9 of the top 11 in the women's race at Pre-Nats are from Africa. 5 of which were freshmen, and the top 3 are all freshmen.
This is getting out of control. There is obvious doping, age cheating, as many of these athletes have accepted pro money before.
I am sorry but nobody wants to watch this. Nobody is going to turn on ESPN plus or Flotrack to watch the NCAA championships basically turn into a Kenyan championship.
That ship has sailed. The floodgates were opened by Oklahoma State when they imported 5 African pros in 2022 just to beat NAU. The rest of the NCAA caught on. Get used to nationals being a Kenyan national championship with a few Americans sprinkled in the top 100.
That ship has sailed. The floodgates were opened by Oklahoma State when they imported 5 African pros in 2022 just to beat NAU. The rest of the NCAA caught on. Get used to nationals being a Kenyan national championship with a few Americans sprinkled in the top 100.
I get that this board is full of NAU fanboys but this is still a ridiculous statement even for a NAU clown.
It started long before OSU. NAU had been doing it literally 35-40 years before 2022.
Angela Chambers for NAU is a Canadian athlete that won NCAAs in XC in 1986.
They had another international Johanna Nilsson of Sweden win XC in 2005.
Those are NAU's only NCAA individual XC champions, Mike Smith didn't coach any.
By the way, there were plenty of internationals on Smiths winning teams too.
Our sport is at stake. Viewership of our sport is going to plummet because the product that the current NCAA is putting out is not appealing. It's not entertaining, and it's not interesting.
Combine that with reduced roster sizes at the NCAA level. Which means probably 33% fewer NCAA cross country athletes (after a few years once all the "designated athletes" who were allowed to keep their roster spots). NCAA athletes were the most reliable viewer base for those championships and now that's cut by 33%?
Our sport is at stake. Viewership of our sport is going to plummet because the product that the current NCAA is putting out is not appealing. It's not entertaining, and it's not interesting.
Combine that with reduced roster sizes at the NCAA level. Which means probably 33% fewer NCAA cross country athletes (after a few years once all the "designated athletes" who were allowed to keep their roster spots). NCAA athletes were the most reliable viewer base for those championships and now that's cut by 33%?
This is an existential crisis for cross country.
How is it not interesting? I find it wildly interesting. See you at Gans Creek.
Our sport is at stake. Viewership of our sport is going to plummet because the product that the current NCAA is putting out is not appealing. It's not entertaining, and it's not interesting.
Combine that with reduced roster sizes at the NCAA level. Which means probably 33% fewer NCAA cross country athletes (after a few years once all the "designated athletes" who were allowed to keep their roster spots). NCAA athletes were the most reliable viewer base for those championships and now that's cut by 33%?
Our sport is at stake. Viewership of our sport is going to plummet because the product that the current NCAA is putting out is not appealing. It's not entertaining, and it's not interesting.
Combine that with reduced roster sizes at the NCAA level. Which means probably 33% fewer NCAA cross country athletes (after a few years once all the "designated athletes" who were allowed to keep their roster spots). NCAA athletes were the most reliable viewer base for those championships and now that's cut by 33%?
Our sport is at stake. Viewership of our sport is going to plummet because the product that the current NCAA is putting out is not appealing. It's not entertaining, and it's not interesting.
Combine that with reduced roster sizes at the NCAA level. Which means probably 33% fewer NCAA cross country athletes (after a few years once all the "designated athletes" who were allowed to keep their roster spots). NCAA athletes were the most reliable viewer base for those championships and now that's cut by 33%?
This is an existential crisis for cross country.
Does anybody watch cross country races on cable television?
Honestly I can't think of anything more boring to watch than that....
Our sport is at stake. Viewership of our sport is going to plummet because the product that the current NCAA is putting out is not appealing. It's not entertaining, and it's not interesting.
Combine that with reduced roster sizes at the NCAA level. Which means probably 33% fewer NCAA cross country athletes (after a few years once all the "designated athletes" who were allowed to keep their roster spots). NCAA athletes were the most reliable viewer base for those championships and now that's cut by 33%?
This is an existential crisis for cross country.
Does anybody watch cross country races on cable television?
Honestly I can't think of anything more boring to watch than that....
That ship has sailed. The floodgates were opened by Oklahoma State when they imported 5 African pros in 2022 just to beat NAU. The rest of the NCAA caught on. Get used to nationals being a Kenyan national championship with a few Americans sprinkled in the top 100.
I get that this board is full of NAU fanboys but this is still a ridiculous statement even for a NAU clown.
It started long before OSU. NAU had been doing it literally 35-40 years before 2022.
Angela Chambers for NAU is a Canadian athlete that won NCAAs in XC in 1986.
They had another international Johanna Nilsson of Sweden win XC in 2005.
Those are NAU's only NCAA individual XC champions, Mike Smith didn't coach any.
By the way, there were plenty of internationals on Smiths winning teams too.
Look into UTEP, WSU, and IA State throughout the years…the OG’s of Kenyan imports.