The Dowling 4 /5 gap needs to close. Last year at NXR between 16:00 and 16:24 there were 40 guys that crossed the finish line. That is a lot of points to be lost.
They probably are, largely because Heidesch is so good, but posters on this thread continue to compare times from different XC courses as if they were run in identical conditions. Looking at all the boys and girls results from the WI state meet and comparing them with the Iowa results, I’m pretty confident that the Iowa course is at least slightly faster.
Stevens Point scored 39 points and put 5 in the top 23 individuals (Dowling’s 5th placed 25th), in a state with nearly twice the population of Iowa, with 3 divisions instead of 4. You’ve got to say that’s pretty damn good.
I wouldn’t bother to take this position if the poster “City it” hadn’t arrogantly dismissed Stevens Point on this thread, stating 2 weeks ago that SP’s “top guys [are] competing with City High’s 5th man.” As of today that statement has officially not aged well.
Wyatt Haughton is on another level right now. Only athlete to ever run under 15:00 @ Rim Rock Farm. There's been plenty of studs from Colorado and Texas compete on that course through the years. He'll ride Birnbaum until the bitter end. King & Bloemker will rep Kansas extremely well also! They're fighters! The Shawnee Mission East team hasn't lost to any Kansas teams all year. Also managed to win Rim Rock & represented solidly @ Chilli Pepper Festival. Wichita Trinity is younger, but super dangerous as well! With East there's a fairly newer coach involved that was a local favorite on streets of KC for years. He seems to know how to make all of his athletes magically run fast @ the right times. I get unbelievable anxious & frustrated whenever we compete against them late in the season. A ton of 🔥 coming from Kansas boys this time around.
I just watched Paityn Noe’s (Ballard - IA) interview out on MileSplit today. She said she’s not sure she will be at Heartland. It sounded like she’s focusing more on running Champs Midwest.
I’ve been thinking that she would be Abbey Nechanicky’s toughest competition, along with Ali Bainbridge (SD).