The ducks, how good?

Point 1: The race was at home for Colorado, whereas Oregon had to travel. Point 2: Stanford did not beat Oregon (woulda, coulda, shoulda??). Point 3: The Pac 10 is the premier XC Conference, so the 5:1 comparison is laughable (relative to Leingang). Point 4: We can expect the 10K to favor Oregon runners Melancon, Winn and Elkaim (and perhaps, Jenkins), who may well leapfrog Fleet.

Will Oregon beat Colorado? Probably not, but they will challenge...and once again, will not be "crushed".

Fun fact: The top three ranked XC schools scored a combined 9 pts(1,6,2) at NCAA Track and Field Championships last year.

4th rank Oregon - 44 pts.

The perspective is, some schools more heavily distribute their XC/TF scholarships towards XC.

Oregon has always tried to remain a distance (actually mid-distance if you trace the history back far enough) known school, without loading the majority of the scholarships to XC/Distance.

louisville buff wrote:

The poster above me explained it fairly succinctly. A team that some have claimed are in contention for the title cannot let another team put 5 runners in front of their #3 at their conference meet. Furthermore, if you expect Jenkins to just show up at NCAAs and drop a top 15 performance, you are delusional.

I still think they've got a(n outside) shot at a podium finish, but that some posters thought they had a chance at the title is laughable.

I don't think Oregon is in contention for the title. I think this is sort of a growth year for them, and that to a degree Andy uses XC and a building block for outdoor track.

I have said it before and I will say it again,

Wetmore is a distance 3k-10K Coach that can coach a 1500 guy.

Powell is a 800-1500 coach that cannot coach 3K -10K guys.

A Duck hits the nail on the head! Oregon goes for the "track and field" approach, while Colorado and a few others focus all their scholarships to XC and distances. I find it most impressive that Oregon is able to contend for both XC and Indoor/Outdoor track and field. Of course they do have the "X" factor with Nike in the neighborhood and a long history of success in the sport.

I agree with A Duck. However, I do not agree with all of you not giving Daniel Winn credit. Some said he would be tenth on the team. He has been the five recently. Where's the love for "DWinn"?

Winn is 5th by default thanks to:

Elkeim

Watson

Melancon

DeJarnette

Jablonski

Jenkins- MIA

Again most of these guys were very good HS runners and would have done well at CU running longer distances, but because Powell is only a Mid-Distance guy they suck.

Thank you, Duck Hunting. I'm not going to argue that, as I don't know much about Oregon's training. Assuming what you say is true, that explains it. However; I still think Daniel Winn is better than he's given credit for.

Ducks Suck wrote:

Oregon is a smoke and mirrors program with no real substance. They are far, far from the team that won nationals 5 years ago. They ride the legacy of Pre and Nike to recruit and sell kids a fake image. They don't train hard for cross country and make kids soft. They've been 20th last year and didn't even make nationals the year before that. Don't count on anything from this team anytime soon. #Overrated #Joke #Endthread

This guy gets it.

The only problem is they don't care if they are not good at XC.

Ever since Vin left they have gone down hill in the distance department.

Now that Johnson is Coach they only care about mid distance pts. As long as Powell Coaches good 800 and Milers Oregon will be happy.

So it is a mute point. In their eyes CU OSU and Stanford are jokes that can't even get points in the distance events in track.

Sorry, I did not want to take anything away from Winn

He is running well, but is he more a Miler?

Duck Hunting wrote:

Sorry, I did not want to take anything away from Winn

He is running well, but is he more a Miler?

You are definitely correct. Winn is a miler, which is part of why I give him props.

Elkeim

Watson

Melancon

DeJarnette

Jablonski

Jenkins- MIA

Other than Melancon, I don't think any of these guys were "very good HS runners" who would do well at longer distances at CU. These guys were all primarily milers in high school, as was Fleet.

The only problem is that your facts are screwed up: In Vin's final year, the team didn't qualify for Nationals. In Robert Johnson's first year, they did qualify and finished in top 20. Oh yes, the women did pretty well for not being very good under Robert Johnson...they won the National Championships.

Oregon is a football school and ranked third in the BCS that's all that Uncle Phil cares about today.

BCS Rankings

------------

Alabama 1

FSU 2

Oregon 3

As for XC, who cares? Oregon does indeed suck.

Let's not forget that Oregon was in the Sweet 16 for Men's basketball last season. Oh yes, let's not forget that the Oregon Women Volleyball team made it to the National Championship title game last season. And let's not forget that the Oregon women won the national XC championships last year, and the men's baseball team was Pac 12 champion, and...sure, but they are just a "football school". Get your head out.

Women's volleyball? Puhlease. Stick to revenue generating sports. Oregon football pays for all those other non-rev sports. Perhaps their men's basketball team doesn't need the football teet, but spare me the BS. Oregon is no basketball power.

That could be said for most schools

Did the XC team make fun of you in high school, or something?