Columbia beat the 2 national powers at the Iona Mete of Champs
Columbia beat the 2 national powers at the Iona Mete of Champs
Can someone fill me in on what this course is like? Is there a reason the times are always so slow? And how two top-10 teams could be so easily beaten?
Just a quick glance at the results shows that both Arkansas and Iona didn't run full strength teams. Nothing to see here
Results aside, why would you go all the way to NYC and not race to full strength?
Iona is right there, so it makes sense them not running a full squad. No idea on Arkansas. On the course, there's a back hill segment that's pretty hilly, and Cemetery Hill is a killer at the end of the race. Toughest thing about the course is inability to get into a rhythm after the first field loop.
420_mile_blaze_it wrote:
Results aside, why would you go all the way to NYC and not race to full strength?
VCP is a b**ch of a course. Hills.
Iona rarely runs their full team early season. Even at their own meet.
If I was the Iona AD I would be pissed that year in year out they run the B team at their 1 big home Invite. Rest the big boys another week
Labentraub wrote:
If I was the Iona AD I would be pissed that year in year out they run the B team at their 1 big home Invite. Rest the big boys another week
Not sure you you can/should get mad at a coach for not wanting to race all your guys in early/mid September. Better to race a B squad or have an A squad tempo the race? (you could have both but)
Of course the Iona AD probably isn't involved with CC/Track at all, like most other big football schools. 2007 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Co-Champions.
Iona cut football in 2008. Cross Country is the pride and joy of Iona. The AD is fine with coach doing whatever he wants.
Peak in September at a rust buster or peak in November at the championships. Take your pick.
420_mile_blaze_it wrote:
Can someone fill me in on what this course is like? Is there a reason the times are always so slow? And how two top-10 teams could be so easily beaten?
The times are always so slow at Van Courtland Park because it has a lot of rollers and a steep hill on the course. It's no where near a PR course, the start finish areas are flat but that's about it.
No, times are slow because the course is not in shape and temps were up. Still why bother running races if you don't put out a team that can compete? Only XC and track do such nonsense. Killing the sport slowly, as the only three meets anyone cares about anymore is pre-nats, conference and nationals. The funny thing is that with this approach of train, train and no race, the times are not any better at the end of the season than 30 years ago when comparing VCP. Silly distance coaches.
you have no idea what you are talking about. Let's see how Arkansas and Iona finish at nationals. I bet they both finish top 7 and Columbia finishes 15-20. If Columbia makes it to nationals of course
Gohogswpssooie wrote:
Peak in September at a rust buster or peak in November at the championships. Take your pick.
I didn't realize you had to be peaked to race.
i chose D2 wrote:
Gohogswpssooie wrote:Peak in September at a rust buster or peak in November at the championships. Take your pick.
I didn't realize you had to be peaked to race.
I get why a team wouldn't want to over-race, but "I didn't realize you had to be peaked to race" is a great quote about cross country.
After looking at the results it is what it isn't. This meet means nothing. Sorry Columbia.
Labentraub wrote:
If I was the Iona AD I would be pissed that year in year out they run the B team at their 1 big home Invite. Rest the big boys another week
Look friend, it is XC, I doubt the AD cares at all what happens...
Why would the Porkers fly all this way to line up against bottom half talent?
Just look at Arkansas' runners listed in their team score and look at the names mentioned in letsrun's breakdown of them as the #3 team in the country. They ran 2 of their top 5.
This still doesn't answer the question of WHY fly out to NYC to race your JV team? I understand that going hard every weekend is counter productive, but this just seems like a waste. Can someone explain this rationale from a coach's perspective?