Ok...name the US XC Worlds Team

?

The USATF should find some excuse NOT to send a team. The talent pool was very shallow this year. Basicly, after 4 runners on the mens side and three runners on the womens side the athletes appeared to be unfit. Many of the best runners in the US did not compete at the XC Championships this year and the results show it.

Even if we send our best 9 as they finished in the meet, we will look poorly at the world level. If we send less than our best, we will bring up the back of the pack.

Masback is good at putting a spin on things, he can say that we got sick,we are concerned about security issues,the dog ate the roster,we forgot where to send the entry form, the salary for Brooks was too big so we had no money for white kids,or WHATEVER.

Zat0pek, help me out here!

17th place

Yeah, the women's field wasn't deep at all. 6 Olympians (Kastor, Flanagan, Fleshman, Dryer, O'Neill, Culpepper). 2 American Record Holders (Kastor, Flanagan). At least 6 US National Champions (Kastor, Flanagan, Dryer, McGregor, Fleshman, Culpepper)

I agree that some very good runners didn't show (DeReuck, Russell, Slattery) But to say that this was a weak field is ridiculous.

Good Point wrote:

Yeah, the women's field wasn't deep at all. 6 Olympians (Kastor, Flanagan, Fleshman, Dryer, O'Neill, Culpepper). 2 American Record Holders (Kastor, Flanagan). At least 6 US National Champions (Kastor, Flanagan, Dryer, McGregor, Fleshman, Culpepper)

I agree that some very good runners didn't show (DeReuck, Russell, Slattery) But to say that this was a weak field is ridiculous.

Slattery was entered and rolled her ankle in training the week before. Dereuck is pregnant. Russell didn't think it was right to hold the trials at altitude.

Please read more slowly! I said that they looked to be unfit! You don't mail in your resume to be judged on past achievements, you race. Deena beat second place by one minute. I thought that I was generous in my observations.

R U for real wrote:

Good Point wrote:

Yeah, the women's field wasn't deep at all. 6 Olympians (Kastor, Flanagan, Fleshman, Dryer, O'Neill, Culpepper). 2 American Record Holders (Kastor, Flanagan). At least 6 US National Champions (Kastor, Flanagan, Dryer, McGregor, Fleshman, Culpepper)

I agree that some very good runners didn't show (DeReuck, Russell, Slattery) But to say that this was a weak field is ridiculous.

Slattery was entered and rolled her ankle in training the week before. Dereuck is pregnant. Russell didn't think it was right to hold the trials at altitude.

If true about Russell I think that's a ridiculous excuse not to run.

I think that Earl is right!

The top 7 or 9 finishers deserve a trip somewhere! Why not set up a series of CC meets in Europe and call them developmental meets. We could run against France or Germany or Italy or... in order to get these athletes some experience and open their eyes to international competition.

Craig can say that our elite athletes had prior committments.

To suggest that those coaches and associated volunteer folks on the USATF gravy train would cancel the trip to Mombasa is hilarious. They\'d take a team of blind, disabled, autistic, and bipolar to Mombasa to get the free trip to the West African Riviera. How many freeloaders are going as \'athlete support\', \'team leaders\', \'information officers\', etc., ? guessing 15 ?

So would you have been happier if these big names in American Distance running had NOT even shown up because they weren't as fit in Feb. as they would/could/should be in June??? I think it's great that everyone showed up and supported the US Cross Country National Championships.

[quote]Good Point wrote:

So would you have been happier if these big names in American Distance running had NOT even shown up because they weren't as fit in Feb. as they would/could/should be in June??? I think it's great that everyone showed up and supported the US Cross Country National Championships.

Slow down! Who is "everyone" and what "support"?

I was there and I supported,yelled,cheered,bumped elbows with the big boys, and got wet like everyone. I'm talking about the fitness and ability of those that we are sending. We are not sending our best or better athletes. Maybe they will be fit by race time, I doubt it.

Soon to be 50 wrote:

If true about Russell I think that's a ridiculous excuse not to run.

Brace yourself, she wasn't the only one who felt that way, just the only one with enough honesty to publicly state it.

[quote]Gravy Train wrote:

To suggest that those coaches and associated volunteer folks on the USATF gravy train would cancel the trip to Mombasa is hilarious.

Let the gravy train chug down the left bank.

I agree that USATF should consider not sending a team to the world meet if participation is low. There should be a limit to how far they go down before just saving the money. If the junior squads get 5 of the top 6 finishers, send them, but if the 'senior' teams are significantly depleted, keep them home. I agree with the poster who said the USATF folks probably won't give up their own vacation. Although it's easy for us to criticize the beauracracy of USATF, how many of us would turn down the trip if asked to go in some capacity?

So you are saying that "they looked unfit" and "The talent pool was very shallow this year." - are the same thing???? So fitness and talent are the same?I don't think that is what you originaly said and when someone called you on it you realized that you were wrong and instead of admit it you tried to change your own words.

My name is Earl wrote:

Please read more slowly! I said that they looked to be unfit! You don't mail in your resume to be judged on past achievements, you race. Deena beat second place by one minute. I thought that I was generous in my observations.

are you sure?? wrote:

originaly

"originally"

The talent pool was shallow this year? Have you looked at the 12k results from last year? I'd say the competition was at least as deep this year, as last year.

Last year in the 4k, there was more competition, but my excuse for that is that the 4k is more appealing to milers, steeplers, etc, who are less likely to come to an event when there is no 4k distance.

[quote]are you sure?? wrote:

So you are saying that "they looked unfit" and "The talent pool was very shallow this year." - are the same thing???? So fitness and talent are the same?

I don't think that is what you originaly said and when someone called you on it you realized that you were wrong and instead of admit it you tried to change your own words.

Obviously they are not the same. If you are slow,you may want to distinguish whether you are unfit or lack talent. No matter, we should not send either. I would not say that Elva or Shayne didn't have talent, that's crazy, but neither one would tell you that they are fit enough to run against the best in the world.

Hey, on the mens side you could brag that you beat both Slattery and Robison and you still wouldn't be very good.

De Reuck is pregnant? Wow. Didn't realize that.