MIAC Track 2023

Got the top three DMR but not great on the order.

Bati won the 5k pretty easily. Bowman did lead most and end up fourth so not awful. But Lloyd did the mile.

Got top two and your pick for third was 4th in the mile so pretty good.

Not sure who tommy is, but top two were your second and third choice.

overall, I give you a B. You seem to misjudge Lloyd’s ability and race choices. Probably would have still been A- level work but I’m not sure who Tommy is and you have him winning the 800. Nobody on the performance list has a name even close. Otherwise strong performance! Keep predicting.

Also, Augsburg’s 400 guy getting hurt in the DMR was a huge disappointment. With Asfaw and Bati on the last two legs, they probably would have finished between 2nd and 5th.

Tommy is Tommy Allen, the legend of previous MIAC threads for his genetic gifts and also a MIAC champion.

I was surprised to see both Bati and Gabe beat Kelly so easily. Maybe his XC national meet was a fluke? He, like most of the Oles didn’t look on his game this weekend.

When’s the last time an Ole distance runner won something? The fast Coffey five years ago. They had 3-4 sub 15 5Kers on the sidelines and still celebrated 3rd like they won something. Carleton almost beat their whole team and only scored in distance events. Ricks is running things like a D1 distance specialist program and would likely beat the Tommies and most of the Gophers right now. His freshman class is arguably better than either team’s freshman class.

The man is a troll. Tommy was All-MIAC in XC and a MIAC champ in track. If he and Calvin Boone were healthy the mile would have been really interesting. Even a couple of the injured Oles could have fought for 5th-7th place. But alas, Power's training has injured most of them.

I didn't think Kelly had a terrible meet, but he certainly didn't look like an All-American. I think we can safely say he was only an AA in the Fall because the man appears in pain every time he runs and he didn't notice any difference in the cold in Michigan.

Congrats to Bethel on the win. While they add the 400 Hurdles outdoors the addition of other events including the 10K, steeplechase and the outdoor throws has to make St. John's the favorite. Tim always trains through Indoor because the real focus is Outdoor, so watch out for the Johnnies.

Carleton will lose the advantage of the multiple middle distance events, but it's safe to say that young group will be all over the MIAC 800/1500 lists and are the early favorite for the 4 x 800.

Probably should have hurt your grade even more that you picked Tommy to win two events since he had no times posted at all for indoor and I think that you mostly need a time to make it into conference. Why not just pick Calvin for a top 3 in the mile and 1k and Matt Wilkinson for the 5k win?

I spent all weekend online watching the meet and it was a great event (one benefit of Covid: the online coverage of events has skyrocketed the last couple years).

I thought Carleton was really impressive in the distance events; seemed like everywhere I looked they were at or near the front. Was really surprised by Bati in the 3k, though.

Looking at the end results, the Johnnies were less than two seconds from the team title (1.9 faster in the 4x4 would have done it); bummer, but not bad. (And I do realize there are likely other places throughout the meet where a person could find two points, but it was interesting when I looked at the relay result.)

Looks like Bati made an ill timed and entirely too fast move early in the 3k. Probably should have tried to stick with Gabe at the start, stayed with the second pack, or moved up more slowly.

The ~30.5 second 200 from 6-800 to move from the pack and catch Gabe seemed to ruin the rest of the race for him. If he had just stuck behind Will/Roy/Lloyd for the first 2-2.6k he probably could have finished much higher.

The MIAC meet should always be streamed. If it not a requirement, the coaches need to make sure that happens. Outdoor should be easy since Bethel livestreams football. I hope they can do field events too.

Sadly, it doesn't look like any MIAC distance guys will make the National meet so we'll have to cheer for the Joe Charbonneau and all the Bethel sprinters/hurdlers to represent the MIAC.

As for Outdoor, how will the move to a Day One 1500m final impact entries? I can see coaches getting creative here. Will we see a Fiona 1500, 10,000, 5000 triple crown?

Sadly I couldn’t get the stream working Sunday.

