By Bryan Green

Watching the Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) online this past weekend, I couldn't help but think the writing was on the wall for the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships.  Despite it being the de facto individual national championships for 30 years, its location in beautiful San Diego, and its resonance in the minds of most athletes, the Nike meet is sure to take the upperhand in the near future.


The big differentiating factor, as you all probably know, is Nike's emphasis on crowning a team champion alongside the individual champion.  Rather than four regional races and ten individuals each, Nike holds eight regionals and takes the top two teams from each region to Portland for the championship race (plus a few others from California).  Since 2008, the top five individuals on non-qualifying teams are also invited to compete.  What started out as Nike creating a team championship to complement Foot Locker's individual championship is now a head-to-head competition to get the best athletes to their races.

And that's exactly why Nike's going to win this battle.  When push comes to shove, every top athlete with a chance to race with their team will choose to do so.  At its heart, cross country is a team sport.  In fact, outside of perhaps ekiden races (which are almost exclusively run in Japan), cross country is the only truly team-oriented sport in all of distance running, and maybe endurance sports as a whole.  

For 25 years, it was fine that we only had an individual championship.  Foot Locker (formerly Kinney) answered one of the two big questions in high school cross country, and gave the sport the one "national championship" in all of high school sports (to this day, there is no national championship in any other sport).  But in a team sport, an individual championship is like the welterweight title in boxing.  It's valid, it's relevant, it's something we all enjoy seeing decided, but it's not the...(cue Michael Buffer)..."heavyweight champion of the world!"  It just isn't.  The big title is the team title, and it's fine if Foot Locker was never in a position to answer that question.  But the fact that Nike is, and that they are providing a competing belt--the WBC to Foot Locker's WBA, if you will--for the individual title, has got Foot Locker in a pinch. I don't expect Foot Locker to go away any time soon, and part of me hopes they get creative and put up a fight with Nike, but they'll be hard pressed to do so without a team element.  I feel like they need to have all the top individuals to stay relevant, not half, not most, all of them.  I don't know how they can do this...maybe delay their races by a week?  They'll need to do something, especially with Nike pulling out all the stops to make NXN the premier high school cross country championship in the country.

First off, Nike is bringing in five times as many athletes (over 400, to Foot Locker's 80).  They bring all the top Nike sponsored athletes to the event, including Paula Radcliffe, Bernard Lagat, Alan Webb, Galen Rupp, Dathan Ritzenhein and Kara Goucher.  Heck, I probably missed two or three...or ten.  They make some hilarious videos, have a big dinner, and they have a big dance after the race.  Do you know how much fun I would have had at that dance with my high school teammates?  No runner is going to pass this up.


It only helps that the meet was streamed online and the races were covered so well.  They had Toni Reavis, Rich Gonzales and Dathan Ritzenhein doing commentary, they had updated team scores at each 1k split, and they had solid knowledge of pretty much every athlete that showed up on screen.  There were multiple cameras along the course, a fun and muddy (if not natural) course, and exciting battles up front.  It was a great meet.

On the girls side, the team competition was more of a shellacking, with Manlius dominating.  Their victory marked the fourth in a row and they proved once again they are clearly the top team in the country.  On the individual front, sophomore Katie Flood of Des Moines, Iowa, took the title with a big finish in the last 100 meters, pulling away from another sophomore, Kathleen Stevens of Blacksburg, Virginia.  (Race video here)


The boys battle was even better, with pre-race favorite Joe Rosa dictating the race from the gun.  The junior had broken a number of prestigious course records throughout the year, and there were expectations for a big win.  He ran well, but couldn't shake the top group of runners, and eventually succumbed to champion Craig Lutz of Highland Village, Texas (junior) and Elias Gedyon of Pasadena, California (also a junior).  All three will likely return next year, in what could prove to be an epic battle.  In fact, if the results are accurate, the top 48 finishers in the boys race were all underclassmen, so there will be some strong teams returning!  (Race video here)


Looking Ahead to Foot Locker

With NXN out of the way, the spotlight is shining solely on Foot Locker this weekend.  NXN champion Craig Lutz will be back in action, as he won the South Regional by nine seconds to qualify for nationals.  Having vanquished the runner most considered to be the best in the country (Joe Rosa) we will now get to see him go against multisport phenom Lukas Verzbicas.  Verzbicas, you'll remember, was the athlete who set a national freshman record for both 3200m and 5000m last year.  He won his regional by a solid seven seconds.  The other regional champions, Brian Shrader of Arizona and Brad Miles of Pennsylvania, will be looking to play the underdog against the two favorites.

