What do you think of these picks?
http://www.letsrun.com/news/2014/09/2014-xc-individual-preview/
What do you think of these picks?
http://www.letsrun.com/news/2014/09/2014-xc-individual-preview/
This is a pretty accurate list! Lot's of love for the utep steepler at #2. Who are some other possible top 20 finishers?
Good call about Korolev being the "wild card" - thank you for noting his unpredictability. I'm amazed on how much recognition he has been getting during this preseason because of his last year's finish, particularly with many sources calling him one of the top runners for Stanford. Yes, Korolev is a great runner but I don't think he can be dependable or guaranteed to even break the top 20 for this year. We'd have to wait until the actual race to see which mentality he has that day.
I'm pretty sure anyone who's ever talked about Maks (or Leakos) has acknowledged the streakiness and noted that he could be anywhere from top 5 to last.Anyway, my only issue with the rankings is having Jenkins 4th. He's never had a good XC season. But I suppose there is a first time for everything.
ladedah wrote:
Good call about Korolev being the "wild card" - thank you for noting his unpredictability. I'm amazed on how much recognition he has been getting during this preseason because of his last year's finish, particularly with many sources calling him one of the top runners for Stanford. Yes, Korolev is a great runner but I don't think he can be dependable or guaranteed to even break the top 20 for this year. We'd have to wait until the actual race to see which mentality he has that day.
ladedah wrote:
Good call about Korolev being the "wild card" - thank you for noting his unpredictability. I'm amazed on how much recognition he has been getting during this preseason because of his last year's finish, particularly with many sources calling him one of the top runners for Stanford. Yes, Korolev is a great runner but I don't think he can be dependable or guaranteed to even break the top 20 for this year. We'd have to wait until the actual race to see which mentality he has that day.
How could we not include it? He and Leakos rose up right after I left Cornell but it was pretty amazing watching those guys at Heps meets as you never knew what you are going to get.
Running would be a lot more popular if more people raced like them because one thing I say the sport lacks is unpredictability. There is no interception in distance running but there was a lot of unpredictability with those two.
My main thought on Korolev is that he's a very tall dude. 6'5. It's just hard to be that tall and have everything in working order at 100mpw.
He's a great American success story however and it would be good to see Stanford come through for the first time in a long while.
I also like a story of a guy who didn't have it all together who now is a stud. It's not just about talent.
Moving on, I was very much against putting Jenkins at #4. I just think he's totally unproven at xc/10k. Top 20 like Farrell, yes. Top 5? It's possible but I dont think he should be picked #4, but let it stick and just added in the part about Farrell.
But i could also see him totally thriving with Cheserek and being dominant.
Should be interesting.
my thought, looking at the rankings, was that you guys slightly overrated Jenkins and Erassa (OK state) based on their stellar track credentials. They could very well end up top 10 xc runners, but I personally would've picked my top 10 as follows.
1. Edward Cheserek
2. Patrick Tiernan (just have a feeling)
3. Jim Rosa
4. Joe Rosa
5. Anthony Rotich
6. Ben Saarel
7. Stanley Kebenei
8. Eric Jenkins
9. Futsum Z
10. Morgan Pearson
Wildcard: Maksim Korolev - putting him on a historically inconsistent at NCAA's Stanford team is gonna be interesting.
Wildcard #2: Craig Lutz - 2x cross country all-american, 3rd in ncaa 10k 2 years ago. Has never broken 14 for 5k, just 29:22 for 10k.
I also expect to see big years from Sean McGorty and Jake Leingang. Both ran impressive early races, but faded late in the season. Now that they've acclimated to college training and competition, I see them both as All-Americans this year.
If Leingang gets AA/Top-40 then Keelan & Wharton, both of Stanford and 2nd-yr frosh like Leingang, will be as well.
All three were top hs seniors a couple years back with current 5k prs of 13:55/Keelan, 14:07/Leingang, 14:11/Wharton.
But, no, none are good enough yet for top-40.
Frankly, OR men are being pumped up to something they aren't. Ches #1, Jenkins top 20, but that's it for AA honors. Their transfers are not eligible for xc. Can't see OR as a podium team this year.
I think Ryan Dohner could also be in contention for a top 10 spot.
I would also put money on Willie Geoghegan placing top 15
rojo wrote:
ladedah wrote:Good call about Korolev being the "wild card" - thank you for noting his unpredictability. I'm amazed on how much recognition he has been getting during this preseason because of his last year's finish, particularly with many sources calling him one of the top runners for Stanford. Yes, Korolev is a great runner but I don't think he can be dependable or guaranteed to even break the top 20 for this year. We'd have to wait until the actual race to see which mentality he has that day.
How could we not include it?
Other groups out there have NOT noted the inconsistency, and yet they rank him among the top 5 of their season individual predictions (*cough cough* flotrack *cough cough*). I don't know how they could ignore it.
Kyle's Killer Lemonade wrote:
I would also put money on Willie Geoghegan placing top 15
^I can guarantee that this will not happen.
Now if Geoghegan had XC eligibility left, then I would also make this pick...
I think Lawi Lalang is returning to run XC for Arizona this fall He should be in top 3 if not #1 or #2.
You think wrong! Go back to wanking in your mommy's basement.
slowrunning wrote:
I think Lawi Lalang is returning to run XC for Arizona this fall He should be in top 3 if not #1 or #2.
LetsRun.com wrote:
What do you think of these picks?
http://www.letsrun.com/news/2014/09/2014-xc-individual-preview/
What about Iona bringing in Gilbert Kirui as a freshmen - does he shake up the top 10 and also increase the odds that Iona gets on the podium as a team?
If this is the 8:06 steeplechaser, Iowa should be banned from the NCAA for absurd cheating.
keeps reals wrote:
If this is the 8:06 steeplechaser, Iowa should be banned from the NCAA for absurd cheating.
Wait, what?
He's not the same Gilbert Kirui, but good job flying off the handle. The 8:06 Gilbert Kirui still probably made a lot less money than Galen Rupp, who was able to redeem his eligibility as well.
So does anyone actually know whether this is the same Gilbert Kirui or not? I have stared at the dozen or so pictures on the google image search and I cannot tell if they are the same.
The timeline is a little tight because Gilbert Kirui would have ran an 8:11 SC at the Doha DL on 9/5/2014, then debuted for Iona on 9/26/2014 at Virginia. The recent track peak might explain why he is taking it easy thus far in xc.
Lets not forget that Leonard Korir ran far below his potential for his first season at Iona before taking off and winning multiple titles.
I'm not yet sold either way on the theory that Gilbert Kirui went straight from the Diamond League to the NCAA, but if so King Ches better keep an eye out on Saturday.