........PSAC.......

Nationals predictions:

I think roughly the top 7 teams are by themselves: Adams, Chico, Western, Harding, Abilene, and Grand Valley...with maybe Col Mines as 7th place. 8th thru 12th place should be a tight race between UMass, Stonehill, Lock Haven, Missouri Southern, and Minn State Mankato.

UMAss, Stonehill, and LHU are all pretty impressive in terms of pack running, but it's hard to see any of them cracking the top 7. Thoughts?

LHU

Blood..top 3-10

Benson/Moore..potential to be All Americans or close

Spidell/Pomerantz/Robson..not far behind as long as Robo continues to rebound from the mono (I'd have him on my All America bubble if it wasn't for that)

Yeatts..solid run, won't be in position to do much, but gains valuable experience

Boro

Niemiera..potential All American

Arthur, McCabe, Brenner...good races, could be near LHU's 4,5

others...could run well, but too far back to make a difference

Weiss..top 5-10

Medina/Clark/Shepherd...top 10-25

Hansloven...All American candidate, could break top 25

thats how I'm calling it..lets not get heated or anything, just my hypothesis

Sorry, I know this isn't a thread for me. But I'm answering Big Bear's question. I'll be at Diamonds (free entry from top 15 in 2005), but if I'm out of it at 8 miles, maybe I'll stop for some dinner. Is that your house? I'm not even sure where you mean, the last couple years I was busy racing at that point..haha. But whoever's not familiar with that race should check it out, amazing how a small Northeast Pa town is all big into this race and the environment it is. Think I might start a Diamonds thread.

hansloven didn\'t make it

then if thats the case the press release on ncaasports.com is incorrect

http://www.ncaasports.com/crosscountry/recaps/d2_east_recap/2006

yea that press release is incorrect.....the rule is top 2 individuals not on a team unless there is others in the top 5 not on a team.....hanz was 7th....not in top 5. some one interpreted the rule wrong at SRU who provided the release.

thats what I had thought, but you never know with the NCAA as they love to go about changing things constantly

Dirt:

Do you really think that PSAC runners will take 13 out of the top-50 spots at Nats? I think its more like this:

-- Blood and Weiss (top 10-15)

-- Medina and Shepherd (top 30)

-- Clarke (top 40-50)

-- Niemera (top 40-50)

And the rest, in the 50-80 range. But, admittedly, that's off the top of my head without giving much thought to it. My point is I can't imagine all those PSAC runners being in the hunt for AA honors (I am arbitrarily picking top-50 as being in the hunt/on the bubble).

Hoovis

It's not my house, just some cool guy who offers food and beer to anyone who isn't racing seriously. The alternative option is to go there on your cooldown. Some of them might be wearing bright yellow shirts that say "Fun for the Diamonds"

I think you're underestimating the strength of some of the regions individuals. Teamwise, the region might be down, but there are certainly some strong runners up there. Weiss took 3rd last year, so you got to think that he and/or Blood can be close this year. (Last year in California, this year Florida..it will be hot again). The other predictions I made are if people have a good day, that is where I can see them. All of the individual qualifiers have a great shot at All American, then I'm saying there's some people who have a shot that might not have been on top of their game all season from LHU. I want to know who called Joe Wiegner as an All American in 04..I wasn't surprised when it happened as I saw it as a definite possibility, so that is why I rated some runners as I did. I see 5 or 6 runners getting All America from this region. That is my prediction, as up front, aside from the Naimadu's out there, some of these guys could run with just about anyone

I don't think I am underestimating them. Name the last time our region had four all americans? I would have to look, but I think its been a while.

And, for what it is worth, I think this is a REALLY tough group of individuals. Blood is a machine. He ran like one at states and regionals. And, lots on this board have doubted him and referred to him as a choker at big races. And, while I don't know the guy, he seems like the type of runner that will eat the skepticisim up and use it to get pumped up and bust a big race at Nats. And, Weiss -- though quiet -- is one tough mo'fo. These are clearly the best 1-2 runners I can rememberr sending from our region since Wu (Boro) and Ryan (CW Post) ran at Nats in Spartansburg (1996)...although, admittedly, I'm fuzzy on some of he early 2000 years so I may be overlooking something here. I think both of these guys will be top 15 runners and probably both top 10 runners. And, that's a hell of an accomplishment.

And, when the third best runner from your region is Jorge...that's a pretty damn tough region. He's the nicest guy you'll ever meet, but he loves -- LOVES -- to get out on a cross country course (or a track for that matter) and just bang heads with people. This guy just leaves it all out on the course. But, he's never run at Nats before. He's used to being at/near the front of the pack. I think he'll go out hard and hang on tough and finish something like 15th - 23rd...which is freaking great.

And Shepherd, I think the guy was 19th last year, wasn't he? I'm under the impression he's not running quite as well as last year, but it could just be that Jorge made a big leap this year and makes it seem that way. Maybe he's as good as last year, which puts him right around 20th.

That's a pretty damn good top-four runners for the East Region...so, i don't think I've underestimated them at all. I'm predicting four AA's...and that's tough...damn tough.

So, if somehow, my last post implied that I don't think these guys are good...my apologies...as I think this is the best four we've sent to Nats in a long time.

Hoovis

Thank you, I won a bet without contest because of you...

(joke?)

Hopefully, you pocketed some dollars...but, it was a pretty stupid bet by the other person -- you had a 50% chance I would respond...the only other viable option would have been Dirt.

Hoovis

in 2004 the PSAC had 3 all-americans Cowan (Haven), Coon (Boro), Ansberry (Boro). Blood should have been AA that year if he didn't run bad. Ansberry ran about a low 33 that year so if SRU was just as slow as nationals in 2004 5 or 6 all-americans is very possible for the conference, not a deffinate, but a possibility.

AA wrote:

in 2004 the PSAC had 3 all-americans Cowan (Haven), Coon (Boro), Ansberry (Boro). Blood should have been AA that year if he didn't run bad. Ansberry ran about a low 33 that year so if SRU was just as slow as nationals in 2004 5 or 6 all-americans is very possible for the conference, not a deffinate, but a possibility.

Correction, i think Weigner from haven was all-american also. So if he was that is 4.

I'm taking last years results as my reference for the predictions. It's gonna be hot, probably hotter and more humid. I'd run in Cali anyday over Florida. So you look at how Weiss did, and well, he and Blood should be close to that. Shep finished 17th, so you need to put him in that range along with Jorge and Clark, as they shouldn't be far from each other in this one. Aaron Benson's run around 30:30 for 10k on the track, but has struggled with injuries and has been a better track runner, so I said he's on the bubble based on his ability and potential to have a big race here.

Hope that clears things up.

Yes, after struggling through much of the season with injury and sickness, even dropping out of the Rochester invite as he was running with Jeffrey Skwierz(just being used as an example to show where he was a month before Nationals), Joe Wiegner raced to his potential and got All American in 04..it was a feel good moment. Truely deserving and I hope I can say that about someone this year..

I can't believe anyone here is actually praising this race for any team. Besides the top 5 guys, this race was a joke. You shouldn't be able to win a f***in regional meet if your second guy is in the 33 min range. Absolutely pothetic!!!

Dude, relax, it was a tactical race....(hahahahahahahahah)