Official 2022 USA XC Discussion Thread: Kelati vs Monson XVIII - Who you got? Does ADP continue to DOMINATE?

Shadrack Kipchirchir is the same as Shadrack Kiptoo that was 3rd to Rupp and Withrow at FLXC back in the day, right?

birdbeard wrote:

Shadrack Kipchirchir is the same as Shadrack Kiptoo that was 3rd to Rupp and Withrow at FLXC back in the day, right?

Oops I fell on my face on this one. Ages don’t make sense. Just remembered that Shadrack Kiptoo eventually went by a different last name (Biwott, it turns out). Would have been crazy if he was still winning at his age.

Thank you very much for your gracious and comprehensive response.

Maybe USATF should entice entrants, if not with prize money, than with some other meaningful inducement? An auto qualifier to the summer trials for a top 10 finish might be too low a bar to change anybody’s schedule and a spot on the WC team for the winner, too outrageous, but something creative to get the best possible field to turn out.

bop wrote:

Also covid probably had an impact on participation

Last question of the day for you. Peak fitness Fisher or Klecker certainly would have been vying for the title today, or maybe winning easily? How about Mantz now? If he did show up rested and fit, is he at this level already? This course seemed soft and challenging enough to allow him to meaningfully compete?

He was a HOKA athlete when he won at Mt. SAC a month ago, his contract with them must have ended.

He was wearing Nike gear which makes sense since Utah State is a Nike school and he is a volunteer assistant coach there. He is still coached by Artie Gulden, Utah State's XC and distance coach.

Wise Old Man wrote:

bop wrote:

Also covid probably had an impact on participation

Last question of the day for you. Peak fitness Fisher or Klecker certainly would have been vying for the title today, or maybe winning easily? How about Mantz now? If he did show up rested and fit, is he at this level already? This course seemed soft and challenging enough to allow him to meaningfully compete?

IMO, any of those 3 would be favored to win over Kipchirchir today if they’re healthy and reasonably race-ready—I think they’d all win in a kick. But Shadrack Kipchirchir has been one of the nation’s top 10k/XC guys for several years, including placing 9th at the London World Championships in 27:07 (U.S. #4 performer all-time). He’s super legit, but I suspect he’s lost half a step over the last couple years. For what it’s worth, I’m sure the 3 men you mentioned would destroy Maggard and Chelanga with complete ease.

Thank you. Unless Maggard has had a sudden and dramatic leveling up, it seems unlikely that a race ready Fisher would not have won, and in any race at 10K with hills, some mud and sand, Mantz will now be at the top too. If they had raced on the European xc champ course, maybe Mantz to win even if he can’t handle Fisher or Klecker on the track.

I was there and submit the following:

1. Dathan was all over the course. When he told Monson to go, she went.

2. By lap 3 of 5 some girls already lapped

3. Puma (I.e. Molly) needs to redesign their bun huggers

4. Each race was 10km plus 110 meters

5. Several athletes denied prior to the race due to positive Covid tests

6. Simmons seems like a real tool

7. Course was soft and mushy at parts plus down, over and up twice each lap through a driveway

8. 47 minutes+ was the last lady finisher in the championship race.

birdbeard wrote:

Shadrack Kipchirchir is the same as Shadrack Kiptoo that was 3rd to Rupp and Withrow at FLXC back in the day, right?

Nah, that would be Shadrack Biwott. He lives out in Sacramento nowadays and runs for SRA elite.

san diego running nerd wrote:

I was there and submit the following:

1. Dathan was all over the course. When he told Monson to go, she went.

2. By lap 3 of 5 some girls already lapped

3. Puma (I.e. Molly) needs to redesign their bun huggers

4. Each race was 10km plus 110 meters

5. Several athletes denied prior to the race due to positive Covid tests

6. Simmons seems like a real tool

7. Course was soft and mushy at parts plus down, over and up twice each lap through a driveway

8. 47 minutes+ was the last lady finisher in the championship race.

Not to nit pick, but several of us who ran the race got 10km plus about 350 meters. The changes they made to the course to get around fenced off playground reconstruction at the park definitely added length to the normal course.

I thought the races were entertaining, but the highlight was the guy with the giant Meb Keflezighi head.

Could well be. The race organization was subpar. During the technical meeting they said 10km plus 110 meters, then later said they didn’t actually measure it.

That must be why Newbury Park wasn’t there. Just kidding. lol

What a pathetic showing for a national championship. How do we have such dismal turnout. Sure COVID had an effect but not even people between men and women pros? And 18 in the girls 6k? I've had team time trials with more runners. I miss the days of yore when NCAA's was on the Monday before Thanksgiving and Nationals was on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Top runners actually had some pride in winning a championship. Never again will we have the chance of a Bob Kennedy winning NCAA then battling Todd Williams for the national championship five days later.

Oh well. I'll just wave my cane and stomp my feet.

yeah you best just try and stay on your feet and not fall because we all know you can't get up on your own, let alone wipe your a$$, old man.

Would Newbury Park have taken the top 7, or just top 3?

What did Scott Simmons do this time?

6. Benjamin Eidenschink was at Wisconsin the same time as Monson, and he is listed as Longmont, CO. He was the best of the 'unknown, sponsored; will OA pick him up, they certainly have gotten their moneys worth from there Wisconsin duo (Ollie fourth in the world in the 1500, Monson surprise making the team, finished we in Tokyo).

Eidenschink #6 wrote:

6. Benjamin Eidenschink was at Wisconsin the same time as Monson, and he is listed as Longmont, CO. He was the best of the 'unknown, sponsored; will OA pick him up, they certainly have gotten their moneys worth from there Wisconsin duo (Ollie fourth in the world in the 1500, Monson surprise making the team, finished we in Tokyo).

Eidenschink already does a lot of workouts with the OAC + he's Alicia Monson's boyfriend, so it's easy to see the OAC signing him if he can drop his times just a little more.