can Shelby Houlihan win USA XC over 10k?

No. Next question.

Will be very interesting to see how this shakes out. This is why cross country is great, bringing together folks from all these different disciplines.

I like Huddle for the win.

Yeah, b/c Blankenship could never win a 10k xc race either.

If it comes down to a sprint, I like her chances.

Iowa goes 1-2 in Houlihan-Schweizer.

This is a tough one; there are so many women set to be on that start line that I think could take it. Frerichs is a fighter, Schweizer too, and assuming Cragg is still in good shape, I'd throw her in the mix as well. These all in addition to Shelby, Molly, and Kellyn. I don't see Shannon being a threat this early back into racing, especially at this distance.

mrobviousguy wrote:

If it comes down to a sprint, I like her chances.

Agreed, if she can hang to the end, she'll win. Also, her entry here is especially intriguing now that I see Kate Grace and Colleen Quigley are running Millrose, so it seems that was also an option for Houlihan.

For some reason I also have a good feeling about Schweizer making a big and immediate jump under Jerry.

Bump! As of this posting, almost as many LRC readers are picking Shelby for the win as are picking Huddle.

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2019/01/huddle-houlihan-cragg-frerichs-rowbury-more-the-best-fields-in-years-should-make-for-an-epic-2019-usa-xc-champs/

Why are there no Kenya transplants among the women?

nikemann wrote:

Yeah, b/c Blankenship could never win a 10k xc race either.

Blankenship used this past Dec XC as his launch to longer distances. He did make it a point to increase his Mileage a little and workouts. If Rowland continues to adjust this it would be nice to see a throwback and see Blankenship line up for NYC soon a la Rod Dixon 1/2 mile-1mile➡Marathon

Houlihan over 10k? Yes. The nice thing about BTC is the dynamics of different runners/distances. Shelby probably did a lot of work with Hall, Cragg

Theswooshcoosbay wrote:

nikemann wrote:

Yeah, b/c Blankenship could never win a 10k xc race either.

Blankenship used this past Dec XC as his launch to longer distances. He did make it a point to increase his Mileage a little and workouts. If Rowland continues to adjust this it would be nice to see a throwback and see Blankenship line up for NYC soon a la Rod Dixon 1/2 mile-1mile➡Marathon

Houlihan over 10k? Yes. The nice thing about BTC is the dynamics of different runners/distances. Shelby probably did a lot of work with Hall, Cragg

What was Blankenship’s mileage like before and now that heals training for longer stuff?

I wouldn't say she's THE favorite, but she's definitely a contender. The fall has likely been a lot of base training for her, so she'd be better for a 10k now than in August in comparison to some of the other athletes. She was an NCAA contender in college and has only improved in range since then. This course in Tallahassee is pretty gentle, dead grass now after the light Northern florida winter. Part of the course is on a crushed limestone-type road, so it's a decently quick course that doesn't grind on you as much as some other cross country courses. If it's somewhat controlled through first 5k-6k then she wins.

joalturn wrote:

No. Next question.

lol.

WHAT A BEAST

Tyufrthdxtrxyrt wrote:

Theswooshcoosbay wrote:

Blankenship used this past Dec XC as his launch to longer distances. He did make it a point to increase his Mileage a little and workouts. If Rowland continues to adjust this it would be nice to see a throwback and see Blankenship line up for NYC soon a la Rod Dixon 1/2 mile-1mile➡Marathon

Houlihan over 10k? Yes. The nice thing about BTC is the dynamics of different runners/distances. Shelby probably did a lot of work with Hall, Cragg

What was Blankenship’s mileage like before and now that heals training for longer stuff?

You must be new here. He's likely talking out of his @$$ and passing it off as fact.