Did Chris Derrick blow it?

The bigger issue is , there is no plan, no direction for x-country as team sport an an elite level. This stems back to the LDR group which does not have a plan in place for x-country development with a team focus. What might this look like? Once a team is decided a training camp is set up that is fully budgeted and supported to develop a team mentality. It may not be everybody is doing the same workouts, but the team building relationships and a strategy may evolve.

The dialog from the LDR leadership might we say we have a goal to team medal at world cross in two years. What are steps we put into place to achieve that goal.

All of the African nations do it with fraction of the funding that the US may be able to get. They have a team plan once the toe the line.

Strugglez wrote:

That is not the A team man. I would go with this:

1. Rupp

2. Derrick

3. True

4. Lomong

5. Bumbi

6. Ritz

You've overlooked Jager. Steeple guys are usually good XC runners.

1. Flanagan

2. Huddle

3. Simpson

4. Hastings or whatever her new name is

5. Hall

6. Rhines

Strugglez wrote:

I agree. Throw in Cheserek once he gets citizenship and that's a serious team.

I noticed this with Sally Kipeygo and a long time ago Bernard Lagat. Their college careers were very good but once they started racing fellow Africans ( especially Kenyans) it was really game on. I bet you, if Cheserek went to Kenya he would hop in the "A" group and be top 5 at a world cross regardless of who he was running for.

1) Rupp

2) Derrick

3) True

4) Lagat

5) Jager

6) Hill

Hands down best possible A team right now.

not even Jim Ryun could take down a fast Kenyan at altitude... Chris Derrick gave it his best.

Gators13 wrote:

1) Rupp

2) Derrick

3) True

4) Lagat

5) Jager

6) Hill

Hands down best possible A team right now.

Cross country is 12k. No way Lagat has the strength for it.

1) Rupp

2) Derrick

3) True

4) Jager

5) Ritz

6) Vail

What would be Kenya's A team though?

1) Paul Tanui (26:49 in 2014)

2) Bitan Karoki (26:52 in 2014)

3) Stephen Sambu (26:54 in 2014)

4) Geoffrey Mutai (27:19 road pr, 27:32 road 10k in 2014)

5) Wilson Kipsang

6) Dennis Kimetto

is this close? I'm not sure

No he didnt blow it, He ran against top notch Africans and thats where he ranks. He good by American standards but no where on the world stage.

agc5k wrote:

What would be Kenya's A team though?

1) Paul Tanui (26:49 in 2014)

2) Bitan Karoki (26:52 in 2014)

3) Stephen Sambu (26:54 in 2014)

4) Geoffrey Mutai (27:19 road pr, 27:32 road 10k in 2014)

5) Wilson Kipsang

6) Dennis Kimetto

is this close? I'm not sure

..much to me.

The team that Kenya DID bring would spank the US dream team.

And it wouldn't be close.

Not even a little bit.

I'd put Bumbi and Hill above Vail and Ritz.

Doesn't Really Matter... wrote:

agc5k wrote:

What would be Kenya's A team though?

1) Paul Tanui (26:49 in 2014)

2) Bitan Karoki (26:52 in 2014)

3) Stephen Sambu (26:54 in 2014)

4) Geoffrey Mutai (27:19 road pr, 27:32 road 10k in 2014)

5) Wilson Kipsang

6) Dennis Kimetto

is this close? I'm not sure

..much to me.

The team that Kenya DID bring would spank the US dream team.

And it wouldn't be close.

Not even a little bit.

What about an all-time USA vs all-time Kenya vs all-time Ethiopia team. Each athlete on each team is in their prime.

USA: Rupp, Solinsky, Ritz, Webb, Shorter, Virgin

Kenya: Tergat, G Mutai, Mosop, Eliud Kipchoge, W Kipsang, Sammy Wanjiru

Ethiopia: Haile, K Bekele, Gebremeskel, Gebrhiwet, Sihine, T Bekele

agc5k wrote:

What about an all-time USA vs all-time Kenya vs all-time Ethiopia team. Each athlete on each team is in their prime.

USA: Rupp, Solinsky, Ritz, Webb, Shorter, Virgin

Kenya: Tergat, G Mutai, Mosop, Eliud Kipchoge, W Kipsang, Sammy Wanjiru

Ethiopia: Haile, K Bekele, Gebremeskel, Gebrhiwet, Sihine, T Bekele

well ok ...but haven't you heard of ngugi?

agc5k wrote:

Doesn't Really Matter... wrote:

[quote]agc5k wrote:

What would be Kenya's A team though?

1) Paul Tanui (26:49 in 2014)

2) Bitan Karoki (26:52 in 2014)

3) Stephen Sambu (26:54 in 2014)

4) Geoffrey Mutai (27:19 road pr, 27:32 road 10k in 2014)

5) Wilson Kipsang

6) Dennis Kimetto

is this close? I'm not sure

What about an all-time USA vs all-time Kenya vs all-time Ethiopia team. Each athlete on each team is in their prime.

USA: Rupp, Solinsky, Ritz, Webb, Shorter, Virgin

Kenya: Tergat, G Mutai, Mosop, Eliud Kipchoge, W Kipsang, Sammy Wanjiru

Ethiopia: Haile, K Bekele, Gebremeskel, Gebrhiwet, Sihine, T Bekele

No comment on the makeup of your teams.

But the result would be the same. Utter annihilation. Most likely a complete shutout.

agc5k wrote:

What about an all-time USA vs all-time Kenya vs all-time Ethiopia team. Each athlete on each team is in their prime.

USA: Rupp, Solinsky, Ritz, Webb, Shorter, Virgin

Kenya: Tergat, G Mutai, Mosop, Eliud Kipchoge, W Kipsang, Sammy Wanjiru

Ethiopia: Haile, K Bekele, Gebremeskel, Gebrhiwet, Sihine, T Bekele

Let's fix that USA team: Virgin, Salazar, Rodgers, Porter, Arbogast, True, Eyestone.

list comprehension wrote:

agc5k wrote:

What about an all-time USA vs all-time Kenya vs all-time Ethiopia team. Each athlete on each team is in their prime.

USA: Rupp, Solinsky, Ritz, Webb, Shorter, Virgin

Kenya: Tergat, G Mutai, Mosop, Eliud Kipchoge, W Kipsang, Sammy Wanjiru

Ethiopia: Haile, K Bekele, Gebremeskel, Gebrhiwet, Sihine, T Bekele

Let's fix that USA team: Virgin, Salazar, Rodgers, Porter, Arbogast, True, Eyestone.

Thank you for fixing that! I was starting to turn blue.

You can't use strategy unless you can keep up.

agc5k wrote:

Gators13 wrote:

1) Rupp

2) Derrick

3) True

4) Lagat

5) Jager

6) Hill

Hands down best possible A team right now.

Cross country is 12k. No way Lagat has the strength for it.

1) Rupp

2) Derrick

3) True

4) Jager

5) Ritz

6) Vail

I'm pretty sure Diego Estrada and Ryan hill would be in this top 5 take vail and Ritz out. I would even trade jäger for mead or bumbalough

I don't know I think it was like Derrick said. Think that Chris, if he could have a do over, could and would go out with the top 30. Believe it would have been a different race for him all together. IMHO.