Great race for Stanford's men. Actually they were strong through their top seven, showing more depth than I expected from this (e.g. Sullivan). Oregon did fine for the kind of team they are, that is with middle distance guys (e.g. Centrowitz, A.J. Acosta). For half the race, it looked like Oregon might challenge Stanford, but then the overdistance took it out of guys like DeJarnette and Stinson). Definitely props to Acosta for running with the lead group for much of the race and then sticking it out by himself to finish behind the pure distance guys (Derrick, Heath, Puskedra, etc.).
Hasay looked great on the women's side. She ran with Kroeger and Kosinski for most of the race, then dropped Kroeger with ease at the final quarter mile. She looked relaxed. Arizona and Washington also looked good...this is an impressive conference with Stanford and Oregon. With a couple seconds difference, any one of four teams could have won this race today.
You are an idiot.
Snakedoctor09 wrote:
OK State went 1-4 at Big 12, I think OK State will take it by a close margin
The Big 12 my friend, are no Pac 10.
Winning time for Mecheso was right under 24.
I know courses are different but you gotta wonder if Okstates fourth man can keep up a faster pace at nationals. It's not like he was right with the top 3.
By the look of things today I'd say Stanford for the win if they run like they've been.
laffytaffy wrote:
You are an idiot.
Why? The kid was a Footlocker champ, how is 8th place at conference good?
I hafta agree with you. Stanford's top three ran together and without a great deal of stress (though Derrick struggled a bit at times--it wasn't his best day) and they ran fast. The Seattle course was a little wet and slick, slowing it down a bit, which means that Stanford's guys can run a lot faster. Okie State goes down to Stanford at Terre Haute.
gotta laugh wrote:
laffytaffy wrote:You are an idiot.
Why? The kid was a Footlocker champ, how is 8th place at conference good?
1500 PB 1,500 Meters - 3:36.48
5,000 Meters - 13:46.87
AJ has been focused on shorter events.
Also predicted to be the Ducks 4th runner.
The guy seemed to have lost his focus and has come back strong for his TEAM. Get it now.
Did you see what he did last year at West Regionals when the Ducks need T&F points, kept putting on his spikes and going out and earning points.
This wasn't about winning, it wasn't about AJ, it was about hanging tough for points after he lost contact. Those are the tough points, when you know you aren't going to break the tape but you're running for your team. This is what I loved most about XC. Hoping you had the chance to live that experience at least once.
Think about it.
gotta laugh wrote:
Trudva wrote:AJ with a big run, 3rd Duck 8th overall. Gamer. Baller.
Kindof sad when a guy who was NATIONAL CHAMPION in XC in high school is praised for getting 8th as a senior in his conference meet.
I agree with this.
Most knowledgeable runners would have told you that AJ was never going to be a great xc runner in college. His body type, his form, the fact that he was much better on the track. The 05' foot locker class was not particularly strong in comparison to other years.
I do believe that he has underachieved at NCAA nationals, but as a 1500 guy I think it is slightly absurd to say he should be dominant in an 8k/10k just because he won footlocker.
If footlocker was an 8k or 10k he might have not been top 10.
Along the same lines, I am very impressed with Michael Coe's reestablishment of being a good xc runner.
Then you are an idiot too.
high school runner wrote:
gotta laugh wrote:Kindof sad when a guy who was NATIONAL CHAMPION in XC in high school is praised for getting 8th as a senior in his conference meet.
I agree with this.
And your screen name gives me all the information I need to know. What y'all planning to do after you win Footlocker?
gotta laugh wrote:
Trudva wrote:AJ with a big run, 3rd Duck 8th overall. Gamer. Baller.
Kindof sad when a guy who was NATIONAL CHAMPION in XC in high school is praised for getting 8th as a senior in his conference meet.
There's a difference between training for middle distance and distance. And you're going a few years back. If I'd said AJ was going to be top 8 at PAC10 yesterday I suspect I would have been slammed for not looking at reality.
Since AJ had a Euro post-season (3:53!) he started rebuilding late, and expect he'll move up by Nats.
en action avec ma bite wrote:
Stanford looked phenomenal. The big 3 put in a slick surge after 7k leaving centro and puskedra in the dust even as their 4&5 really stepped it up. They were actually smiling and talking 50m from the finish. Barring disaster and/or the second coming of german, stanford will tear apart ok state..
They gotta get by UOKIE and FSU first - might be tough. Just sayin.
gotta laugh wrote:
Trudva wrote:AJ with a big run, 3rd Duck 8th overall. Gamer. Baller.
Kindof sad when a guy who was NATIONAL CHAMPION in XC in high school is praised for getting 8th as a senior in his conference meet.
Why is it sad? The guy is a miler/middle-distance runner and a damn good one at that. It's great that he can contribute in the best XC conference in the country.
boss dj wrote:
Snakedoctor09 wrote:OK State went 1-4 at Big 12, I think OK State will take it by a close margin
The Big 12 my friend, are no Pac 10.
Winning time for Mecheso was right under 24.
I know courses are different but you gotta wonder if Okstates fourth man can keep up a faster pace at nationals. It's not like he was right with the top 3.
By the look of things today I'd say Stanford for the win if they run like they've been.
Big 12 is a little deep with Ok state, Colorado and oklahoma. I'd say that the big 12 is better on the mens side than the pac ten. but with Colorado moving, pac-ten will be much better starting next year. however Colorado and Oregon are a little suprisin to me with lack of runners past 5-6.
Stanford however, has to be the favorite for the crown
Based from on paper results...
Nationals predictions
Stanford
2, 3, 4, 19, 20= 48 points
OK State
6, 9, 14, 17, 85= 131 points
Oregon
5, 10, 16, 55, 84= 170 points
Maybe the Big 12 is "deeper" than the PAC 10, but the top 10 of the PAC 10 are way stronger than the BIG 12s top ten (not counting OK states four perhaps). and since all of stanford finished in the top 10...
No way will Jake Riley be top five.
No way will Stanford's five guy be top 20.
No way will Centro be top 10 or Oregon having a three guy at 16th. Are you saying that Acosta or Mercado will be 16th?
All opinion of course :)
It was not so much a prediction as just looking what the numbers say.
17 seconds behind Stanford's top three (Centro) does indicate a top 10 finish is possible.
Who else would be that close?
No one at Pre Nats, then there is McNeil (and maybe Estrada), a couple of OK staters perhaps, and I didn't count Sammy because his team probably won't qualify. Then Coe, Sambu (who also doesn't count), and Puskedra.
So 10-15 is reasonable for Centro.