G-MAC XC

What's your source on Kapes? Pretty reliable sources say he runs.

The reason Kapes and Hadley, even at 75% make a difference is because Walsh got beat at the 4-5 spots, not the 1,2,3. They don't need these guys to come out and win the race. They need them to run in the 15-20 range and close their spread up a bit. It's not a stretch to think that could happen.

Now, if you're playing devils advocate, yes Walsh is much less of a favorite without Kapes and Hadley, or if they race very poorly. However, if we break it down I still like Walsh as a favorite. I'm not calling them a lock, but somebody has to be the favorite and I think there's as compelling an argument for Walsh as there is for anyone.

Walsh has lost to Malone by 3 points and tied them this year. I think the home course advantage is enough to give them the edge this time. Cedarville got them by what, 10 points at SRU, but lost by 30 at All-Ohio. Not sure if we get Jekyll or Hyde with them, but again I think Walsh's home course gives them an edge. The only time we've seen Walsh go head to head with Hillsdale they won by 30. Throw in the home course advantage on top of that and I think Walsh has to be favored there as well.

Judging by Strava, David Magda will be looking to make some noise in D&E's last year in the G-MAC. He's a strong pick to compete with Humes for the individual title.

It also looks like Malone has been going hard on their worn down track... hopefully they're healthy enough to last til regionals.

Also if Kapes is running it will be quite the comeback considering he was under the knife two months ago.

How we doin wrote:

Judging by Strava, David Magda will be looking to make some noise in D&E's last year in the G-MAC. He's a strong pick to compete with Humes for the individual title.

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This thread has hit an all-time low

After looking at some running logs it seems one of Walsh’s runners has a moderate to severe foot injury and may be out for the remainder of the season. I’d bet the house on Hadley racing and Kapes sitting to save his eligibility.

Giving the favorite to Malone - McCartney is in the mix for the individual title and Cedarville doesn’t have the depth the compete with the boys of mammoth. Walsh can’t limp it’s way to the title or to nationals - too many injuries.

MCC by 7 points but we’ll see on Saturday

- LB

You can't really call it home course advantage considering it isn't really Walsh's xc course.

Why would I waste my eligibility??

The Ghost of Steven Kapes wrote:

Why would I waste my eligibility??

Ummm, ever heard of this concept called the team. You young whippersnappers don't have any appreciation for anything beyond your own selfish desires and wishes. Well guess what, the team is greater than the individual. You sacrifice for your brothers who have poured blood, sweat, and tears into this season and try to get your team to nationals. Doing something for the good of a greater group of people is never a waste. Unfortunately, nobody understands the concept of living for something greater than yourself anymore, and this is just another example.

Selfish Millennial wrote:

The Ghost of Steven Kapes wrote:

Why would I waste my eligibility??

Ummm, ever heard of this concept called the team. You young whippersnappers don't have any appreciation for anything beyond your own selfish desires and wishes. Well guess what, the team is greater than the individual. You sacrifice for your brothers who have poured blood, sweat, and tears into this season and try to get your team to nationals. Doing something for the good of a greater group of people is never a waste. Unfortunately, nobody understands the concept of living for something greater than yourself anymore, and this is just another example.

Exactly! Even with the surgery, if Kapes can run he should be out there. He's already transferred once out of selfishness (to a softer conference and a weaker team) so I can't say I'm surprised, but I was hoping he'd matured since his Ashland days. I guess he can't thrive without his buddy Nick around to look out for him anymore. Hopefully the true team players like Hadley and Kernell can keep Walsh in the mix.

Weaker Team?! Seriously? Ashland's XC Team is hot garbage and has been the last few years. Now if you are referring to their track team, then its a different story but their XC team is a shell of what it used to be. He definitely made the correct decision to leave their garbage heap that is the cross country program there. Maybe if the university would invest in hiring a competent distance coach with some coaching experience and not another short term rental recent grad they may be able to be relevant again.

You guys are so dumb honestly. You think Kapes transferred to be selfish? I'd transfer too if I was a national qualifier in the 10k but receiving little to no scholarship money. Also, Ashland doesn't know what to do with distance runners, they can only work with middies. Seems like a smart move to me. And I really don't think it's selfish for him to not race conference after having surgery...that would just stupid. Why risk another injury?

