Shootout in Terre Haute

[tafnut]

The biggest NCAA regular season country meet every year is the Pre-Nationals at the Championship meet site. This year it's at Indiana State and my Farmers are favored! Results will be at
http://www.indstate.edu/athletics/cross ... esults.htm
later today.

[EPelle]

Re: Shootout in Terre Haute

It is excellent to see that Anita Siraki is back on top of her game (judging by earlier season results and her performance today).

[guru]

Re: Shootout in Terre Haute

Not to mention the TAFbowl in Pullman between tafnut's Stanford Cardinal and gh's Washington State Cougars. Line - WSU by 1.

[tafnut]

Re: Shootout in Terre Haute

The Trees have lost two heartbreakers to USC and ND - ain't gonna happen agin no Kitty Cats.

The Stanford women won the aggregate championship, but Colorado men in the first race put up some good numbers for the Cardinal to beat.

[EPelle]

Re: Shootout in Terre Haute

Tafnut -- Bei... DNS?

Congrats, tafnut.

[EPelle]

Re: Shootout in Terre Haute

Men:

Col 24.13 t-5 avg, 52sec #1-5
Sta 24.14 t-5 avg, 41sec #1-5

[tafnut]

Re: Shootout in Terre Haute

wow - The Championships will be intense!

[MJD]

Re: Shootout in Terre Haute

Nuckers led Mich and ND and NC women's.

[PeteM]

Re: Shootout in Terre Haute

The coure is located next to one of those big barn like sports facilities that hosts AAU and travel league basketball. I know the course is affiliated with Indiana St. and Rose Hulman Institute, but it is miles from either campus. It seems to be a commercial, for profit, running venue. Anyone know of any other XC courses like that?

My impressions: Gonzales was terrific--a very charismatic runner, I'd say. His time was fine, too. Seven seconds faster for his race than Hall's: 23:47 to 23:54. They both split 5K in 15:02. Gonzales was pushed by Vaughn to the finish, but it wasn't exactly a cruise in for Hall, either. He had to know Brannen and Willis were on his tail. The Michigan two stayed in the pack until the 6-7K mark, then moved out with a purpose down the stretch. That was fun to watch.

[DrJay]

Re: Shootout in Terre Haute

Colorado men had a good showing. Inserting Stanford's individuals in the CU race, based on times, has CU edging Stanford by a few points. Has anyone heard what's up with CU's Billy Nelson, pegged for a top 10 finish at nationals? He didn't run in CU's time trial, home meet, nor the pre-nationals. Anyone among Stanford's top seven not present at Terre Haute?

Look for Harkrader to have a few good years at CU. He ran a very gutsy race last fall to win the Colorado 5A State Meet in record time, taking down Adam Goucher's old standard. He blew the race open somewhere around the mile mark and hung on to beat now-teammate Ryan Deak. I watched Harkrader in the chute after the finish--he looked like he could hardly move, totally blown. It was great. A friend overheard some mom near the finish line after one of the six races that day say "I don't think I like this sport. Look how spent these kids are after they race."!!

[PeteM]

Re: Shootout in Terre Haute

To continue the disscusion (that I seem to be having with myself):

You can pay $5 for a day pass and run the course at the fitness center in Terre Haute that is hosting the NCAA nationals.

That said, their primary market is not the recreational runner, but high school and college competitions. Still, I like the idea that someone thinks he or she can make a buck off of a commercial cross-country venue. That seems about as unsual as a track with trees growing in the infield.

-PeteM

[DrJay]

Re: Shootout in Terre Haute

>To continue the disscusion (that I seem to be having with myself):

That said, their primary market is not
>the recreational runner, but high school and college competitions.
-PeteM

I saw the 2002 NCAA meet there (Torres over Cragg) and thought the course was pretty good. With a modest bit of running, we saw the leaders 15 times including start and finish (two loops, three "fingers" that carried them into the central part of the loop.) The only problem from the spectator's point of view, I thought, was the homestretch (which also doubled as the first 600m and 4400m to 5000m). The ground slopes down a small hill only about three or four feet away from the fence along a good bit of the last 600m. If you're not in the first couple of rows of standees, it's about impossible to see anything. Moving the fence forward ten feet, therefore encroaching on the course, would be a solution but probably not one they've undertaken. Poor planning. Too bad the hill doesn't slope upward away from the course, creating a natural grandstand. Nationals are there three years running--anyone have a favorite eatery or bar in Terre Haute?

[PeteM]

Re: Shootout in Terre Haute

I shouldn’t complain, because it’s a joy having that place so close, but I agree… why such a narrow strip of land from which to view the finishing straight? It doesn’t seem like it would be hard to fix.

Don’t know much about Terre Haute. Every hotel and restaurant chain in the world has a franchise at the I-70/41 intersection. The county courthouse has to be seen to be believed.

[dj]

Re: Shootout in Terre Haute

http://www.angelfire.com/in4/indianacou ... /vigo2.jpg