Here's a set of links for all the Top 50 Rankings that we dropped recently on the site:
50-41
40-31
30-21
20-11
10-6
5-1
We want to hear all your thoughts on the XC Rankings! A couple discussion questions that might be particularly worthwhile:
1) Most underrated person on the list
2) Best runner to not make the list
3) Best runner in each classification, grade, district
4) Bold predictions
Also, we just dropped the Etrain 11 Series XC Finale this week. The link for the experience is right here: http://therealtrain.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-etrain-11-series-xc-finale-radio.html. I recorded a radio broadcast to simulate the race and the live results went up on LXV+ at the same time. If you haven't had the chance to experience the full "live" race coverage, check out the link above. It was a fun little experiment to look back at all the best teams and individuals from the last 11 seasons.
If you did listen to the broadcast and check out the results, let us know your thoughts on the experience. There could be some more all time races in the making (this time for relays on the track) and we'd like to get your feedback on if this is a worthwhile event for the readers. There may be more radio broadcasts in the future if people were into that sort of thing, otherwise, I can just throw up the results of the mock races when it seems like the right time.
Lastly, send in your pieces now for the America's Next Top Blogger Competition! Email me at jarrettfelix1130@gmail.com, hit us on twitter or comment with a google doc link!
So hit us with your comments and enjoy the summer.
I think Zachary Leachman of Mars is probably the best runner who didn't make the list. He ran 9:37 as a freshman which is the 10th best freshman time since 2009 (even though it was only 4th this year). I think the most impressive race of his freshman year was his 4th place finish at Tri-States in 17:03 where he finished 17 seconds ahead of McGoey and 8 behind Owori. Remember this is a brutal course where the record is only 15:55 (by Matt McGoey) so he knows how to handle the hills. He didn't have a great race at WPIALs (he finished 24th compared to McGoey's 12th), but something made him drop out of States and my guess is that whatever it was also caused for a below average race for him at WPIALs. I'd probably have him high 30s or low 40s.
ReplyDeleteAlso from the WPIAL, watch out for Czar Tarr (Chartiers Valley) and Brett Brady (Butler). Czar has steadily improved each year on the trails, taking 9th at WPIALs and 69th at states last year, but his track performances had never been at the same level. That changed though this year. He went from running 4:48/10:20 to 4:30/9:38. I don't know how much of that improvement will translate to Cross Country, but I predict it will be enough to get him on the list. Brett will be running just his 2nd season of XC next year as a senior, and his first one was pretty special. He was the #2 runner on a team that went from 17th to 3rd in the WPIAL in just a single year. At states, he finished a very impressive 48th. On the track, he dropped his mile PR from 4:44 to 4:26 and played a key role on a Butler 4X8 that just missed qualifying for states. He gets to train with one of the top 3 runners in the state and has the motivation of a potential WPIAL team championship to make his second season even better than his first.
I personally thought that Czarr Tarr was a senior. He finished ahead of McGoey and Busche at WPIALs last season. He will join Owori, Beveridge, Robinson, and Ketler as potential state medalists.
DeleteAlso, don't count out the Butler guys. As closer look at both the girls and guys teams reveal that they know how to peak a the right time. Brady, Beveridge, and Maggie Welty all came alive in the off season, despite having decent regular seasons. Welty only finished 12th at Red White and Blue, but came back to finish 3rd at WPIALs and ironically 12th at states. All three athletes mentioned ran PRs at states. Don't sleep on Butler this year. I pick Beveridge as my way too early prediction for the Class State Title. Between XC and Track and has proven that he has the clutch gene. The same can be said for his teammate Brett Brady as well. North Allegheny and Seneca Valley get all of the talk out of District 7, but there is still plenty of talent other than those 2 teams.
Loving the WPIAL talk here. Can't argue with any of what the other posters have said.
DeleteI think a team that we can't forget about is Mount Lebanon. They stumbled at districts last year, but return a lot of talent. Bryce Brandenstein and Jack Cameron are both 1:59/4:30 type guys who should provide solid senior leadership. Patrick Anderson qualified for states as just a freshman. Cameron Potts has a 4:30 to his name. Peter Consentino (9:47) and Alex Brokaw (4:39) put up nice sophomore track times. This team usually comes out of the gate flying, so I expect a strong showing at RWB. If they can break their Cooper's Lake curse and put it all together, I see them mixing it up for another states berth.
I don’t have the stamina of Etrain so I can only comment on #1 & #2 right now. Hopefully I can get some weekly base commenting mileage in by mid august and I’ll be in shape enough when the season starts to comment on #3- best runner in each classification, grade etc. & #4- bold predictions.
ReplyDeleteSo with 3 in the top 50 CRN is the preseason favorite for the team title. But I’m thinking a motivated Shanahan has some nice pieces and a very decent shot at winning States too. So I’m basing my response on the assumption that Shanahan goes for it.
1) Most Underrated person on the list – Josh Hoey. If he focuses on XC this year he’s certainly top 5 and probably #1.
2) Best Runner to not make the list – Hudson Delisle. I will be shocked if he’s not well up into the top 50. Last year he went 16:02 on Lehigh and that was before jumping to another level on the track. He focused on the 800 in track and went 1:52 flat. But he also dropped a 4:18 in the 1600.
My runner-up not to make the list is Jonah Hoey. A freshman with 1:57 and 4:27 he’s just getting better every day. I expect he’ll also be in the top 50 by September.
That's all I have for now.
- RJJL
Don't forget Frank Brown from Radnor and Andrew Foster from Epherata, they're getting better everyday to.
DeleteBase commenting should be done in mid June. July is the time to pick up the pace, the season start is around the corner!
DeleteMy bold prediction is CRN has 5 in the top 50 after Districts.
ReplyDeleteI like Forsythe as a good track mile track runner, but until he can blast the Hershey hills and get close to 16 flat there, I don't see him as 4. Top 20 , sure. Morgan Cupp seems to excel more at XC. Would have him a little higher.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see you do a quick top 50 PA girls XC projection.
ReplyDeleteHaha I think it would be pretty rough. I don't follow the girls much at all. I've been looking for someone to add that dimension to the site for a while (basically since I started) but haven't been able to find someone. RTJ used to do it for us on the old site but he has been retired for a long time. If you know anyone, tell them to shoot me an email. I'll be happy to help or edit whatever is needed, just not sure I should be the main author given my limited knowledge haha
DeleteI've tried like once or twice before (a long time ago) and apparently one of the girls who read it still harbors a grudge against me for it (just found this out this winter).