|
Post by wvrunner on Feb 8, 2007 19:55:18 GMT -5
The race takes place this weekend in Boulder. I looked at some pictures of the course earlier in the week and it was partially snow-covered, it may have melted by now. I haven't done enough research yet on the fields to predict, but do any of our resident posters have a predicition on the mens or womens side. From what I have read it seems to be a very strong field on both sides. I'd love to be in Boulder for this one. Let's hear your predictions.
|
|
|
Post by woody on Feb 8, 2007 21:24:22 GMT -5
I think that dathan will have a good showing and will win it. Josh Simpson is going and he may surprise some people. At WVU he ran an easy 9:02 for 3200 meters with zach sabitino and then went and ran a fartlek workout right after.
|
|
|
Post by frojoe23 on Feb 8, 2007 21:46:24 GMT -5
I'd put my money on Abdi to win it. He is just coming off one of the best year's that any American distance runner has ever had and I still think that he is a bit of an underdog. He's not getting enough credit for his great races. He finished the year with the 2nd fastest 10k ever by an American (27:22), the 2nd fastest marathon ever by an American on an un-aided course (2:08:56), and the 3rd fastest time ever for an American in the half (1:01:07) plus he ran 1:01:34 at the New York half as well. He clearly has incredible leg speed based on his 10k and a whole crap-load of endurance (just what he needs for 12k of cross-country). He's my pick by 4 seconds over Ryan Hall with Ian Dobson in for third. Of course if Tim Broe's name was on that entry sheet - he would have been my pick (that guy is an animal at XC Nat's)!!!
|
|
|
Post by frojoe23 on Feb 9, 2007 7:42:20 GMT -5
I need to revise my predictions. I forgot that Ryan Hall has backed out of the race. I am going to go with a surprise for second - Dan Browne.
As far as the women's side, I think that Shalane Flanagan is the front-runner but she seems just too thin to me. I'm not going to make a pick or anything, but I wouldn't be surprised if Kate O'Neil was in the mix up front.
|
|
|
Post by Justin on Feb 9, 2007 11:05:40 GMT -5
It looks like a great field. Abdi could have trouble if the conditions are bad, but I'd have to agree he should be talked about more than Ritz. I'll be pulling for Browne, he's a former Patriot League guy. But I think Goucher will win.
I really think Webb should be running this race, he needs to stop running those silly 1500/miles and go where he could make a difference.
|
|
|
Post by wvrunner on Feb 9, 2007 14:14:27 GMT -5
I'm going with Ritz, he's due for a good one, is healthy and it's his hometurf. The ladies is a tough one, I'll go with Kastor, she does alot of work at altitude and runs well in the big races too. It's going to be interesting to see how the altitude will effect sea level runners.
|
|