It appears as if these two runners are the names to beat this year. Anyone think Cheserek can get upset by a guy like McGorty?
It appears as if these two runners are the names to beat this year. Anyone think Cheserek can get upset by a guy like McGorty?
neither have anything on bernie
Bernie is very talented too, but I think he is much stronger on the track. He still definitely could get the W though
High School XC fan wrote:
It appears as if these two runners are the names to beat this year. Anyone think Cheserek can get upset by a guy like McGorty?
There are other runners who have been just as good (or better) this year...
but Cheserek is clearly the man to beat (unless he lets the pace lag and Bernie is in position when it comes to a kick)
Agreed, if Cheserek doesn't pressure the pace from start to finish and is within range, I think it's possible for several guys in the field to kick him down. I believe Bernie is stellar on the track, but still a national caliber runner in XC. However, I think McGorty has an equally impressive kick, but it is rather unnoticed because he rarely needs to use it to take the victory. Looking at his performance at Great American I believe? where he and Thomson took it to the line, was an extremely impressive run by both and I wouldn't be surprised to see either of them at the front. To me, those are the 4 runners that stand out as the top competitors in the field, but Cheserek is the man to beat and will likely dictate how the race goes based on his splits/pace.
Root for the Underdog wrote:
Agreed, if Cheserek doesn't pressure the pace from start to finish and is within range, I think it's possible for several guys in the field to kick him down. I believe Bernie is stellar on the track, but still a national caliber runner in XC. However, I think McGorty has an equally impressive kick, but it is rather unnoticed because he rarely needs to use it to take the victory. Looking at his performance at Great American I believe? where he and Thomson took it to the line, was an extremely impressive run by both and I wouldn't be surprised to see either of them at the front. To me, those are the 4 runners that stand out as the top competitors in the field, but Cheserek is the man to beat and will likely dictate how the race goes based on his splits/pace.
Seems to me like there are at least 9 contenders :) don't forget that there are more kids out west not named Bernie Montoya...
IMO, these are the top nine guys and their order is debatable after Cheserek
NW: Hardy, Wilmot, Gardner
SW: Montoya, Saarel
NE: Cheserek, Ryan
SE: McGorty, Thomson
Yeah, Cheserek is vulnerable because lots of guys are gonna kick down a 4:02 miler and 1:49.xx 800 guy..
He looked tired at end of last year, do not let that confuse anyone. He just ran within 3 seconds of his CR at Vanny in his first race out.
Trialswatcher wrote:
Yeah, Cheserek is vulnerable because lots of guys are gonna kick down a 4:02 miler and 1:49.xx 800 guy..
He looked tired at end of last year, do not let that confuse anyone. He just ran within 3 seconds of his CR at Vanny in his first race out.
They might if they are also sub-4:03 milers or sub-1:50 800m guys ;)
The point being, if you are the class of the field, don't let it come down to a kick (because there are others in the field capable of pretty good kicks). That's pretty basic racing strategy...
Is McGorty definitely running Footlocker? Doesn't his team have a great shot at NXN?
Yes, But wrote:
Is McGorty definitely running Footlocker? Doesn't his team have a great shot at NXN?
Yes, his team has a great shot at making it to NXN.
Hopefully he runs NXN... that's where most of these guys will probably end up (2 of the 3 NW guys will almost certainly be at NXN... unsure about Gardner, as he's chosen to go the FLN route each year instead; Both the SW guys went for NXN last year; Ryan will be at NXN, and Cheserek hasn't said either way but has gone to both NXN in 2010 and FLN in 2011.. Thomson went FLN last year)
So it might be just Thomson and possibly Gardner or Cheserek at FLN while everyone else is at the real race in Portland, unless they choose to challenge themselves.
Are you an actual idiot? The dude is Kenyan! KENYAN! You are an idiot. Nobody will beat him. N00b.
McGorty and his team have an extremely good shot, however, he has said they intend on returning to Foot Locker. Not to say that they couldn't go to NXN, but as of now, they plan on heading to FL.
Thomson will be at FL 100%. McGorty said he as going to FL despite how good his team is. and Jake Leingang is planning on doing both. Havent heard about anyone else yet. I assume Gardner will be at FL, he went to FL the past 2 years. Most of the best runners still come to Foot Locker, it is the real National Championship.
High School XC fan wrote:
It appears as if these two runners are the names to beat this year. Anyone think Cheserek can get upset by a guy like McGorty?
With Foot Locker finals this Sat., time to resurrect this thread. McGorty definitely is the one guy who appears to be able to challenge Cheserek. He's been on a tear all year and looks like he is hungry enough to do what it takes to win. Should be a great race. I predict it will be a replay of last year where Futsum was challenging Cheserek down to the wire, but the outcome just may be different this time.
With his breaking of the McAlpine course record last weekend, if he runs at all like he did then, cheserek will be seriously challenged.
Want to bet?
watchout wrote:
Seems to me like there are at least 9 contenders :) don't forget that there are more kids out west not named Bernie Montoya...
IMO, these are the top nine guys and their order is debatable after Cheserek
NW: Hardy, Wilmot, Gardner
SW: Montoya, Saarel
NE: Cheserek, Ryan
SE: McGorty, Thomson
No love for the MW? They already got the NXN individual win.
Obviously Cheserek will win, but I think Leingang will rebound well from his catastrophe at NXN.
Cheserek
McGorty
Leingang
Saarel
Gardner
watchout wrote:
Seems to me like there are at least 9 contenders :) don't forget that there are more kids out west not named Bernie Montoya...
So what about Montoya? Did he not run? Anyone know his story? He seemed to me like a prime contender.
Yeah waddup wrote:
Cheserek
McGorty
Leingang
Saarel
Gardner
Top 4 in order! (Gardner was 11th.) Damn good prediction, sir.