Still feel like we'll get a Young/Bosley barnburner, but this year I don't think people will be mistaken and think they'll fall back near the end; people will go with them this time. Remains to be seen who goes with them, but the pace will be hot.
You’ve never seen someone try to keep up with a hot pace, crater, and lose about 10 places at the end? I’ve actually done it myself.
NAU is all about team titles. Smith uses his runners to maximize team points, often at the cost of individual success. that's what he coaches, what he teaches, what he says on recruiting trips. team first. case in point. of their 6 titles, they have zero individual champions.
while I'd love to see Nico get the win and am rooting for him, if they win the team title it'll be 4 straight for Nico, a much more impressive accomplishment than one individual win.
How does Smith focus on the team in an individual sport? The goal is for everyone to run to the best of their ability. How would Young’s training differ in a team strategy?
NAU is all about team titles. Smith uses his runners to maximize team points, often at the cost of individual success. that's what he coaches, what he teaches, what he says on recruiting trips. team first. case in point. of their 6 titles, they have zero individual champions.
while I'd love to see Nico get the win and am rooting for him, if they win the team title it'll be 4 straight for Nico, a much more impressive accomplishment than one individual win.
How does Smith focus on the team in an individual sport? The goal is for everyone to run to the best of their ability. How would Young’s training differ in a team strategy?
Because there's basically no upside to team performance in being aggressive with Nico's strategy. He's basically guaranteed a top 3 finish doing what he's been doing. If he wants to gamble and try to win that might save them a point or 2, but risks him finishing outside of the top 10 or even getting to the start line at all due to injury.
How does Smith focus on the team in an individual sport? The goal is for everyone to run to the best of their ability. How would Young’s training differ in a team strategy?
Because there's basically no upside to team performance in being aggressive with Nico's strategy. He's basically guaranteed a top 3 finish doing what he's been doing. If he wants to gamble and try to win that might save them a point or 2, but risks him finishing outside of the top 10 or even getting to the start line at all due to injury.
No way Young isn’t going for the win and all of the top runners are going try to find the right balance in their training. An individual NCAA XC win is a huge deal and much more than a point or 2.
literally 0% chance Nico Young wins. Sure he's good, but what have you seen from him over his college career that shows he can win a national caliber race?
A close second finish in the NCAA Div. 1 XC Championship in 2022.