2019 Pac-12 XC Results: Colorado men win it (again) as #2 Stanford women DESTROY #3 Washington 27 to 55

Juice Springsteen wrote:

Never bet against the buffs.

Joe Klecker is the best American in the NCAA right now, not Connor Mantz.

Klecker is very good, but I don't think Mantz has been pushed to his limit any time this season yet. I think Mantz will show up at Nationals in a big way.

sir_hobbyjog wrote:

Juice Springsteen wrote:

Never bet against the buffs.

Joe Klecker is the best American in the NCAA right now, not Connor Mantz.

Klecker is very good, but I don't think Mantz has been pushed to his limit any time this season yet. I think Mantz will show up at Nationals in a big way.

Like Mantz wasn't pushed to his limit at pre-nat's

Creaky Bones wrote:

CU has a shot if NAU has an off day and they run like they did today. Klecker/Dressell are T10 types, Harrison right there with them, and the other guys have AA potential.

NAU rarely has an off day, though!

NAU feels a bit more vulnerable, considering we haven't seen Blaise Ferro at his best yet this year and they're relying pretty heavily on 4 guys who don't have much experience. Not that they aren't the favorite, but I think this year Colorado's great day could beat NAU's "pretty good" day.

WetmoreGang wrote:

Hopefully helps their recruiting game

Having Rachel McArthut helps their recruiting game even more.

I'm always amazed how big a role peaking, injuries and luck can play into conference and national championships. Last year the Oregon women seemed to peak at PAC12, basically decimating the conference. Then at nationals they came up flat but the CU ladies all basically ran PR's to win the championship.

This year it is the CU men who seem to be making something out of nothing. It looked like all they might have for 2019 was Klecker and Dressel, but now suddenly Lallo, Kashon, Hornecker, and Fendel have them 6 deep. Now they need the good luck part, all showing up healthy and peaked on the same day at NCAAs.

As a longtime fan, I've seen them win as favorites and lose as favorites, but somehow these overachieving underdog teams are the most fun.

team Unruly Bush wrote:

Wow, USC rounding out the last 7

The impact of Title IX at its finest right there. USC women have apparently the worst team in America but at least have a team... meanwhile 3 of the 12 schools don't have a men's team at all. Take those 85 football scholarships out of the stupid equal opportunity and participation provision already!!!

NY guy sko buffs wrote:

I'm always amazed how big a role peaking, injuries and luck can play into conference and national championships. Last year the Oregon women seemed to peak at PAC12, basically decimating the conference. Then at nationals they came up flat but the CU ladies all basically ran PR's to win the championship..

Who takes PRs in cross country seriously?

Pretty sure the USC distance team is all 800m runners, which explains why they aren't that good at 6k.