While I place XC at the bottom of my totem pole of our sport's delights, I still "follow" it, even if one eye is on future TRACK developments!
And one thing I've noticed this XC season (so far) is that there's LOTS of HS course records being broken, with some very good times (though time isn't too important in XC).
Also, in collegiate cross, some of the younger ones (frosh and sophs) are winning races, or placing high, even in fields loaded with juniors and seniors!
So, is there a distance revolution going on here in the good old US of A?
I'd say YES!!....based on results so far.
Leaving the 2013 Female HS AOY out of it for now (Do I have to say her name?? LOL), the list of names seems endless.
In fact, for HS'ers, just check the MileSplit/Dyestat lists of their Top 25 individuals, and all (or most) of the BIG names are there, week after week.
Sarah Baxter, Alexa Efraimson, Elise Cranny, Hannah Long, DiBalsi, Stephanie Jenks etc etc.
Among the guys, it's mostly among college frosh I've seen this "revolution" happening.
Edward Cheserek, Jake Leingang, Ben Saarel, to name 3.
Some have said this compares to 2008 (I believe), when some biggies all were headliners at once.
Even some older young runners can be included here.
How about Abbey D'Agostino, who won't be 22 until late May?
But add Aisling Cuffe, Erin Finn, and the currently idle Wesley Frazier, plus Hannah and Haley Meier, the latter 3 all at Duke.
(A recent tweet said Frazier may be out for the season. No confirmation on that!)
If these record breakers (in XC) run as well on the indoor and outdoor tracks, then 2014 looks VERY likely to be a CLASS A season for HS and Collegiate track in 2014, especially in events from 800 to 10000!!
Can't wait!!
And one thing I've noticed this XC season (so far) is that there's LOTS of HS course records being broken, with some very good times (though time isn't too important in XC).
Also, in collegiate cross, some of the younger ones (frosh and sophs) are winning races, or placing high, even in fields loaded with juniors and seniors!
So, is there a distance revolution going on here in the good old US of A?
I'd say YES!!....based on results so far.
Leaving the 2013 Female HS AOY out of it for now (Do I have to say her name?? LOL), the list of names seems endless.
In fact, for HS'ers, just check the MileSplit/Dyestat lists of their Top 25 individuals, and all (or most) of the BIG names are there, week after week.
Sarah Baxter, Alexa Efraimson, Elise Cranny, Hannah Long, DiBalsi, Stephanie Jenks etc etc.
Among the guys, it's mostly among college frosh I've seen this "revolution" happening.
Edward Cheserek, Jake Leingang, Ben Saarel, to name 3.
Some have said this compares to 2008 (I believe), when some biggies all were headliners at once.
Even some older young runners can be included here.
How about Abbey D'Agostino, who won't be 22 until late May?
But add Aisling Cuffe, Erin Finn, and the currently idle Wesley Frazier, plus Hannah and Haley Meier, the latter 3 all at Duke.
(A recent tweet said Frazier may be out for the season. No confirmation on that!)
If these record breakers (in XC) run as well on the indoor and outdoor tracks, then 2014 looks VERY likely to be a CLASS A season for HS and Collegiate track in 2014, especially in events from 800 to 10000!!
Can't wait!!
Comment