No question that the race results were dominated by steeplers. Besides
Browne and Hauser, I think they were ALL steeplers (I don't have results in
front of me or the net to check them), but it is clear that they favor the
4k.
The same can be said for the 4k at the WCCC ... the results at the top-end
seem to be 1500m, steeple and 3000m runners. If any 5k runners place (in
the 4k) they are usually NOT a 5k specialist (the 5k is just ONE of their
events).
I don't doubt that the 4k WCCC is a very good distance for the 1500 to 3000m
runners ... it certainly is. It is just that history has shown that great
1500/3000m runners have also excelled at the former standard of 12k.
Another thought (since so many people seem to think it is a stretch up to
12k for these 3000-specialists):
Which is tougher (or a bigger "adjustment to training" as was posted); a
1500/5000m runner or Steepler adjusting "up" to the 12k distance ... OR A
MARATHONER adjusting "down" ?
Seems like a bigger drop down for the long-distance guys ... and the race is
full of success stories about marathoners (Lopes, Rodgers, shorter,
Cierpinski, DeCastella, etc.)
The discussion wasn't whether the 4k distance suits the 1500m runners or
Steeplers BETTER ... of course a 4k race would suit them better. But, a 20
kilometer XC Champs would suit the marathoners better. You don't see them
asking for that.
The idea has always been to have a World Championship of XC ... and a race
to suit all the XC runners ... where one best one could be crowned.
I guess it is fair to say that (as one other person said) the 12k winner is
the World Champion ... and the 4k winner is just happy that they hold a 4k
... so he has something to run.
The 4k is still Junior Varsity though.
P.S. A shoe-in for the 4k winner would seem to be Ali Saidi-Seif ... the
best in the world over 3k ... close to the best at 5k and 1500m. Any word
on whether he is running?
-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Kaplan [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Monday, February 19, 2001 11:22 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: t-and-f: Short/Long course cross country
--- "Mcewen, Brian T" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Over history, there have been many, many steeplers who ran high level
> 12k races in the winter.
[snip]
> but the steeplers and 5k runners should be in the 12k race.
Have you looked over this weekend's results and the disproportionate
number of steeplers that did very well over the 4k course? The seemingly
commong sentiment was summed up by a formerly world class steepler saying,
"I wish they had the 4k when I was running; I would have run at
nationals," or something to that effect.
Dan
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