase TO A POINT and then there should be a time cut off. 22 women in the 10k with 12 of them running so slow is unnecessary and makes going to nationals a joke in my opinion.

I don't know why people are saying the women's 1500 is embarrassingly slow." 4:37 isn't slow and most years the 1500 is an event a lot of ppl drop out of for other events so the time to get in is usually slower. A couple years ago auto was 4:34 so 4:37 is not slow to get into nats... There are some years 4:40 would get in because so many ppl dropped out.

I agree that expanding the field can only be a good thing. there's no reason to be upset that there are a few slower 10k or 1500 women--it's great for those extra women, and it doesn't hurt anyone.

Anyway, as for 4:37 being embarrassingly slow, I disagree with that, too. Here's a look at entries over the past few years in the 1500:

Year: #sub4:30, #4:30 to 4:35, #slower than 4:35, slowest entry

2005: 1, 5, 14, 4:40

2006: 3, 8, 8, 4:37

2007: 2, 7, 9, 4:37

2008: 2, 7, 9, 4:37

2009: 2, 8, 7, 4:36

2010: 9, 10, 0, 4:33

2011: 7, 8, 7, 4:37

So basically, last year was a very good year. Otherwise, this is the best year there's been, and even at the back the field is just as strong as usual.

Same thing for the 10k, though the last seeds this year are a bit slower than the usual last seeds. Not by much, though.

are they increasing the fields for indoor nationals next year as well?

Anyone think any freshman guys or girls have a chance at AA in the distance events?

Sorry to change the subject, but if the Williams College women don't win repeated XC championships over the next two to three years, something is very wrong out on Mount Greylock.

Dear, Annie SO-2 16:49.42/35:23.83/4:32.57

Gossels, Jennifer SO-2 16:57.29/35:18.82

Repka, Marisa FR-1 17:37.45

Del Piccolo, Chiara FR-1 17:57.07/36:20.06

Mirecki, Brianne FR-1 10:56.99

Delia, Olivia JR-3 4:34.80

They should be scary.

Granted the Williams women are very young, but the times overall are probably where other top programs are. I'm far too lazy to actually check to see if my speculation is correct, but as a former D3 runner at a program with a top tier women's team, I can say that we easily had women who could outdo those times.

Embarrassment of Riches wrote:

Sorry to change the subject, but if the Williams College women don't win repeated XC championships over the next two to three years, something is very wrong out on Mount Greylock.

Dear, Annie SO-2 16:49.42/35:23.83/4:32.57

Gossels, Jennifer SO-2 16:57.29/35:18.82

Repka, Marisa FR-1 17:37.45

Del Piccolo, Chiara FR-1 17:57.07/36:20.06

Mirecki, Brianne FR-1 10:56.99

Delia, Olivia JR-3 4:34.80

They should be scary.

Embarrassment of Riches wrote:

Sorry to change the subject, but if the Williams College women don't win repeated XC championships over the next two to three years, something is very wrong out on Mount Greylock.

Dear, Annie SO-2 16:49.42/35:23.83/4:32.57

Gossels, Jennifer SO-2 16:57.29/35:18.82

Repka, Marisa FR-1 17:37.45

Del Piccolo, Chiara FR-1 17:57.07/36:20.06

Mirecki, Brianne FR-1 10:56.99

Delia, Olivia JR-3 4:34.80

They should be scary.

2 things, Del Piccolo ran 17:22 indoors and they had another freshman who ran 17:5X somthing. but they won't win XC cause these girls will all get worse in the fall.

Not that impressed wrote:

Granted the Williams women are very young, but the times overall are probably where other top programs are. I'm far too lazy to actually check to see if my speculation is correct, but as a former D3 runner at a program with a top tier women's team, I can say that we easily had women who could outdo those times.

Embarrassment of Riches wrote:

Sorry to change the subject, but if the Williams College women don't win repeated XC championships over the next two to three years, something is very wrong out on Mount Greylock.

Dear, Annie SO-2 16:49.42/35:23.83/4:32.57

Gossels, Jennifer SO-2 16:57.29/35:18.82

Repka, Marisa FR-1 17:37.45

Del Piccolo, Chiara FR-1 17:57.07/36:20.06

Mirecki, Brianne FR-1 10:56.99

Delia, Olivia JR-3 4:34.80

They should be scary.

Name them former runner???

Not that impressed wrote:

Granted the Williams women are very young, but the times overall are probably where other top programs are. I'm far too lazy to actually check to see if my speculation is correct, but as a former D3 runner at a program with a top tier women's team, I can say that we easily had women who could outdo those times.

Embarrassment of Riches wrote:

Sorry to change the subject, but if the Williams College women don't win repeated XC championships over the next two to three years, something is very wrong out on Mount Greylock.

Dear, Annie SO-2 16:49.42/35:23.83/4:32.57

Gossels, Jennifer SO-2 16:57.29/35:18.82

Repka, Marisa FR-1 17:37.45

Del Piccolo, Chiara FR-1 17:57.07/36:20.06

Mirecki, Brianne FR-1 10:56.99

Delia, Olivia JR-3 4:34.80

They should be scary.

BULLSHIT. that is a ridiculous accumulation of talent. even cortland in jack daniels' heyday couldn't run out a line up like that.

Has anyone been able to find out if the meet will be streamed anywhere? I didn't see any mention of it on the championship site.

spoke too soon:

http://bishops.owu.edu/ncaatf/index.html