In this thread: a bunch of losers who have never even come close to breaking 32 minutes in the 10K trashing a kid with exceptional talent who transferred because it was the best decision for him. Not gonna claim to know the exact reasons, but obviously he didn’t leave Ashland without good reason. Maybe if you losers ran your legs as much as you ran your mouths online you would actually accomplish something instead of straining to qualify for your shitty conference meets. As for not thriving without Nick Hall - last year he was all region in XC and ran a 30 minute 10k on a leg that needed surgery. Get a life

Are you saying the G-MAC is a bad conference? 3 ranked teams and some quality individuals... plus some strong individuals...

And unless you win nationals then yeah we are all losers. Win D2? Still losers compared to D1. Must suck to live life with such a bitter outlook.

Teams did a run thru of the course today. Apparently it was soggy and muddy throughout.

Should favor the grinders from team's with real MEN. City boys from Canton won't be able to keep up. Might as well not show up. The mountains of West Virginia have sculpted Magda's calves for these very conditions. D&E will be making serious moves thru this swamp of a course. Prediction: Magda glides over the marshy quagmire to an individual victory.

Its going to be a man's race, boys need not apply.

midwestrunner69 wrote:

Teams did a run thru of the course today. Apparently it was soggy and muddy throughout.

Should favor the grinders from team's with real MEN. City boys from Canton won't be able to keep up. Might as well not show up. The mountains of West Virginia have sculpted Magda's calves for these very conditions. D&E will be making serious moves thru this swamp of a course. Prediction: Magda glides over the marshy quagmire to an individual victory.

Its going to be a man's race, boys need not apply.

This thread has hit an all time low

Preliminary results indicate a very tight top 3 with Malone winning led by a 1-2 finish from McCartney and Fresenko. Hadley races for Walsh helping them finish 2nd just three points back, Cedarville returns to earth finishing third still just 7 points back of Walsh though. Hillsdale in 4th 30+ back of Cedarville.

Story of the day has to be the atrocious course conditions and Humes having the worst day of his GMAC career finishing an abysmal 13th. Could've been much worse for Hillsdale if Poth hadn't stepped up big time with a top 10 finish.

#MaloneMagic

It's disappointing that Malone will not make the national meet. I am not shocked but I do get that vibe that Malone's run ( pun intended) is over. They had a lot of talent on that team and got their butt kicked. They consistently have not been able to run 10k since switching over to D2.

This has to fall 100% on the coaches. Hard to imagine recruits picking Malone over in state rivals Walsh and Cedarville.

-JT

I want to start off my post by acknowledging the hard work the Men and Women of Malone did this past summer. They spent a good amount of time in Mammoth Lakes CA training at altitude to prepare for the upcoming season. I feel bad for the athletes who worked hard and gave their best shot this past weekend. Your coaches let you down. This is not on you. Eventually, your blood, sweat and tears will pay off.

Watching Malone’s rise through the mid 2000’s was truly amazing to watch, which raises the question as to what happened? How does a program fall so hard? Between Dave and Hazen, they have well over 50+ years of coaching between them. How are they completely unable to get their team ready to run a 10k, let alone qualify for the National Meet. Rumor has it, Jack Hazen hasn’t coached a team in 20+ years. His success in the mid 2000’s was directly related to Matt Wood’s coaching style. The proof? Look at the results since he fired him in 2011.

The results are unable to show the deeper issue within the organization. There is a toxic culture at Malone. I spoke to fellow runners and coaches within the Stark County area. So to piggyback off of what JT said, not only will recruits now consider Walsh and Cedarville due to competition, but they should also look at those schools to avoid the toxic culture of Malone.

So I’ll go ahead and say it. Malone needs to clean house. Start over. It was a great era for Jack Hazen. To quote Harvey Dent "You Either Die A Hero, Or You Live Long Enough To See Yourself Become The Villain"

Respectfully,

Walsh showed up big time. USI did very well. Cedarville had some big races from their 3-5 men. Hillsdale made it much closer than they had most of the season.

Malone's 3-7 were told to take it out easy and then close hard, but McCartney and Fresenko were told to go from the gun... and look what happened. Definite coaching error. Conditions were cold but there was no wind and the footing was good. So much for the 'men' of mammoth... too bad their coach wasted all that bragging about summer training on 8th place.

Pittsburgh will be fun to watch!