Why were the times so slow at Griak?
Why were the times so slow at Griak?
Probably because the people who ran are slow runners.
Unseasonably warm, course lengths have been legitimized (and they're already more challenging than other high end meets), and the overall field quality is lower than it has been.
Goucher Needles wrote:
Unseasonably warm, course lengths have been legitimized (and they're already more challenging than other high end meets), and the overall field quality is lower than it has been.
pretty much. Honestly one of the most overrated meets of the whole year. Biggest reason was probably the heat as it was humid and hot. And the fact there is no flat ground
Having taken teams there for that meet the majority of years since 1994, it is one of the more challenging courses, particularly for anyone not either in first or last (read: running in huge packs). That course is always changing. You are constantly either going left or right or up and down. Typically all four at the same time.
Add in the heat and it drags.
Doesn't explain why the times are so much slower this year than previous years...
complainerizer wrote:
Doesn't explain why the times are so much slower this year than previous years...
And I Quote
"the overall field quality is lower than it has been."
It was also hotter than it's been the last few years, but mostly because those top guys weren't there or people just didn't want to take it out. Thanks Rupp.
There were good runners there. I'm guessing it was the heat and humidity. Unless you think Jewkes, Lutz and Rynhard aren't that good.
course lengths have been legitimized?
Say what?
It was high 70s and sunny for the afternoon races (DI and all HS races) but for the DII and DIII races it was low/mid 70s, which is not at all unusual. It was not very humid.
The field quality in the college races is nowhere near what it used to be: it started with DI teams deciding to go to Boston, Oregon, Oklahoma, or Wisconsin instead of Griak, and I think it trickled down to DII and DIII teams electing to go elsewhere (mostly Eau Claire from what I gather). Griak has never been FAST—it's a challenging course. But Lawi and Steven Sambu ran well under 24:00 there a few years back.
As for the high school races, I heard reports that the 5k course was 100m too long. I don't know if this affected the college races too. Even so, it doesn't explain only five DIII guys breaking 27:00. The high school fields were superb, though—definitely one of the best HS meets in the midwest, both for boys and girls.
Races on gf courses run long or short. Never exact. Never the same year to year. It's very difficult to have a 5k, 6k and 8k all be exact with the same start and finish. Plus this is xc. So kinda close is good enough.
Stanford was much faster this year in the HS races. Another golf course.
Any other great races in Minnesota?
Bethan Knights
CA 2014 3200 champion, and H.S. record holder for 2-mile:
15th, 21:37.7
number one finisher for Cal, and top Freshman.
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/minn/sports/m-xc/auto_pdf/2014-15/misc_non_event/14GriakWGI.pdf
Obviously you weren't there. D3 race was hot, along with D2 (clearly). Meaning it was hotter than it has been recently. It's called acclimation, most weren't used to it for the last 2-3 weeks. Just looking at a weather report doesn't dictate the exact feel of it outside. It was hot, times were slow.
You're comparing Lawi Lalang, arguable the best collegian runner of all time (up to now), to most so-so D1 schools/athletes outside of a select few. UW-La Crosse had not 1 guy under 26. That shows a lot considering they are capable of 5 under 25:30.
TreesIntheFall wrote:
Obviously you weren't there. D3 race was hot, along with D2 (clearly). Meaning it was hotter than it has been recently. It's called acclimation, most weren't used to it for the last 2-3 weeks. Just looking at a weather report doesn't dictate the exact feel of it outside. It was hot, times were slow.
You're comparing Lawi Lalang, arguable the best collegian runner of all time (up to now), to most so-so D1 schools/athletes outside of a select few. UW-La Crosse had not 1 guy under 26. That shows a lot considering they are capable of 5 under 25:30.
What was the temp? What was the dew point? Did all of the teams come from cold climates? What was the temp when Lawi set the record? Did Lacrosse run a smart race?
Apparently 72 degrees is "hot" now.
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=temperature+in+minneapolis+at+10%3A30am+on+september+28th+2014
Fixed date:
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=temperature+in+minneapolis+at+10%3A30am+on+september+27th+2014
(still 72 degrees)
Watch the finish line footage on Flotrack, guys in the top half of the field were dying down the stretch and collapsing at the line
The D1 race was started at 12:30 and the temperature was 80 without humidity included. 4 athletes had seizures in the medical tent and 25 men dropped out of the race in addition to 40 some woman.
Since when has 80 ever been terribly hot?? Never...
...no wrote:
The D1 race was started at 12:30 and the temperature was 80 without humidity included. 4 athletes had seizures in the medical tent and 25 men dropped out of the race in addition to 40 some woman.
thank you. I mean these idiots could use common sense and put together the fact times were slow and people were saying it was hot. No, teams brought their 12-24 runners instead so the top guys can do a workout.
I swear some people on here are as bright as a dim lightbulb.