Attention Footlocker Organizers: Move Delaware to the South!

You're an idiot. Texas is a far better running state than any of the three you mentioned. Everyone knows the northeast is the weakest region for the boys.

I missed Salesianum this year at NTN. Tatnall and Padua too. How did they do?

somehomodude wrote:

You're an idiot. Texas is a far better running state than any of the three you mentioned. Everyone knows the northeast is the weakest region for the boys.

Actually, you're the idiot.

Boys Top-10s

New Jersey: 17

New York: 13

Texas: 8

Pennsylvania: 7

Boys Top-5s

New Jersey: 10

New York: 9

Texas: 4

Pennsylvania: 4

Girls Top-10s

New York: 28

Pennsylvania: 18

New Jersey: 12

Texas: 5

Girls Top-5s

New York: 13

New Jersey: 8

Pennsylvania: 7

Texas: 1

Total Top-10s

New York: 41

New Jersey: 29

Pennsylvania: 25

Texas: 13

Total Top-5s

New York: 22

New Jersey: 18

Pennsylvania: 11

Texas: 5

Total Top-10s by Region

West 191

Midwest 178

Northeast 141

South 70

Total Top-5s by Region

West 96

Midwest 88

Northeast 74

South 32

Total Champions by Region

West 19

Midwest 19

Northeast 14

South 6

Boys Top-10s by Region

West 105

Midwest 90

Northeast 58

South 37

Boys Top-5s by Region

West 53

Midwest 48

Northeast 30

South 14

Boys Champions by Region

Midwest 14

West 9

Northeast 4

South 2

At least you got your name right, somehomodude

the south was only a few points behind everyone else moran, the south reps.

As a born and bred Delaware runner, until the past few years, DE has never had any runners remotely close to being capable of qualifying for Foot Locker. Throughout the 80s and early 90s, the state meet was routinely won in 16:30s for guys and mid 19:00s for girls. In past years finally guys have been dropping into the 15s and girls 18s and some top results are being produced. For example, Tatnall's girls have made NTN 2 years in a row. But while Salesianum won all those state titles, they were often good 1-5 and not always with a stud who could run times that would make him able to qualify whether in the northeast or the south.

I once angered another Delaware coach by telling him that winning a state title in Delaware was like shooting fish in a barrel!

Sallies' streak is impressive and they have had some quality runners (Eckstrand, etc). But for a school with well over 1000 students (all boys), their times aren't that Earth-shattering...even on a faster course like Killen's Pond at the state meet.

I must confess that since leaving DE 7 years ago, I have seen a great improvement in performances. Especially the past 3-4 years.

Do you think that maybe you leaving had something to do with it?

Actually the Regional qualifying process is telling you that. If they have won 31 titles then they have been dominant for longer than there has been a Kinney/FL XC Championships.

If they haven't (and Delaware hasn't) produced a single qualifier in all that time then it is NOT BECAUSE the deck is stacked against them, it is simply because they never had anyone good enough.

I live in Michigan and our local paper had a front of the sports page feature on Maverick Darling (ended up 10th). He goes to a VERY small school with very little running history or tradition. He had a brother few years ago who was very good, but otherwise the school records would likely be 2:00+, 4:30+, 9:50+. This is a farming community that is VERY rural and nobody is rich there. When you drive into town they have a HUGE statue of a cow, 8-10 feet tall. Think milk and corn country ...

Anyway, why is someone like him able to win 3 state titles and qualify for FL, and go on to a 10th place finish?

Because he can run 15:20-30 on a legitimate course. If you can do that you will qualify for FL. If you are in a tough regional, you may not. But that is the way it goes.

no man....I only coached one team. But I'm glad you are smart enough to make that sort of deduction. thanks for giving me a laugh today!

g wrote:

the south was only a few points behind everyone else moran, the south reps.

Why do you have to go and bring Ed Moran into this conversation. Stay on topic.

Delaware performances have improved quite a bit over the past 4 years. I think that there are a number of good coaches now. Pat Castagno of Tatnall is foremost among them. Pat is alwasy mentioned when people talk about U of D. Coach Fischer's future replacement. Mike D. assistant at St. Marks (previously at Wilmington Charter) is another guy who seems to really know what he is doing and is an excellent motivator.

Despite the upturn the two state champions ended up 80th and over 100th at FLNE this year. Last year's class had 3 or 4 guys who could run 15:40 and below for a flat 5K course.

With a good core of coaches I see the momentum of the last few years continuing. Delaware is a small state, but there is no excuse for the state to not have ever had a FL finalist. The days when the XC coach was the assistant wrestling or baseball coach are gone.

South girls have gone 1-2 at the last two Footlocker Nationals.

(Optional) wrote:

There are only 2 states who have never produced a single Footlocker finalist, Arkansas (surprise!) and Delaware.

False! Arkansas has someone qualify every 3-4 years. How could anyone forget the likes of Joe Falcon, Daniel Lincon, Alistar Craig, Jehosephat Boit, etc.?

Do some research before you post hear, idiot.

Delaware is a very small state and running did not good till the last two years. The class that came out of Delaware last year we very good. They had Dominic Dellapella, Brian Slowdowski and Pierce Conlon. Dom won Penn relays mile Brian ran 4:11 and 9:16 and Pierce ran 4:20 and 9:22. They all run division one and they will soon show that Delaware has created some great runners. None of them made Nationals but they did very well at regionals last year. The class this year is also well there were will be at least four sub 4:20 and three 9:20 runers this year and how small the state is is very impressive. Also already Delaware girls are very good on a national level. Plus everyone knows Sallies but they are not even close to the best team in the state this year and usually are no the best there division just sucks thats why they have so many titles.

Dear LetsRun.com

Please excuse the previous poster. His inability to piece together a coherent sentence in no way represents the University of Delaware, its cross country team, or its athletes as a whole.

Best Regards,

TPaine

Edit: Dear LetsRun.com,

Dear TPAINE

Grammar was not important in the last post just the information. I didnt know this was an english class I thought it was a forum about running.

I've always heard that most of the talent at Sallies was from PA. I'm guessing it's different from year to year, but is there any truth to this?

UDrunner wrote:

Dear TPAINE

Grammar was not important in the last post just the information. I didnt know this was an english class I thought it was a forum about running.

Unfortunately writing on a forum does require some sort of intelligible communication that you fail to comprehend and when you do that your credibility is compromised no one will take your point as seriously as if your posting was grammatically correct.