Official NXN thread

Dude made it look easy.

I am not surprised Arcadia is the first to win this.

This is a different animal for California kids. They never race in any conditions remotely like it so it is not surprising that California teams normally underperform. Big meets like Mt Sac have a rain course if it there is rain. California kids aren't used to the mud and cold. It isn't they aren't tough it is just inexperience that make them usually underperform compared to the rest of the year.

Another showing of Greater Spokane League XC dominance.

The GSL places 2 teams in the top 15, 3 individuals in the top 12. And sends 2 individuals to FL, placing 2nd and 5th at FL West. Four different schools (North Central, Lewis and Clark, Mead, and Shadle Park) from the GSL will be represented in either FL or NXN this year. A fifth school, Ferris, produced the Northwest's alternate this year, and finished 2nd last year as a team.

For seven years in a row a GSL school has finished in the top 6 at NXN. Only greater Chicago can compare, though their schools are much larger, almost twice the size I believe.

(On a side note, the GSL girls are now starting to keep pace with the boys, finishing 9th individually at NXN and sending two to FL.)

Two teams from the open race (East Aurora TC and O'brien's Army) would have been around 10th place in the championship race. Were the two courses run the same course?

Whoa man, what?

bobtheslob wrote:

Dude made it look easy.

I am not surprised Arcadia is the first to win this.

This is a different animal for California kids. They never race in any conditions remotely like it so it is not surprising that California teams normally underperform. Big meets like Mt Sac have a rain course if it there is rain. California kids aren't used to the mud and cold. It isn't they aren't tough it is just inexperience that make them usually underperform compared to the rest of the year.

weird wrote:

Two teams from the open race (East Aurora TC and O'brien's Army) would have been around 10th place in the championship race. Were the two courses run the same course?

Isn't O'brien's Army Arcadia's B-team? O.O That's some crazy depth right there.

Two IL cross country championships

Footlocker championship as a junior

4:04/8:53/14:18 as a junior

If Lukas won Footlocker for a 2nd time and ran 4:02/8:44/14:00, would that make him the greatest HS runner of all-time?

Talk about pressure. When CV ran, there was none.

looks like LV's 3rd kilometer took 3:47, which is 6:02 pace - wacky, if accurate

must have been a slosh pit

Ummm, ever hear of Jim Ryun? Alan Webb? Craig Virgen?

love how the front page says FM girls won and also says FM girls got second

Jim Rosa looks like he's ready to run nationals for Stanford next year after that great season capped off with an embarrassing 17:30 under tough conditions

Nice Chinese Shoe Faire in Portland today. Good job boys.

I have heard of the first two and the third with a minor spelling change. The impact of each was different. I think Lukas could be the best HS runner ever. How do you think he will do in the 5k, 10k, marathon or triathlon as a United States representative in the future?

DaveW wrote:

Two IL cross country championships

Footlocker championship as a junior

4:04/8:53/14:18 as a junior

If Lukas won Footlocker for a 2nd time and ran 4:02/8:44/14:00, would that make him the greatest HS runner of all-time?

Funny that you picked those criteria, because that would put him slightly behind Ritz.

Verzbicas near course record at Detweiller.

Ritz dominating record at Mich state course with less history (Jason Hartmann may have run on that course, but Virgin, Spivey, Torres, Bakken, Broe, Sage and Derrick didn't).

Verzbicas two time FL champ.

Ritz two time FL champ, including Florida course record.

Verzbicas NXN champ.

Ritz, no chance, but likely would have won it, probably twice.

Verzbicas 14:18 indoor 5k as a junior.

Ritz 14:13 outdoor 5k as a junior.

Verzbicas 4:04/8:53 as a junior.

Ritz sub4:10?/8:41 as a junior.

Verzbicas 4:02/8:44 as a senior.

Ritz sub4:10?/8:41 as a senior.

Verzbicas 14:00 5k as a senior.

Ritz 13:44 5k as a senior.

Verzbicas ?? World XC Junior champs.

Ritz 3rd World XC Junior champs

(not applicable but worth mentioning)

Verzbicas 4th at World Junior Tri champs

So, if he did what you listed, he wouldn't be the greatest, but would be listed among many of the all time best along with Ritz, Webb, Lindgren, Pre, Virgin, Fernandez (isn't it amazing how Fernandez had basically only 3 meets that make him worth mentioning here, but those 3 meets were so good you can't ignore them).

Now if Verzbicas can pull of a few of the following, while backing it up with other solid performances, he might have a claim to greatest:

medal at World Junior XC Champs

sub8:40 2mile

sub4:00 mile

sub13:44 5k

dominating course record performance at FL (like 10 second couse record and winning by 15-20+ seconds)

Basically, IMO, if he can combine Webb/Fernandez-like track credentials, with his already Ritz-like XC credentials, then yeah, he could be the greatest.

To compare him with a 12:56 and 3:46 is just to suggest his potential. I don't think there is an appreciation of what those times mean and I do get tired of the stories about the past as if they ran later times without energy drinks!

Will NXN 2011 be in Dallas or Orlando ?

DaveW wrote:

To compare him with a 12:56 and 3:46 is just to suggest his potential. I don't think there is an appreciation of what those times mean and I do get tired of the stories about the past as if they ran later times without energy drinks!

??

I'm not really sure what you're trying to say here. I was strictly comparing with high school performances.

Webb

3:53,3:59i,8:45i,1:47, 4:06/1:52/:49 triple, 2nd at FL, etc.

Ritz

2 time FL champ, 13:44 5k, 8:41 2 mile, 3rd at World Junior XC

Fernandez

14:24 course record in Cali, 8:34/4:00 3200/1600 double, 8:34 2 mile national record, 3rd at FL

Virgin

13:50 at Detweiller, no FL/Kinney at the time, 8:41, something like 10 sub9s in one season

etc...

Will NXN 2011 be in Dallas or Orlando ?

Terre Haute is Cross Country Town USA

Any one of those marks are achievable except Webb's.

It is quite possible that he is the greatest HS runner in IL history, and he may have the potential to be the greatest emissary of running in IL history. He may in fact be the greatest HS runner in national history depending on his results in the next 6 months.

But, regardless of his next 6 month results, I think he has the opportunity to be the greatest influence in running in the next 10 years.

giffypop17 wrote:

??

I'm not really sure what you're trying to say here. I was strictly comparing with high school performances.

Webb

3:53,3:59i,8:45i,1:47, 4:06/1:52/:49 triple, 2nd at FL, etc.

Ritz

2 time FL champ, 13:44 5k, 8:41 2 mile, 3rd at World Junior XC

Fernandez

14:24 course record in Cali, 8:34/4:00 3200/1600 double, 8:34 2 mile national record, 3rd at FL

Virgin

13:50 at Detweiller, no FL/Kinney at the time, 8:41, something like 10 sub9s in one season

etc...

Wasn't Fernandez like two years younger than Lukas V. when he ran those times.

In fact, weren't all these guys younger?