The best action, however, is on the girls side, where arguably the top four runners in the country will all come in as their respective regional champions.  Aisling Cuffe dominated the Northeast to the tune of 46 seconds, and based on that performance alone has got to be the favorite heading into San Diego.  But she'll be going against a few superstars in the making.  Megan Goethals is the top returner, having finished 3rd in 2008.  She won the Midwest by 18 seconds over 2008 Foot Locker Finalist Emily Sisson and this year's NXN champion, Katie Flood, who was 24 seconds back.  

Chelsey Sveinsson of Dallas, Texas, was 4th at Foot Locker last year and won her regional by 16 seconds.  She's run 10:12 for 3200m and broke Jordan Hasay's sophomore record at the distance.  She has already shown flashes of being the next great female distance runner, but it remains to be seen what she can do against this level of competition.  Finally, out of the West we have Molly Grabill, winner of her regional by just four seconds.  That gap might be misleading, however, as two weeks ago she ran the sixth fastest time ever on the Woodward Park course, 17:06, almost as fast as Jordan Hasay ran there.

I don't follow high school cross country as closely as I used to, but it appears that the top boys have been split down the middle between NXN and Foot Locker.  With Lutz running at Foot Locker, though, he can rightly lay claim to the "undisputed national championship" of high school cross country with a win.  And I suppose anyone who beats him can make that argument, since Lutz beat the rest of the best at NXN.  On the girls side, however, we'll be crowning the national champion at Foot Locker this year, as all the best runners in the country are converging on San Diego for what promises to be the best display of talent since...well, since last year.  

I would usually end this with my predictions, but quite frankly, I have no idea what to expect at these races.  I suppose I'd pick Verzbicas and Cuffe, but not with much confidence.  Cuffe has been unreal, Goethals is outstanding, Sveinsson probably wins a kick and Grabill is as good as most of the champions have ever been.  I was a little disappointed after last year's Foot Locker, where we had three returning champions, and I kind of expect to be again simply because it's that rare when we get a great battle to the finish in a girls race.  But here's to hoping we see the best on their best days, and that the championship belt gets won in the final kick.

Published May 25th, 2010
 
Athletics Australia President Rob Fildes has today named former Stawell Gift winner Dallas O’Brien asthe new Chief Executive Officer of the national sporting body and the man charged with leading Australian track and field into the 2010 Commonwealth Games and beyond.O’Brien joins the organisation after 18 years with international sports management company IMG as Executive Tournament Director - Golf and more recently, Director of Athletics and Fitness for the Asia-Pacific region.A former fitness advisor to St Kilda Football Club (1988) and Board Director of the Victorian Athletic League (1992-93), O’Brien launched IMG’s Athletics and Fitness division in 2000 and went on to record major successes within the Australian triathlon, ironman and recreational running arenas.

In 2006 O’Brien negotiated the purchase of the Melbourne Marathon and in just four years increased participation numbers by 480 per cent.

In addition to his impeccable professional record, O’Brien boasts a 12-year sporting career that is highlighted by the British professional 400m championship in 1982, victory in the Stawell Gift in 1983 and the Australian professional 200m title in 1986.

The new athletics chief said he was looking forward to throwing his support behind the organisation and its senior representative team, the Australian Flame.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to continue the excellent work that Rob Fildes, Danny Corcoran and the whole Athletics Australia team are doing at the moment,” O’Brien said.

“Athletics is a sport I have a huge passion for. This, combined with my commercial experience in sport, means I believe I can make a real difference. I look forward to working with the many stakeholders within the entire athletics community and, most importantly, to throwing my total support behind the very talented Australian athletics team, the Flame."Mr. Fildes said the appointment was a coup for Australian track and field.

“Athletics Australia is very excited by the appointment of Dallas O’Brien from a very large field of quality candidates and I’m sure Dallas will continue the excellent work Danny Corcoran has achieved in his six years in the sport,” Mr. Fildes said.

