Why not 10K for NCAA ladies?

Why not 10K for NCAA ladies? wrote:

Seriously, it is just odd that NCAA keeps NCAA XC for women at 6K, while moving the men up to 10K. The NCAA has 10K for ladies on the track, but not at XC? This is really strange, and somewhat sexist in my opinion. What say you?

Equality only comes into play when it's convenient.

I'm sure there are a few ladies out there who think they are more likely to beat a 1500 specialist like Hull (Oregon) over 10K compared to 6K.

In general, I also think it should be 10K. Some might say it takes too long for the 5-7 runners to finish, but we can be patient. Plus, it would change how teams recruit XC ladies.

Its very weird that the longest race for ladies in the NCAA occurs on the track. XC is for distance runners. It should be 10K.

Don’t believe me? Then go ask the LPGA ladies, or the women’s tennis association.

Women are not equal wrote:

Don’t believe me? Then go ask the LPGA ladies, or the women’s tennis association.

I know your argument, even tho you left it unsaid... However, one (or more) wrong, doesn't make it right. I don't know much about the PGA v LPGA, but ladies championships in tennis should also be 5 sets instead of 3. That's nuts. They should be the same. Make them both best of 3 sets, or best of 5 sets. Similarly, let the NCAA ladies run 10K. Or, make them both 8K races. It is weird that they both have 10K races on the track, but not in XC.

I don’t know, I agree it’s weird. I’m a girl, running D1, and I don’t think I would have a problem moving up to the 10k distance.

LoneStarXC wrote:

I don’t know, I agree it’s weird. I’m a girl, running D1, and I don’t think I would have a problem moving up to the 10k distance.

I'm a D1 runner, and definitely know my comparative advantage would be more obvious in a 10K race versus a 6K race. There are also definitely others who would rise up in the finish order in a 10K relative to a 6K. You would definitely see less 1500 specialists in the top 20 at NCAAs than you do in the 6K format.

They should move both distances to 8K. During the season they run mostly 8K with a few 10K's here and there.

Because it would take too long. I agree that 6 km. is weird. I would argue to take it the other way to 5 km. if any change is to be made.

Also, men and women are different. Believing in the equal dignity of every human being doesn't mean that you have to have them do the exact same thing all the time.

This seems reasonable, but 'purists' would be upset that the mens race gets shortened to 8K from 10K. So, I think they should just have us run 10K as well. Instead, we have to wait for outdoor track to run 10K.

Last year I think Johanna Gretschel (sp?) wrote an article advocating for a 5K XC championship for (mens and women's) in October and a 10K XC championship (men's and women's) in November. Main point being that the women races are more intriguing because you have 1500m, steeples, 5k, and 10k runners all doing well while the men's races are primarily 10k runners. I think that would be cool but seems too drastic a change to happen soon. Personally I like the 6k distance for both but wouldn't mind 8k for both too.

Do what World XC used to do. Have two championships. 4k short course & 12k long course

ChangeIsGood wrote:

Last year I think Johanna Gretschel (sp?) wrote an article advocating for a 5K XC championship for (mens and women's) in October and a 10K XC championship (men's and women's) in November. Main point being that the women races are more intriguing because you have 1500m, steeples, 5k, and 10k runners all doing well while the men's races are primarily 10k runners. I think that would be cool but seems too drastic a change to happen soon. Personally I like the 6k distance for both but wouldn't mind 8k for both too.

That really doesn’t make much sense, though, because runners would have to peak twice in a season. I don’t mind if 10k specialists do well in XC. XC is supposed to be for distance runners. Besides, I just find 6k to be a strange distance. Like, I would rather run a 5k or a 10k than a 6k.

many coaches complain about 10k for men. like its a marathon that should only be run twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Plus there are the "skipping of races early in the year" and then "tempoing mid season" tactics to avoid racing of any distance at all. So I think 8k for both makes the most sense.....unless that's too far too for actually conducting a cross country "season."

I think you would run into the same stuff with shorter distance races. I'm not plugged into the NCAA scene anymore, but it seems like coaches see Jerry Schumacher's guys run just a few races a year, read RWTB and cut out a bunch of races. As an 800/1500 guy XC was a test to see if I could hang with the 10 km specialists. I thought it was great and enjoyed the challenge. I was tired by the end of the season, and we may have had one or two races too many, but the races were a huge fitness benefit and learning experience. Finally, in retrospect, cross country wouldn't have been nearly as fun racing sparingly.

.................................................... wrote:

many coaches complain about 10k for men. like its a marathon that should only be run twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Plus there are the "skipping of races early in the year" and then "tempoing mid season" tactics to avoid racing of any distance at all. So I think 8k for both makes the most sense.....unless that's too far too for actually conducting a cross country "season."

As a D1 female cross runner, I would like to see us bump up to the 8k at regionals and nationals when the men bump up to the 10k.

Wrong direction. Instead of 10K XC for both men and women, 5K XC for both men and women. Most runners able to race well at 10K can also race well at 5K. 5K for all would make college XC interesting. Many 1500m runners would be solid college 5K XC competitors.

Most experienced div.1 coaches don't want it. True.

Move Us Up wrote:

As a D1 female cross runner, I would like to see us bump up to the 8k at regionals and nationals when the men bump up to the 10k.

Agreed! Bump us up to 8K. A 6K race is just an odd distance. Its always awkward to explain to my non-running friends that our race is 6K. They ask "how far is that?" I say "about 3.75 miles." Then they either just nod, or ask why, at which point I say "I have no idea, its just been that distance for a long time."

Let it just be 8K. 8K=5mi. It's longer (which is better). Its even easier to say "5 miles" to my non-metric non-running friends. Its good. Its meant to be.