Let’s talk northwest xc

Schneider is still on the bike per Strava. No way they get into the champ race, even Recupero seems like a long shot for an individual spot. Oliver’s times are sufficiently slow that they seem to reflect something more than just return from injury. Maybe he is focusing on tris again instead? Or something else? After so many years of being good this really feels like it’s on the coach.

On the Idaho XC thread, someone mentioned that Rocky just sits and talks at their practices for upwards of 90 minutes a day. Not sure what they talk about that takes hours each week, but with practices like that, I just can't see them as a "high milage" team.

Their Strava's this summer show 50 mile weeks consistently, but in-season even their fastest seniors are barely breaking 30 miles a week.

Maybe their coach is a wizard, because rumor in Idaho has it that they don't even do anything special for their running: just a two interval or tempo workouts a week, a long run, and some easy days. They even take sundays off, which is really weird for a nationally ranked team

Yeah at NXR it’s looking to be Jesuit winning, and Crater and Rocky Mountain fighting for the second spot.

Eastlake got a strong 1-2 but needs their 3-4-5 to improve and be on the top of their game if they want to be up there with those teams.

I really don’t see any other team challenging them

You're right- I typically make that mistake on NXR and NXN. Always type NXR first then sometimes remember to correct to NXN.

I do think that counting on kids to make huge jumps from consistently great programs is a mistake. Recupero winning Metro probably helps him get in, but Blanchett looks terrible from what I thought they would be. I think Boise has been incredibly underwhelming at times this year, but they've shown promise (like Boise City Meet- they run similar at Districts and they score about 50 points instead of 80). Blanchett has shown none of that same promise.

I think Lincoln has as good of a shot as Eastlake does. They quietly shored up their number 3 spot in the last few weeks and went 15:00-15:18-15:25-15:42-15:57 at their last meet. If Lincoln's #3 runs where he did at the Rose City Championships, its a 50 point swing for them there. Franklin also looks more solid than they have in the past month or so. I think it's Jesuit, small gap, Crater and Rocky, gap, then Eastlake, Lincoln, then a gap to Central Catholic, Franklin, West Salem, Issaquah, etc.

I'd also be hesitant to count on a freshman at number 5 for Eastlake, but he has been steadily improving. Sometimes you catch those kids on an upswing, they don't know any better, and they can surprise you in a good way.

Many freshmen or first year runners progress well from first to last race but one thing that Eastlake lacks is that they don’t have a 6th or 7th to support their 3-5. That’s a lot of pressure on a freshman.

Jesuit has a 5th and 6th. Maybe Schumacher will join them if he will return

Crater has a 6th so they have insurance

Rocky mountain does not

Well, Rocky kind of did with Sam Jensen, but he’s been missing for a while. Tuft is their 6 as a frosh, but ran his best time the first race of the year. Hunter Hill has now twice been Rocky’s #4 in as many meets and was almost the #5, and not so much because other kids are gaining on him. This weekend will be telling with it being the same course they ran earlier in the year. CDA having run it last week adds an interesting dynamic to it.

Cheyenne Mountain's 2021 boys team* were all between 40-50 mpw and took almost every Sunday off.

*(Collins was closer to 60mpw, Exton and Levings closer to 35mpw)

For context Jesuit has a freshman and sophomore at the 5 and 6 that have been very dependable this year.

Fair enough, but the people calling them a high mileage team are still pretty wrong. There are teams that consistently do 70+ miles a week, even during the school year.

Rumor in Idaho is that Sam is being held in reserve, and tuft/hill have been holding back until championship season. Thats why tuft was put in a few random meets where no other big rocky names ran.

Idk, I could be wrong, but that's what a lot of people in Idaho are saying and usually the rocky coaches are pretty open with people who ask.

I'm going to assume you are trolling, but if you aren't, then the Rocky coaches are terrible. If the Rocky coaches are really holding out Sam Jensen on a whim, I would be questioning their decision making. Sacrificing a junior's season on a whim and hurting their ability to get looks from college coaches? That's a huge yikes. I don't know that I would be starting that rumor unless you want it to gain traction.

By the way, both Hill and Tuft looked cooked at districts.

Judging from the entries at state and the fact that Sam is not registered for Rocky, it would seem you just made up the being held in reserve comment.

This thread is off the rails with trolls.....let's talk about Northwest Girls since it seems pretty clear from Dyestat and Milesplit that Jesuit, Crater, and Rocky should finish Top 3 at NXR.

Girls side can anyone run with Jesuit and Summit or are they the clear Top 2 from this region?

What do you guys think of Jesuit’s chances of going to NXN next year?

Might be a problem that they lose Nenow/Clevenger/Augustine.

But they return a lot of depth.

Could we see Wroblewski/Strub/Jerry Schumacher’s son keep up with Swanson?

If so, can someone close the 4-5 gap? (Like the freshman who is number 1 on JV)

A lot of people don’t blossom until junior track or senior XC. Then they run for a good college and do well there.
Edwin Kurgat has never done any long distance running before college and then won an ncaa title

Also…many top XC programs in the nation have barely raced at all. Newbury Park varsity raced only twice.
Jesuit LA varsity raced only twice

Wando SC varsity raced only 3 times

Sam Jensen raced more than anyone on those teams