“Dallas brings much commercial knowledge and valuable experience from his position as Director of Athletics and Fitness for the Asia-Pacific region with IMG, and we look forward to Dallas enjoying a very successful future with Athletics Australia."Following the departure of outgoing CEO Danny Corcoran after almost six years at the helm of the organisation, O’Brien will enter the Australian athletics arena as the sport moves through one of its most significant purple patches on record.

In 2009 the Australian athletics team turned on its most successful world championships campaign of all time with two gold (Steve Hooker – pole vault, Dani Samuels – discus throw) and two bronze medals (4x400m relay, Mitchell Watt – long jump) in Berlin (GER), and in March this year claimed two gold (Steve Hooker – pole vault, Fabrice Lapierre – long jump) and one bronze medal (Mitchell Watt – long jump) at the world indoor championships in Doha (QAT).

O’Brien will step into the role as the nation’s top track and field athletes continue the countdown to the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, in October, where the largest Australian athletics team ever to attend a major international meet is expected to don the green and gold. Sixty-nine track and field athletes have so far been nominated for inclusion to the team.

O’Brien will commence in his new role on Monday, June 15 following a handover period with the outgoing CEO.Australian athletics jumps into AsiaIn other news announced by Athletics Australia President Rob Fildes today, Australia now looks increasingly likely to take part in next year’s Asian Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, in the lead-up to the 2011 IAAF world championships.

After four years of discussions with the Asian Athletics Association, Mr Fildes will meet with Association delegates in New Delhi, India, this October, in a bid to shore up Australia’s athletics involvement within the Asian region.

“Athletics in Asia is growing both in interest and performance so it’s an exciting time to be joining the 45 nations already invited to participate in the Asian Athletics Championships,” Mr Fildes said.

“We are not quite over the line yet but I am hopeful of finalising an agreement with the Asian Athletics Council during the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.”

The regional equivalent of Great Britain’s entry to the prestigious European Athletics Championships, Australia’s inclusion in the Asian Athletics Championships would provide important competition opportunities for the nation’s top track and field athletes ahead of next year’s world championships in Daegu, South Korea, and open the door to fostering greater ties with key Asian partners including China, India and Japan into the future.

As with Football Australia’s inclusion in the Asian Confederation in 2007, it is hoped the move would give Australia’s top track and field athletes increased opportunity to compete against the world’s largest population base within their very own backyard and position the sport at the forefront of entry into a burgeoning Asian sports arena. Unlike Football Australia’s move, Athletics Australia’s entry into the Asian Athletics Championships would in no way impact on its status within the Oceania region.

The Asian Athletics Championships were first held in Manila (PHI) in 1973. The last edition of the meet was held in Guangzhou, China, in 2009, with the 2011 championships to be held in Kobe, Japan, in July next year and the 2013 meet on track for the Indian subcontinent.ENDS

by Sonia O'Sullivan 

It’s taken me a few days to recover from what was a Great Run weekend in melbourne. It all kicked off on Thursday night with an athletes Forum where members of the running community were given the chance to ask questions to some of the greatest athletes we have seen recently including Stephano Baldini the 2004 Olympic marathon Champion, Benita Willis the World Cross Country Champion (2004), Chema Martinez  a double European 10,000m Champion and Collis Birmingham the Australian 10,000m record holder.

It was a very informative evening where we learned a lot from these top athletes about training, altitiude, diet , race preparation and recovery.

Next up on saturday was the Junior 5Km Great Australian Run and the 2Km Family fun run. The Junior boys and girls  ran one complete lap of the Albert Park Formula 1  race circuit and a few that I have been helping prepare for the run were able to enjoy fast times on a pretty fast course despite the gusting wind. Next up were the little kids all under 11 with their parents in the  family fun run. I had the pleasure of running around with my daughter Sophie in the sea of red shirts, surprisingly at a similar pace that I would be trying to run over 15km the next day in the  Great Australian Run. It was great to see so many parents joining in and encouraging their kids to take on a running Challenge greater than many have ever run before and all rewarded with a medal and plenty goodies for their efforts.

