Rupp VS Withrow VS McDougal

I don't see why Withrow's performance is any more impressive than McDougal's. For some reason he's getting more pub.

Because it was the 12K. Lots of guys can "sprint" 2.5

miles but a 12k is a whole different ballgame. You can rely on flat out leg speed (and a flying start) to get you by at 4K, but a 12k takes brains, strength, speed and guts. It's

a different animal altogether. Like comparing a 10K and a marathon, and frankly, its those who succeed at the longer stuff that are more impressive or from a press standpoint, newsworthy. Kinda like when they run half marathons along with full marathons; the shorter race, well, no one cares...

I have to disagree with you there. Each distance has its own merit. 1500, 3000, 5000, 10000, marathon. The best at those distances are all great.

loyalbuff wrote:

For some reason he\'s getting more pub.

u

Withrow\'s performance was much mroe suprising, I think Mcdougal was somewhat expected to do well.

$'s on Withrow wrote:

Because it was the 12K. Lots of guys can "sprint" 2.5

miles but a 12k is a whole different ballgame. You can rely on flat out leg speed (and a flying start) to get you by at 4K, but a 12k takes brains, strength, speed and guts. It's

a different animal altogether. Like comparing a 10K and a marathon, and frankly, its those who succeed at the longer stuff that are more impressive or from a press standpoint, newsworthy. Kinda like when they run half marathons along with full marathons; the shorter race, well, no one cares...

Man. So wrong in so many ways.

In the same way that many guys can "sprint" 4k vs. 12k, many guys can just "gut out" 12k but don't have the tools to make it in the 4k. See, that sounded pretty stupid, didn't it?

The bottom line is like it or not the longer (and usually bigger) races still garner more press. They're looked upon as a "real race". The shorter ones are looked upon as the "fun run", kids race, the race for those that can't do the whole thing etc. etc.....

$'s on Withrow wrote:

The bottom line is like it or not the longer (and usually bigger) races still garner more press. They're looked upon as a "real race". The shorter ones are looked upon as the "fun run", kids race, the race for those that can't do the whole thing etc. etc.....

You have no idea what you are talking about, and pretty much everything you said is completely inaccurate.

Here's how I rank them:

1. McDougal: Had a very impressive cross country season

2. Withrow: Proved he can run with the big dogs

3. Rupp: Over-rated

$'s on Withrow wrote:

They're looked upon as a "real race". The shorter ones are looked upon as the "fun run", kids race, the race for those that can't do the whole thing etc. etc.....

So are you letting some kind of general opinion shape things here? These are both great races for young, promising American runners. Rupp's test will be at worlds.

McDougal defeated:

Jorge Torres

A Webb

Jonathan Riley

Dave Davis

Luke Watson

Charlie Gruber

Grant Robison

Don't tell me that wasn't an accomplishment. Had he beaten all of these guys in a race over 3k or 5k, wouldn't you be pretty damn impressed?

STL_Runner wrote:

Here's how I rank them:

1. McDougal: Had a very impressive cross country season

2. Withrow: Proved he can run with the big dogs

3. Rupp: Over-rated

2004 US Junior Track & Field Championships

Anderson Track & Field Complex, Texas A&M

College Station, Texas - 6/25/2004 to 6/27/2004

Event 7 Men 5000 Meter Run

Finals

1 Galen Rupp Unattached 14:16.21

2 Joshua McDougal Unattached 14:24.88

3 Matt Withrow Unattached 14:54.67

First off, McDougal is a bit old for a college frosh, Withrow is pretty much the norm age, and Rupp is young for a would be frosh.

With that said, Rupp ran 13:37 as a 17-18 year old. Come on now. He beat both Withrow and McDougal at Junior Nationals and World Juniors. We have seen Withrow and McDougal improve through out their college seasons. Rupp has not raced much, but so far is looking strong and DEFINATELY NOT OVER-RATED.

The 12k is the standard distance for cross country, which should be long to begin with. My case in point, they are getting rid of the 4k (I think it is starting in 2006). Now we will once again have everybody in the same race, no dividing up the talent. The way it should be.

The poster that said Rupp's test will be at World's is right. I'm not sure how you can say who is ranked where right now for either runner. Forest Braden, who Rupp handled fairly easily two weeks ago went 8:00 for 3k at UW this last weekend. I think all three have a lot going for them right now. I think a little more time is needed to see how they'll all eventually compare to each other.

What exactly has Rupp done that makes him look overrated? Let's see, he ran some bad ass times last year, and now comes out and wins his race. I guess winning his race isnt enough, though.

McDougal seems to have beaten more talented runners in the 4k. It's hard to say who is the best out of the three right now. I always root for McDougal though, just because I have beaten him before, so it makes me look good in comparison. Yeah, I was 19 and he was 12, but still, it counts!

all this McDougal talk continues to beg the question: why the hell did he go to liberty? Sure his brother goes there, but so what? Josh has no one to train with and the team might never make nationals during his career.

But on the plus side, it might free him up to do things like run the world xc trials. Many schools wouldn't make such an allowance.

statue of liberty wrote:

all this McDougal talk continues to beg the question: why the hell did he go to liberty? Sure his brother goes there, but so what? Josh has no one to train with and the team might never make nationals during his career.

So college is all about running?

And who's to say another coach would not have red-shirted him a la Withrow?

The guy obviously is doing something right, and for awhile now. He never had training partners in HS other than his brothers. What did that get him?

Sub-4:10 mile; sub-8:20 3k; sub-14:20 5k; and a trip to World XC.

And how can Rupp be "overrated." By what standards?

Is this serious? Because it's making me laugh.