Any idea who might try for a qualifier this week? Seems like Gabe should try in the mile or 3k. Bati probably should try a 5k based on how easily he pulled away the last lap in 14:46. I’m sure if Kelly is at all healthy he should make a run in something. Other than that the standards are crazy fast this year.

As an alum, it’s hard to see so few Ole distance points and realize the team could have won if the school would commit to a real distance coach. Hope we see some of those guys back in Outdoor, but I suspect they’ll underperform again. Even the top jumper and hurdler is someone Phil recruited.

Congrats to the women of the MIAC and the Bethel 4 x 400 for being ready for Nationals and running well. Teams like St. Olaf no longer seem to care about winning as long as their coach can take social media content. I remember a day when the Oles contended for titles. Time for a coaching change. At this point I’d even consider the women’s coach as she clearly knows what she’s doing.

Outdoor kicks off this week! Despite rumors of a second Ian Curtis Quack Shack marriage creating a angst inducing Quack shack love triangle we must turn our attention to more important matters. Augsburg and a handful of Carls will compete in California!

Bati opens his outdoor season and we're all surprised he didn't opt for the 5K/10K same day double. Gabe is debuting at 5K and has been fully wronged by Ricks with a startlingly slow 1500 seed. The Carl 800 runners are pretending to be sprinters this weekend too. Rumor has it they're prepping for the Rolex. I've subcontracted Fast Finish Results to handwrite the live results from this meet and mail them to me. I expect this process to be faster than live results at any St. Olaf/Carleton meet.

As for the full season, I have so many questions:

Will Lars and Calvin emerge from the North to reclaim the honor of Duluth? Will any of the good Oles race or are they broken until cross country season? Will Tucker use the Gustie Spring Break Altitude training trip to claim a rare 1500/800 double? Can Bati hang with the man, the myth, the legend, Lloyd over the 10K distance? Will Bethel score a distance point? What wildly ridiculous takes will the Augsburg and Macalester fanboys spout over the next two months? I'd guess a 4 x 800 victory and Bati wins the 1500, 5000, 10,000 and 400 hurdles take to emerge by 10:00 pm.

It’s 11 something but I felt bad and wanted to make your predictions correct. I’ll pick Bati for the 5k and 10k. He won the 5 indoor rather easily and nearly lapped everyone in the 8k at conference cross meet so it seems like he’s pretty solid 5k and up. Doubt he’d be competitive in the 1500 though and 400h seems a stretch. I honestly have no idea about the steeple but maybe that’s his best event or maybe he never even runs it. It could also be something in the middle.

I say he wins at least the 10k, qualifies for Nats and gets all American. 5k he’ll probably do ok at conference but not qualify for baby nats.

Also, my son’s friend from college is roommates with a friend who is dating a girl is a nursing student at CSS and she may or may not have insider info about Calvin. I haven’t asked and it seems like a long shot, but he may have passed away, or he hasn’t. Honestly, it’s one or the other most likely. Lars may or may not be Calvin’s alter ego created to double his (their) years of eligibility.

If Lars and Calvin are protecting the pride of the north perhaps we should refer to them as Sansa Stark and Jon Snow from hereinafter.

Augsburg just put the rest of the conference on notice after that 1500!

Mid-distance/long distance haven't been as strong as they should be this indoor season. Hopefully that changes with outdoors. Losing some of the top 1500/mile/3k returners has impacted the conference in big ways. Pray for fast times outdoors!

Good that Getinaw and Sakariya are improving on their indoor times, but their times would barely score at conference if even. Getinaw had a nice 800, but still a ways to go. Hope they are breaking 4 soon and closer to 3:50 by conference, but I’m holding off on getting the parade permit.

PR's for both Augsburg men in the 1500 and a good double on March 18th bodes well for the duo. Remember, they don't have an indoor facility.

I'm a little surprised everyone overlooked Gabe's 3:53 1500 debut. Looks like he won his heat handily. Wonder why he wasn't seeded faster. 4:09 for the mile is closer to 3:50. Good race for him that will likely be the conference leader for at least a month.

I definitely was not expecting one Carleton runner to travel to San Diego to run with the Augsburg team. But good race for him