I just wanted to make an in depth comment on the LetsRun.com Super 10 National & Regional poll that is at the main page. I know everyone is bound to have their own bias, you know, maybe some homage for their alma mater or a school they know and all that, but lets not be ridiculous. I follow women's cross and track pretty closely, and have strong allegiance to the ACC, which aside is probably the strongest conference overall in the NCAA in these respects currently (1-5 in the ACC were 1-5 in the Southeast Region, all 5 will qualify for Nats, and all 5 are, were, and will rank in the top 15). All this stated, how is Virginia only 27th in this National poll? only 5th in the Southeast Regional poll? and before only ranked 5th in the ACC poll? Like I said, I know some schools have a larger fan base historically than others but what is fair is fair, people be honest and grant respect where respect is due...hell I could vote Davidson onto this poll if I wanted to. I know these polls make the littlest difference in the world when it comes down to it to boot, and if anything these polls show how people may just go with names rather than basing their submission on any true fact. Facts, in the combined scoring of Pre-Nats Virginia was tied 10th (ahead of Duke & UNC); Virginia placed 3rd in the ACC (behind Wake & NC State, ahead of Duke & UNC); Virginia place 3rd in the Southeast Regional (again behind Wake & NC State, ahead of Duke and UNC). Morever, despite finishing 3rd in the Southeast, Virginia was the first team to have 5 scoring runners cross the line. Still, so far in this poll, UNC is ranked 11th with one first place vote? Duke is 14th with one first place vote? Thus, Duke, so far, is behind UNC even though UNC has never come close to beating Duke in a head to head competition this year? And, my school of topic in this case, Virginia, is only granted 27th so far behind a 23rd JMU who finised a far 9th (300 points vs. 93 points) in the Southeast and just ahead of Coastal Carolina's 28th who finished an even further 13th (348 points vs. 93 points), too, in the Southeast Region? I nothice this in the first place because the top 10 so far seems pretty accurate given actual race results and honoring so far, but past the 10th spot things get shaky. Some of the right names are in there, maybe in the incorrect place, give a spot or two, but then I look see Virginia not even in that mix but in the "honorable mentions" squeezed into the others receiving votes. Some other schools, too, are getting the snub of course, but that one jumped out at me quickest since I know the ACC like the back of my hand and all the other ACC schools were up there.
Virginia and others have been getting it done regardless. Last year no one gave them props in the polls either, and still they finished 9th when all was said and done. They are a program on the up and up and soon they will start getting the props they deserve, and start steering peoples heads away from NC State, UNC, and Duke all the time. So Virginia, with this post, should any of you read it, props be unto you and good luck. Any teams like them who are getting shucked, too, props unto you as well. Big props to Wake Forest as well this year...where the f did they come from?