Adams State to host indoor nats

It won't be on campus (for those of you fearing a 7,600-feet-above-sea level experience), but Adams State will host the 2010 and 2011 D2 indoor nationals in Albuquerque.

Albuquerque (spelled "Alburquerque" by some die-hards) sits at 5,280 feet, so bring your altitude conversions: It'll be fast sprint times and long throws, countered by some stomach-churning distance races.

If his effort earlier this week is any indication, Aaron Braun should be ready, as will teammate Reuben Chebon-Mwei (who ran a quick altitude steeple a day earlier) and a host of Colorado schools (Western State, Mines, Metro State, for starters).

This is about as close as nationals will likely ever get to Alamosa -- congrats to the atheltics department staff that made it happen!

indoor nats...from a distance perspective

Adams State certainly cleaned up in the distance events at the D2 nationals...er, festival at the University of Houston this weekend. Lessee: 2-8 in the 800m; 1-4-5-7 in the mile; 2-4-8 in the 5,000m (plus a DQ).

But the biggest win might have been Colorado Mines win in the distance medley relay, taking a tight one from Southwest Baptist. It is amazing that four of the top five relays squads hail from Colorado (Mines, Adams, Metro St. and Western St.). While certainly not a predictor of off-road running, there should be some great matchups this fall.

So just how big was that festival? An NCAA official calls it an "unique attribute." But a search of chron.com -- the Web site for the Houston Chronicle and one of the most-trafficked news sites in the United States -- yielded a couple of features stories. It appears the "festival" is taking an off year next year. Not a bad idea.

Indoors nationals begin

The 2009 mens indoor nats in Houston appear to be a race between three types of teams: distance-heavy (Adams St.), sprints- and field event-heavy (St. Augustine's), and all-around strength (Abilene Christian).
It's interesting how the Adams State sports information staff spells out the match-up by identifying "scoring opportunities," which is the number of events your athlete is in. St. Augustine's and ACU have one more scoring opportunity than Adams St.
I remember the old days in the NAIA, which was loaded with distance events: 800, 1000, one mile, 2 mile, 3 mile, DMR, sprint medley....Our 1991 title included only points from the high jump. But without those, we would've been second.

Festival

I see the NCAA is touting its "festival" concept again, which includes D2 indoor nats. Do they feel like wrestling, swimming and indoor track and field aren't compelling enough to stand by themselves?

I especially like this comment from the chairman of some committee: "I hear from colleagues and administrators who also tell me that the festival has created a state of mind in which student-athletes set the event as a team goal."

Hmmm. I just remember wanting to compete.

Perhaps the Olympic-like atmosphere will inspire. Best of luck to all.