Women’s top 6k times on the Thomas Zimmer course, according to MileSplit data…. (See link). For some reason, Wisconsin’s own website, which PRIDES itself on this course, does not list the course records! (Odd). I know it’s been discussed on another thread, the legitimacy of course length in previous years; but regardless, considering all the sub-20:00 times, these times are AMAZINGLY fast.
Example: Allie Ostrander’s 19:19.50 record; set in 2015, is approximately 3:12 per kilometer, or 5:11 per mile. Meaning Allie would have been coming across 5k in approximately 16:05 and kept going. While certainly not IMPOSSIBLE; considering how hilly this course is with its legitimate ups-and-downs, that’s flying. Sure, a high-caliber athlete could run sub-16:00 for just 5k on this course with no problem, but to keep going? And that final 400m climb to the finish is punishing!
Last year, under decent conditions, the women hit 5k in 16:35 in a fairly good sized group still attached. Roe from Oklahoma took off, Chmiel followed, and then up that final hill push to the finish it looked like Chmiel had the victory but Roe pulled up to her and then McCabe showed her amazing kick and pulled away from them both for the victory in 19:57.40. That’s fast considering the difficulty of that course. BUT, that time would only rank her #56 all-time on the Thomas Zimmer course. What the???
So, is it possible to break this course record of Ostrander’s? Yes, under extremely tight conditions. Example: Dry, short-cut grass, mild humidity, cool (bot not cold) temperature , fast, but sustainable pace right from the start, and a reason to want the victory against an incredibly fast field that also wants the win. I think it’s reasonable to predict it can happen next week. It’s a statement course, a statement meet, with nationally ranked teams and individuals in attendance. If all conditions are good, I can see the top group coming across the 5k in that 16:05 range. And this group can clip a sub-3:12 on that final kilometer if they’re really going after the victory. Under these conditions, I predict:
Group of 5 women coming across 5k in 16:07, with an awesome battle during that final kilometer run in 3:10 for the victor, final time of 19:17 with Tuohy for the win.