I would have to imagine the big ones like Texas and California but other than that, are there other states that are considerably better than much bigger states?
I would have to imagine the big ones like Texas and California but other than that, are there other states that are considerably better than much bigger states?
Ever? Kansas, Virginia, Illinois. Based on top performances.
C'mon dude, how many times do we have to go through this?
Illinois.
Virgin, Verzbicus, Derrick, Withrow, Sage, Torres, Torres, Brow, Jager, etc.
Broe not brow. Stupid auto-spell check.
If you take out California, Illinois has the best record.
Those two are at the top. Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, Minnesota, New York are right behind. Then Oregon and Colorado.
Sure, I like all those Illinois guys too, but they didn't all win FL.
I'm from Illinois, and while I believe our state is one of the best, I don't think it is clearly the best or clearly number 2 or clearly anything. California, New York, Texas, Washington, New Jersey all seem to produce excellent runners year after year. I think Illinois is among those states.
I think it's important to remember that it's not the state that produces the talent. Each state has a group of elite teams that make it to NXN year after year, but superstar runners like Jager or Verzbicas were not produced by the state of Illinois. Those guys are pure talent. I think that teams like York and Neuqua Valley are elite teams from Illinois that can qualify for nationals year after year, and elite teams are what is most important in factoring in which state has the high level on competition. With that criteria in mind, Illinois is still up there as far as the producing the highest amount of talent.
Kansas - Ryun
Virginia - Webb
Illinios - Virgin, Verbicus
I'll throw in Washington - Lindgren
and Cali - Fernandez
New York, Cali, Jerz, Illinois, Texas, Florida, Indiana
If it is based on what they did on the World Stage while in high school then the two most outstanding are Ryun and Lindgren, hands down. No one comes close to what they did against the best in the world while they were in high school. If you haven't read the latest Lingren interview, it is worth a read. Very long and all sorts of stuff including some 'crazy Gerry' things that seem over-the-top, but most is a very good read http://www.garycohenrunning.com/Interviews/Lindgren.aspx
As of late, Utah did awfully well at NCAA xc
indiana
California
German Fernandez
Deena Drossin
Ryan Hall
Jordan Hasay
Christine Babcock
Patti Sue-Plumer
Sarah Baxter
Texas, California and Illinois are very large states; if you do it by per capita or by population density, perhaps NJ would be #1.
I am missing a few, but all of these Jersey athletes had incredible H.S. careers: Joetta Clark, Marty Liquori, Janet Smith, Michelle Rowen, Murad Campbell, Ajee Wilson, Danielle Tauro, Erin Donohue, Vince Cartier, Robbie Andrews, Jill Smith, John Marshall, Craig Forays, Edward Cheserek, Andy Martin and Joe Rosa.
H.S. Top 10 Relays (outdoor/indoor)
2 teams in the 4x8
3 teams in the 4xmile
3 teams in the SMR
3 teams in the DMR
CA is by far the best, when you say Lindgren, Hasay, Decker, Ryun Grandville, Plumber, Nelson, Mortensen, Stamps, Amber Trotter, Danielson and Fernandez, it kind of ends the debate, but no matter how you look at it, NJ always has to be in the conversation.
A state doesn't "produce" HS distance runners. HS distance runners are produced by other factors within a state. Population, resources, competitive environment, coaching, etc. are what determine the quantity and quality of the runners. These factors are distributed disproportionately by population density and even moreso by geography. So there's really no practical reason to figure out from which states the best runners come.
HC wrote:
A state doesn't "produce" HS distance runners. HS distance runners are produced by other factors within a state. Population, resources, competitive environment, coaching, etc. are what determine the quantity and quality of the runners. These factors are distributed disproportionately by population density and even moreso by geography. So there's really no practical reason to figure out from which states the best runners come.
I would look at the attendance of every state cross country meet and that will give you an idea.
Of course the largest populated states like California, Texas, and New York pump out great runners. Florida sure doesn't.
Colorado doesn't either despite being at altitude. The midwest (Illinois, Michigan, Ohio mainly) probably has produced the most Olympic Trials qualifiers in distance running other than Cali.
Saying that NJ produced Cheserek is not even close to accurate.
TrackCoach wrote:
Texas, California and Illinois are very large states; if you do it by per capita or by population density, perhaps NJ would be #1.
I am missing a few, but all of these Jersey athletes had incredible H.S. careers: Joetta Clark, Marty Liquori, Janet Smith, Michelle Rowen, Murad Campbell, Ajee Wilson, Danielle Tauro, Erin Donohue, Vince Cartier, Robbie Andrews, Jill Smith, John Marshall, Craig Forays, Edward Cheserek, Andy Martin and Joe Rosa.
H.S. Top 10 Relays (outdoor/indoor)
2 teams in the 4x8
3 teams in the 4xmile
3 teams in the SMR
3 teams in the DMR
CA is by far the best, when you say Lindgren, Hasay, Decker, Ryun Grandville, Plumber, Nelson, Mortensen, Stamps, Amber Trotter, Danielson and Fernandez, it kind of ends the debate, but no matter how you look at it, NJ always has to be in the conversation.
Relays is kind of pointless because there are tons of states that do not run 4x8/4xmile/SMR/DMR more than one-two times a year, and if I'm not mistaken, NJ has the 4x8 at their state meet?
Stevens Point, Wisc
NJ had just adopted the 4x8 at the state meet two years ago. NJ for its size always produces great talent year after year.