One interesting observation is that Hutchins of BYU seems missing from their squad for this meet (although she was listed for Regional - but did not run).
The SLC newspaper in its review of the Mountain regional said that Hutchins was "nursing an injury." Apparently it will keep her out of the championship.
The SLC newspaper in its review of the Mountain regional said that Hutchins was "nursing an injury." Apparently it will keep her out of the championship.
From the wording of the article, I don't think it is "apparent" that Hutchins will not race on Sat. Rather, the related passage implies that, should her current injury not prevent her from racing on Sat, she'll likely not be firing at 100%.
On a different but tangentially related note, here are three bold predictions for the women's team competition:
Hutchins races, doesn't score and BYU still wins the title.
The number 3, 4 & 5 scorers from either AL, Gtown or WVU deliver big time, boosting their squad up and onto the podium.
In 2023, the number of non-US national XC AAs was a prime number (13). This year, the number of the same will be a prime number greater than 20.
From the wording of the article, I don't think it is "apparent" that Hutchins will not race on Sat. Rather, the related passage implies that, should her current injury not prevent her from racing on Sat, she'll likely not be firing at 100%.
What prompted this was in the BYU writeup for the championship (linked above) they listed 9 runners and not one was named Jenna Hutchins
Forget spending time figuring how to cut roster spots and give former athletes money, we need the NCAA to mandate weekly injury reports for XC and track.
Alyson Churchill was running and smiling with a group of NAU women this afternoon so seems she'll be good to go after sitting out Regionals
Insider info says she won't run nationals, that team is deeep with several girls being left at home that are arguably fit/fast enough to be most teams top 7.
Alyson Churchill was running and smiling with a group of NAU women this afternoon so seems she'll be good to go after sitting out Regionals
Insider info says she won't run nationals, that team is deeep with several girls being left at home that are arguably fit/fast enough to be most teams top 7.
Current timing site lists all athletes entered. However, many teams essentially entered their entire rosters.
We won't know who the actual declared athletes are (8 per team including alternate) until Friday afternoon or evening following the Declarations deadline which is stated in the above-linked handbook to be 10am - 2pm CST.
They should give the trophy to BYU now and not even run the race. Dijeet is Queen!
Whatever. Turns out Mormons and eastern Africans don’t sell tickets. It’s a down year for NCAA. Cannot get much discussion even on LRC.
Kind of agree with you unfortunately that’s where the sport is going. The only real interesting storyline is can Graham Blanks repeat against the East Africans. the last great American hope.
They should give the trophy to BYU now and not even run the race. Dijeet is Queen!
Whatever. Turns out Mormons and eastern Africans don’t sell tickets. It’s a down year for NCAA. Cannot get much discussion even on LRC.
BYU’s success does a lot to drive momentum for the sport among Mormons. Look at the state of HS running in Utah. So there’s that.
The issue with the International runners and growing the sport isn’t entirely that they aren’t American, it’s just there there isn’t enough of a story for most of them. Wesley Kiptoo had a story and was fun because he raced so insanely. Samuel has been around and just looks crazy fast when he runs, so he’s entertaining.
There’s just too much new this year and not enough in the way of continuing storylines. We need more of the recent HS phenoms like Birnbaum or the Newbury Park families or Thorvaldsen/Brown/Hutchings to hit top 5.
Blanks. Then Samuel. Then it depends on how the ncaa/espn wants to promote it. Do they really want to draw attention to a 28 yr old freshman. maybe Bob Liking as a hometown guy or an ncaa champion like Parker Wolfe.