############ Official USATF Club XC Thread ############

Looks like a much weaker field than in the past. They need to keep this thing on the west coast and easier to get to to ensure the top teams go every year. Where is BAC, Hansons, OTC, McMillan(guys)Invaders?

I think Clubbing Time works for USATF. He/She starts this every year.

women very closely matched, baa is always good, and asics aggies. mcmillan and zap clear favorites and carry the fulltime runner monkey on their backs. is brandon leslie's team any good?

Team Nebraska is bringing a very strong contingent of male runners.

There is no reason to believe NB Boston will do any good this year without Donohue. Otherwise, I think your women's predictions are pretty good.Always have to take into account, though, that these training group teams (ZAP and McMillan) have zero room for error. Both are essentially going to the line with 5 (McMillan has their asst coach and an ex-group member as 6 & 7), meaning that if anyone has a bad day, gets sick, trip, etc, they are in trouble.

That's a big jump for Big River but Ryan Bak's a super addition. Good enough to leap from 11th place to 2nd? The core of the team remains the same.

As much as I have to root for the Aggies, the club to beat this year is in the hands of Elin Nordegren.

Field definitely looks weaker than it did last year. The defending champs are definitely a no go, but does anyone know if Bowerman or Hansons in brining a team?

Zap is obviously the team to beat, but if they're really only running 5, they might have the same problem they did last year.

If Zap falters, I have to think BRC should probably be considered the favorite. Essentially the same team last year that was 4th.

Asics Aggies have a tough 1-4 in Reyes (coming off a 2:15 at Chicago), plus Reid, Cardenes, and Crosby Freeman. If they can find a 5th, they could probably compete with Zap.

Big River adds Bak, and he and Rosario up front will do some damage, but I can't imagine they'll be any better than 5th.

Club Northwest seems to be getting overlooked, but they add Kilburg to a team that was 7th last year, and Sayenko has run really well this fall. Depending on their depth, they could be as good as top 3 or 4

Playmakers could be a sleeper for top 5. They add Todd Snyder and 2:19 marathoner Nick Stanko to a team that already includes Grant Robison and some solid regional level guys from Michigan (Kris Koster is a sub 50 10 miler, Matt Bartlebaugh has run 2:19, and Scott Schmick ran 1:07ish for a half this fall).

Wisconsin RRT and Columbus Running Co are probably the next best teams in the field, but probably not quite to the level of the aforementioend squads.

They real question is: will Manhattan Track Club crack the top-10 again?

Course report?

Men's does appear to be a Zap show, but some teams enter last minute. I'm not sure I can even name 5 Hanson's guys anymore. Its a new generation for them as the old guard seems to have moved on.

I seriously believe the RunOhio women's team is being over-looked. They are 6-8 deep with OT trials qualifiers and former national champs on the roster. The are missing Alyanak, but they won by almost double 2 years ago.

Only a piglet West coach guy would say that the meet needs to stay on the west coast. If you haven't noticed, its alternated east/west the past 6 years or so. BTW, attendance at the spokane snow bowl wasn't off the charts either last year.

banana hammock wrote:

I seriously believe the RunOhio women's team is being over-looked. They are 6-8 deep with OT trials qualifiers and former national champs on the roster. The are missing Alyanak, but they won by almost double 2 years ago.

RunOhio might be loaded with women with solid resumes, but the race is BRC/adi's to lose

banana hammock wrote:

Men's does appear to be a Zap show, but some teams enter last minute. I'm not sure I can even name 5 Hanson's guys anymore. Its a new generation for them as the old guard seems to have moved on.

I like teams that go to the line with 5. Ballsy

After looking at the entries, Hansons/Brooks are entering.

Zap will not finish a full team. Peck and Polk have been struggling.

If there's a combined award, it'll go to BRC/Adidas.

That's just a competition for the team with the most money

crazed loonie wrote:

If there's a combined award, it'll go to BRC/Adidas.

ZAP had better win. This is an event for Clubs with ZAP being the only professional Club in the field. Here are the 6 Post Collegiate Clubs receiving Big $$$$.

The USA Distance Project is an initiative of USA Track & Field to increase the ranks of competitive long-distance runners with a network of camps to provide nurturing training environments. Funds will be distributed among six postcollegiate training groups: the Mammoth Track Club in Mammoth Lakes, CA; Team USA Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN; Marathon Performance in Eugene, OR; Tempo Sports in Boulder, CO; McMillan Elite in Flagstaff, AZ; and ZAP Fitness in Blowing Rock, NC.

McMillan Elite are in the same situation.

I'd love to know which teams are self-funded (each athlete paying their own way), and which are team-funded. The status of McMillan and ZAP are pretty obvious.