As we were so close to St.Kilda I couldn’t resist dropping into Baker D. Chirico  on Fitzroy street to pick up some very tasty fuel in preparation for my run the next day. I must say the Fruit loaf and Casalinga Bianco were absolutely fantastic. They had me I at the door, I even placed an order to share with my friends at the unofficial Great Australia Run Party on Sunday evening.

It was just like any other night before a race, my shoes were at the door, my gear at the end of the bed for the next morning and thankfully I had planned ahead with a change of gear in my bag and my drink ready in the fridge.

At 7am we headed off to Albert Park and without too much trouble on a Sunday morning got there with plenty of time to spare.  As I mentioned here before my target for the 15Km was sub 60minutes, and as the race was approaching I was slightly nervous that 4minutes per Km was going to be a big effort and something I was uncertain that I could achieve. The main concern was not to start too fast and get to 10Km under 40 minutes then push on as best I could. A number of people I mentioned my challenge to brushed it off like how hard could it be, but they were missing the knowledge I had, I certainly hadn’t shown any form in the few sessions I completed at the local grass track that I was going to cruise this run. I am fit and running most days but looks can be deceiving and as fit as I look the speed has deserted me so 60 minutes was a barrier I had to break through on Sunday morning at the Great Australia run.

I passed through 10km in just over 38mins and had a few runners around me that seemed to be also chasing the hour. We pushed on through the driving rain along St. Kilda Road and as the lake came back in sight I knew that all the training I had put in and the goal I set would be achieved. I crossed the line with over a minute to spare and felt a sense of achievement that I could once again set myself a target, prepare for the challenge and get a result that I was happy with

Overall apart from the typical 4 seasons in one day that melbourne can throw at you, it was an enjoyable run, the bands along the way the accurate timing and camaraderie I encountered along the route was the perfect start to my Sunday morning

Strangely when you run along with the masses you never know who actually won the race so it was great to be able to come back home and watch the taped version shown earlier live on TV and see that Nicki Chapple had won the womens race and Gunther Weidlinger who had been training at Falls Creek so Austrian(no kangaroos) bred and australian trained had come out on top.

Then the real challenge was facing me, how to ensure the unofficial great australian run after party would be something to remember. I can tell you a great evening was had by all, we  were entertained by 2 Olympic marathon Champions, one breakdancing on the Kitchen floor and another cooking up a cracking pasta Dish when most Great Australian runners were tucked up in their beds.

Roll on 2010 when we look forwad to an even bigger Great Australian run, a few more sub 60 runners and some more Great athletes to share their party tricks at the unofficial great Australian Run shindig!!

 

 

 

 

 DATE: JUNE 5TH-6th, 2010

* Race video footage and video interviews coming soon. 
*Take the Risk, Reap the Rewards.




1. Lisa Corrigan:   5:09.98  Q
2. Lara Nicod:        5:13.32  Q
3. Linda Spencer: 5:19.32  Q
4. Emily Jackson:  5:29.32  q
5. Lauren Pucket:  5:44.5
6. Jody Brownley:  5:46.68

Women's Elite Mile Heat 2

1. Erica Sigmont:    5:28.74   Q
2. Bridey Delaney:  5:30.14   Q
3. Kate Fitzsimon:  5:32.92    Q
4. Sabrina Vorster: 5:35.59    q
5. Emilee Salleo:    5:54.87

Men's Elite Mile Heat 1

1. Ryan Gregson:  4:20.06    Q
2. Nick Bromley:    4:20.91    Q
3. Brett Robinson: 4:21.27    Q
4. Kale Symons:    4:21.63
5. Brenton Rowe : 4:22.29
6. Sam McEntee:   4:30.10
7. Chris Dale:        4:31.02


Men's Elite Mile Heat 2

1. Jeremy Roff:                4:17.92    Q
2. James Nipperess:     4:18.29   Q
3. Todd Wakefield:         4:18.59    Q
4. Paul Hoffman             4:18.96    q
5. Marc See                     4:19.47    q
6. Philo Saunders:         4:19.96  
7. Josh Tedesco:           4:33.51

by Chris Wainwright

At the age of 28 Nikki Chapple is starting to understand what it’s like to be more than just a “junior talent with an enormous future". A win at the recent Great Australian Run (pictured below) in Melbourne has thrust Chapple into the international athletics limelight, and she should start getting used to the extra attention.

