US Winter XC

I think Torres is a shoe in, if he chooses to compete. Ritz perhaps? Could be too soon though. What about Goucher?

It was noted elsewhere that basically the whole Oregon Project team will be doing the marathon in Feb instead of US XC Trials. The only guy I could see running the US Winter Cross Championships for the Oregon Project is, Dave Davis. Looks like the US is not going to follow up the great showing they had last year at Worlds.

Who said Meb, Abdi, and Alan wouldn't go to Worlds?

What about the jr mens race?

Hey Josh, are you now healed from that hip problem and what are your plans for indoor? You still contemplating leaving Wisc. after this year for sunny So. Cal?

I wonder if Spiker is trying to put together a case to run cross nationals for Coach Schumacher. Here goes my predictions for the 12k and 4k MENS.

12k- Culpepper wins. Too strong and it's in his home state. He will go out hammering, cruise, and then he has the best kick of the next two.

Meb- 2nd because he makes up our trio of distance guys and will be a little better than Abdi because of all the turns and hills on the Houston course.

Abdi- 3rd, last of the trio that dominates these things.

Ritz- 4th- He is great (for a young white dude)

Downin- 5th- Has this race down to a science.

Nick Rogers- 6th- Though better when there is some cash on the line, he has been out for some time and will make the team late.

4k- Actually going with young Torres. All of his talk about being top 6 at the actual wordls race makes me think he better be able to win the US title. It should also be noted that I heard that Broe is out and will run 12k if anything as he'll hopefully be getting into his base phase.

Matt Lane 2nd- Solid guy, made the team last year.

Berryhill 3rd- Solid guy, made the team last year.

Let the steeplers begin:

Pascal Dobert 4th- Heard he was training great so far. If he shows, he'll be atleast this high.

Fam 5th- 8:19 steeple equals making the 4k team.

Gary, Croghan, Cosey, Hughes, Cordes- So much experience and steeplers always do well here.

Special mention to Riley and older Downin. If both are healthy, they'll be top 10. Downin will make the team for sure in fact- always has.

So Josh, I don't think you'll make the team or even be in the top 10 for the 4k. Try to get that Indoor NCAA DMR title or a NCAA mile title. But for godssakes, no football games this season!

Is Goucher training right now?

Will he run the 4k because he'll win if he does.

However, if Wetmore is so grounded in aerobic development and "Lydiard", how in the heck is Goucher injured for the 3rd straight year? Just a question.

I've been out of touch on the Goucher question. Has he had different injuries each year, or just one really bad one? The ones I had heard of were achilles (I think), and then throwing his back out lifting rocks.

The reason I'm asking is that if he's still coming back from the lifting rocks injury, I'd be hard put to lay that on a coach or training philosophy.

Goucher is an animal.

What about Dan'o Brown in the 12K?

I heard that Goucher is having problems with FILA. Apparently they are trying to buy out his contract for less that it's worth because he hasn't been running as well as they want. They were trying to use this clause in his contract that says he must run at least eight USATF sanctioned races last year in order to stay under contract. Goucher being the smart guy he is went to a small indoor meet at UC and ran most of the running events, i.e. 100, 200, ect. Then he ran the Winter Waddle 5k in St Paul, MN around christmas and blitzed a 20:19 with his wife. Don't know where he is at training wise though.

Last I heard, Nick Rogers is making his marathon debut in Birmingham the weekend before, so he's out.

Dan Browne and Clint Wells will both make the short course team (unless Browne is rabbitting as marathon?)