With nationals 2 1/2 hours down el valle in Albuquerque, Adams State has a shot at winning an indoor title.
Multiple-time national champions Aaron Braun and Reuben Chebon-Mwei lead a team that also returns hoss Brian Medigovich and 800m indoor runner-up Drew Graham. Most of their schedule involves trips to Albuquerque.
St. Augustine's, however, returns a raft of young sprinters. (They don't have a stable of distance runners.)
For our purposes, Adams State is the clear favorite to win the d2cross indoor crown. Colorado Mines, Queens and Western State are best bets for runners-up.
In 2009, Adams ran away with the most points in the four distance events (800m, mile, 5000m, DMR): Adams State, 50; Colorado Mines, 18; Abilene Christian, 16; Harding, Metro State, 14; SW Baptist, 11; Queens, 10; Western State, 8; W. Oregon, 4; Saginaw Valley, Lock Haven, 3.
Next post: Meets to watch.
In Orlando at the coaches convention some sea level coaches were discussing redshirting their 5k kids because it would be a waste of a season to run NCAA's in NM.
ReplyDeleteDo you think this kind of host site would have been approved in D1? (rhetorical question)
How in the good name a fair competition did the D2 championship committee deem 5120' as a even playing field? (rhetorical question)
The playing field is even because everyone is running on the same track at the same time. As long as the coaches make some minor adjustments and instruct their athletes to run a smart race, they will run well. A great runner is still a great runner no matter the location.
ReplyDeleteAlso as a side note nationals will be in NM for the next 2010 and 2011.
Good discussion. I won't argue that it's difficult to run at altitude. I had plenty of nosebleeds to prove that. I also understood (perhaps incorrectly) that altitude effects were somewhat delayed. That said, I think Colorado runners should be excited to run in Albuquerque, if only for the psychological advantage. (Perhaps Southern Indiana had the same benefit in Evansville?) And I certainly wouldn't redshirt an indoors season. Heck, I've still got two left!
ReplyDeleteYou are correct. Most studies state that altitude effects don't take an effect until after 48-72 hours, depending on the person. The same applies to altitude runners traveling to sea level. After the 2nd day, the benefits begin to diminish.
ReplyDelete