When you defeat such athletes as Benita Willis (pre-race favourite) and Helen Clitheroe (dual Olympian), it becomes difficult to remain “just another runner”. With just a number to differentiate Chapple from all the other athletes in the field (unlike Willis who had her name on her bib – to signify her standing within the world of road racing), it was Chapple who made the run around the streets of Melbourne look easy.

As she broke through the tape at the end of the 15km road race, with the rain pouring down, it was if the world stood up and took notice of this very talented athlete. Although looking back through her career, the road she has taken has been less than an easy one.

Career Summary

Rewind just over 11 years and the 17 year-old Chapple was taking on the best juniors in the world at the World Junior Cross Country Championships. There she was to place 42nd, recording a time of 21:34, which was just over two minutes behind the winner – Yimenashu Taye of Ethopia (19:32). Later in 1998 Chapple was again to represent Australia, this time on the track at the World Junior Championships in Annecy, France. There she failed to make the final in either the 3000m (9th in her heat – 9.40.62) or the 5000m (10th in her heat – 16.57.02), but her talent at such a young age was clearly visible. By the end of the year Chapple had personal bests of 9.35.28 for 3000m and 16.20.6(h) for 5000m.

After a brief absence from athletics Chapple finally returned to the track under the guidance of Pam Turney, although by the time she was to leave for the United States on an athletic scholarship with the University of Iowa her personal bests had not been bettered (recording 5000m bests of 17.07.83 in 2002 and 16.55.54 in 2003).

In one of Chapple’s first appearance for Iowa (in 2003) (pictured right), she was to place a very creditable 15th at the Big 10 Cross Country Championships (21:45 for 6km) and then went onto place 32nd at the NCAA Regional Cross Country Championships. Returning to the track in 2004, Chapple was also producing some very solid results indoors. Chapple recorded indoor bests of 9.34.17 for 3000m at the Husker Invite and 16.27.04 for 5000m at Alex Wilson Invite. She then went onto place 3rd at the Big 10 Championships, recording another solid 3000m time of 9.37.80. During the outdoor season Chapple ran a 35.06.35 for 10000m at Mt.SAC Relays and then placed 8th in the 10000m and 11th in the 5000m at the Big 10 Championships. To end the year Chapple ran 21:04 over 6km at the NCAA Regional Cross Country Championships, which was at the time the second fastest in school history.

Over the next two years (2005-2006), Chapple struggled with injuries and was not to improve on her impressive years of 2003-2004, and by the time she landed back in Australia running was the furthest thing from her mind.

The Breakthrough Run

With so many talented junior athletes this could have simply been the end of the story. But just as we had dismissed Chapple ever returning to the pinnacle of distance running, a “quiet run” over the half marathon distance in Melbourne in 2008 changed everything. On the 7th September the “quiet run” turned into an impressive debut run of 74:38, a time that took Chapple to a shock victory.
 
Just over a month later Chapple was to place second at the Melbourne half marathon, recording a time of 76:34 in trying conditions. In just over a month Chapple had again shown her natural ability on the roads, and most importantly there was a sense of enjoyment in her running. Her final road race for the year saw another glimpse of what was to take place in the future, placing 3rd at the Burnie 10km in 33:55.

As with the end of 2008, the commencement of 2009 was to see Chapple produce more personal bests. This time it was at the Victorian Championships (May), where she recorded a blistering 32:28 over 10km, a time that again saw her take victory. Chapple then backed up the victory with a win at the Launceston 10km, again recording a fast time of 32:44.

Invited to train with Nick Bideau in London, Chapple was then to go onto place 3rd in the Great Yorkshire Run (32:40 over 10km) and 4th at the Great Capital Run (16:03 over 5km). A week later Chapple was to run the race of her life. On September 20th, Chapple lined up in the Great North Run in the half marathon. Hoping to break her existing personal best of 74:38 there was nothing to suggest that she would run the 5th fastest time by an Australian female in history (see table below). Passing 10km in 33:12 and 15km in 49:42, Chapple finished in a huge personal best time of 70:03 (pictured left). Her 4th placing against such quality opposition was even more impressive than her actual time, a performance that was dually noted by more than just the distance fraternity back in Australia, it was a performance that took Chapple into the elite level of distance running.

