GoRillaRunna wrote:
If you were there you would have noticed that the timing mat would be smack dab in the middle of the start area for the true 5k so it was moved just to the left of that to be out of the way. This made the 2nd half (according to the results) a lot shorter so the 5k splits on the results are off. Regardless of distance, it's a championship race and it's cross country and not track so distance/times are irrelevant as long as the distance is reasonably close. And if a college coach is recruiting based on times from one particular race in cross country that falls toward the front half of the runner's racing season, he/she probably isn't the best recruiter
No I agree they shouldn't (and don't) recruit based on times run on this course. All I am saying is that this IS a beautiful course, and has the potential to draw a lot of attention from college coaches around the midwest. Instead, coaches recruit Forest Park, and at least for the time being, Rim Rock. Coaches at the DI level essentially throw out most performances on this course, even though there have been some outstanding ones throughout the years, because they know the 5k isn't even close. Then the kids like the ones from Potosi who ran 15:00 and 15:10 wonder why they never ever even come close to those times on the track in college...
All I'm saying, is they would be doing themselves a favor as a meet host to make the course at least somewhat believable. It would still be a fast course even if it was legit length.