Australian All-Time Ranking List - Women's Half Marathon
Time	Athlete	DOB	Venue	Date
1:07.48	Kerryn McCann	020567	Tokyo, Japan	10 Jan 2000
1:07.55	Benita Willis	060579	Newcastle, GBR	26 Sep 2004
1:07.56	Susie Power	260375	Newcastle, GBR	06 Oct 2002
1:08.33	Lisa Ondieki	120560	Tokyo, Japan	26 Jan 1992
1:10.03	Nikki Chapple	090281	Tyneside, GBR	20 Sep 2009

Lead Up to Great Australian Run Victory

Two further quality runs, 3rd at the Asics Noosa Bolt 5km (16:17) and a 15:27 5km leg at the Chiba Ekiden relay in Japan, were perfect lead up races for the assault on the Great Australian Run. So in the end was it that surprising to see Chapple win in the fashion that we saw on Sunday? In many respects the favourite for the event could have easily been Chapple herself, and not Benita Willis. Although as Chapple said herself, "I didn't expect to win today so I am very happy". "I felt like it was quite an easy run so I don't know if I would call it my best run but I feel like I have worked really hard." Maybe her own personal expectations will change in the near future!

The only thing she didn’t do in her victory in Melbourne was break her existing 15km road best of 49:42 (a time that ranks her as the 4th fastest Australian female in history). Nevertheless, the victory has again showed us that we should expect some very big things from her over the coming years. Talk of a debut over the marathon in 2010 adds even further excitement to what should be an interesting time in the athletics career of one Nikki Chapple, a career that could have easily ended only two short years ago.

(left: Chapple pictured with Marty Dent)

Next week Nikki will contest the 10000m at the Zatopek Classic in Melbourne, and will hopefully qualify for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Her clash with Benita Willis in Melbourne will be one of the highlights of the meeting.

 By Bryan Green.

(For my women's preview, click here)

All you can ask for as a fan is a competitive race.  Team titles decided by battles from the first man to the fifth.  Some years, though, one team is so stacked that while you hope for a battle, but you don't really expect to see one.  This NCAA Cross Country season, that team was Oklahoma State.  

Don't ask me why they've been ranked #2 in the USTFCCCA polls all year, when they have five studs returning and the 16th place finisher in the NCAAs (Girma Mecheso) transferred to the school.  That team is like the Los Angeles Lakers of the NCAA.  They have a Kobe-esque superstar in German Fernandez, a bunch of studs throughout the lineup, and they picked up an apparently moody star in Mecheso (the Ron Artest connection).  They have to be number one, unless the rest of the coaches think OSU coach Dave Smith is more Del Harris than Phil Jackson.  Personally, I expected them to run roughshod over the NCAA competition, including Oregon.

Sure, Oregon came in ranked #1, but they had lost their top two (Rupp and Kiptoo-Biwott) as well as Andrew Wheating, who would have undoubtedly cracked their top five.  That ranking was a nod to Vin Lananna and last year's crew.  Oregon, needed guys like Matt Centrowitz, AJ Acosta and Kenny Klotz to make the leap and none of them have managed to do so.  It's not a knock against them, as they're still a solid team.  If anything, they're looking more and more like the Phoenix Suns of NCAA Cross Country.  Good team, well-known players, won some good early meets, but not championship caliber.

But outside of Oregon, no other team really crossed my radar.  Not even after the NCAA Pre-Nationals, where Stanford dominated the White Race (Oregon won the Blue Race).  I was surprised, impressed, but not entirely sold.  I wasn't about to jump on either team's bandwagon after one dominant performance.


After the display that Stanford showed at the Pac-10s and then at the West Regionals, however, I'm officially on the Cardinal bandwagon.  And while Oklahoma State may make me look like a fool next Monday, I think Stanford has risen to the challenge and is ready to take home the title.  

Win or lose, Stanford has made amazing gains this year.  Of course, in my mind, Stanford is supposed to be the powerhouse, not the underdog.  They are supposed to be The Machine.  They are supposed to be the team that shows up, crushes you, and goes about the rest of their day discussing topics like exoplanetary systems and referential integrity constraints.  (Coughnerdscough)  Much of this stems from the fact that I was routinely crushed by them when they were at their peak as a program, the late 90s and early 00s.  That was when they were putting together teams that included Olympians (Hauser, Stember, Jennings, Robison, Dobson, Hall) and almost Olympians (Lunn, Balkman, Sage, Riley, Luchini) and winning NCAAs with ridiculous point totals (they scored 24 in 2003).  

But over the past five years they slipped from great to very good, and Oregon supplanted them at the top, not just in terms of performance but in "mystique."  Stanford was no longer THE place where great high school talent wanted to go; that place became Eugene.  Bolstered by its legendary history (Pre, Bowerman), its close ties with Nike (aka a new jersey for every meet), Vin Lananna (the architect of Stanford's previous success), and the many pros who now train in the Eugene/Portland area, "Tracktown USA" had become the de facto place to be.  They had Olympians, NCAA champions, and the biggest stable of young stars.  

Stanford, on the other hand, had only two runners I was familiar with, Chris Derrick and Elliott Heath, the former because he's the second coming of Dathan Ritzenhein and the latter because his older brother went there.  And they entered the year ranked well below the squads of Oregon and Oklahoma State in the coaches' polls.  On paper, they looked like a team that was well positioned to repeat their performance from last year: a distant 3rd place at NCAAs, a solid individual performance from Derrick, and some important experience for the young guys as they targeted 2010. 

But lo and behold, Stanford has morphed into the Cleveland Cavaliers in this smorgasbord of basketball analogies.  Chris Derrick is LeBron, aiming for the title of best in the country, and his supporting cast of unknowns are, like the Cavs, all significantly better than we realize.  They don't all have the flashy PRs of a Matt Centrowitz or a Ryan Vail, but they just might be able to put up better numbers come next Monday.  All the attention will be on Derrick and his attempt to take down Chelanga (Kevin Durant?), yet it will be the Marpole-Bird's and Unterreiner's who will win it or lose it for the Cardinal.  

I hope they do it.  And not because I like Stanford.  On the contrary, they might be the one program I love to hate.  (Once a Bruin, always a Bruin.)  But like a basketball team that plays down to the level of their competition, Oklahoma State has spent the season doing tempo runs.  They've taken it too easy this year for my liking.  At the Midwest Regional meet this weekend, all six finished within a second of each other, but in 9th to 14th place.  Unfortunately, that's like the Lakers beating the Minnesota Timberwolves by 8.  A win is a win, but how hard is it to go all-out more than once per season?

Besides that, hate and respect are two different things, and I respect what Stanford's been able to do this year.  I'm rooting for Stanford because I like cheering for the underdog (even if they're ranked #1).  I like seeing Oregon taken down a notch.  I want to see OSU have to battle for it, and as I wrote earlier, there's just something about Stanford being on top that feels right.  Nostalgia, I suppose.

So welcome back, Stanford, and good luck.  I can't wait to root against you again after Monday.

Men's Team Predictions

Stanford takes it in a close battle with Oklahoma State, with both teams scoring in the 70s.  Oregon's 5th man gets caught in the pack and can't break free, setting them up for an upset by a couple of teams ready to roll, Portland and Iona.  I wouldn't be surprised to see a Wisconsin, Arkansas, or William and Mary battle for a top five spot either.

1. Stanford
2. Oklahoma State
3. Portland
4. Iona
5. Oregon

Men's Individual Predictions

Who will be able to run down Sam Chelanga?  We know how the race is going to go...Chelanga blasts out to an early lead, and the pack sits back until someone makes a run at him.  Derrick was able to run him down at Pre-Nats, but twice in one year?  I'm not counting on that.  I think Sheridan is the real deal and German Fernandez is going to remind everyone that those were indeed tempo runs for him.  McNeill seems to be coming on strong at the end of the year, so he's my pick to round out the top five.

1. Sam Chelanga, Liberty
2. Chris Derrick, Stanford
3. Ryan Sheridan, Iona
4. German Fernandez, Oklahoma State
5. David McNeill, NAU

Top Freshman

Trevor Dunbar, Portland - the smart money would be on Arkansas's Solomon Haile, but why play it safe when all you're risking is your pride and respectability?  No, Dunbar chose Portland to run cross country, and a cross country runner he will be.  I see him taking top 25 with a huge race this week.