footlocker picks!

Kroeger is a very smart runner, and has planned her season to peak for FL. Look at the progression from September to now. Just 24 seconds off the pace (16:56) she ran at FLS last year.

She is very smart, and very focused.

She will put the hammer down at Balboa, and win going away.

Prepare to be awed.

Just 24 seconds? I don't know how much you know about a 5k...but 24 seconds slower than any time is not good...unless German wins in 14:48...then that will still be fast. But comparing a 17:20 to a 16:56 is like comparing a 4:10 to a 4:14. Both are good, but the 4:14 pails in comparison...as does the 17:20.

Boys

1. Luke (kicks down German)

2. German (will get caught in last 300-500)

3. Chris (too good to put him below this)

4. Donn (very strong, could be a solid top 3)

5. Colby (texas curse will get him, maybe top 3, probably lower than this)

Girls

1. Jordan (probably not, but it would be cool for her to win again)

2. Durkin (should be my #1)

3. Kathy

don't really care after that

I would say that once Fernandez and Pukcesdra break Derick, he will be toast and finish out of the top 10 like Jager did last year at regionals. Illinois runners have a history of choking.

Fernandaz

Pukesdra

Fout

Carbal

Lowe

Taye

Unterreiner

Johnson

Darling

Finnerty

Sun Devils FTW wrote:

I would say that once Fernandez and Pukcesdra break Derick, he will be toast and finish out of the top 10 like Jager did last year at regionals. Illinois runners have a history of choking.

Fernandaz

Pukesdra

Fout

Carbal

Lowe

Taye

Unterreiner

Johnson

Darling

Finnerty

I don't think the fact that other Illinois runners have choked has any effect on how Derrick will race

To better anything that Melody Fairchild did in high school is amazing. (her Bolder Boulder time in HS would have won NCAA). So huge props to Claire. Jordan is running well right now. Should be an interesting battle.

Derrick, Puskreda, Fernandez, and Cabral have to be the favs, with Lowe a step behind. I am hoping Kevin Williams at FLMW was an aberation. Would like to see him top 10.

Go CO boys

I saw both Durkin and Hasay run this year. While Hasay has been on top for a long time, Durkin has been improving at an unbelievable rate of about a minute each year. She has never even closely been challenged this year so it is impossible to know what her limits are. I would love to see Durkin win but I wouldn't want to bet money on either one.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/preps/stories/2007/12/07/durkin07.ART_ART_12-07-07_C7_4A8MUJT.html?sid=101

In ideal conditions......

Fernandez

Hasay

Does the course change if it rains or is sloppy? Who are the intrepid runners in adverse conditions? Are either of these two mudders?

Kayla Hale is in my top 5. She almost beat Kroeger at South.

Plus, she's beast.

How has illinois choked other than jager?

i think cabral has at least an outside chance of winning. Although he hasnt been at any hug meets this year, he IS not only undefeated, but completely unchallenged. Nobody hasbeen close to him all season, even at that beast performance at vanny. and also, i believe his 902 3200m in track came like 2 hours after he ran 416 or something in the mile. good stuff, good chances to win imo.

Luke Puskedra wins FL-2008! Last year he ran nearly 9 flat in Salt Lake, 4400ft? of elevation at the UT state meet. He did not break through at any of the invite 2 races last spring but he is strong.

Which was nothing compared to Sage's double at the IL state meet: 8.42/4.08 within 2 hours of each other. BTW, Steveu at dyestat does pick Cabral to win. I do not think he will beat either German Fernandez or Chris Derrick, but there are a lot of monsters in this race.

Not true. Luke ran 9 flat at Arcadia. The last person to run near 9 flat at altitude in utah was Ryan Andrus. Luke has not done this, yet.

thinairunr wrote:

Luke Puskedra wins FL-2008! Last year he ran nearly 9 flat in Salt Lake, 4400ft? of elevation at the UT state meet. He did not break through at any of the invite 2 races last spring but he is strong.

Did Jorge Torres and Matt Withrow choke at FLN? Derrick's near record run in Peoria for the state title and a seemingly controlled run at NTN are impressive beyond comparison to the Torres and Withrow runs for thier respective IL titles. Also, comparing Marc Davis' record to a Craig Virgin like run from Derrick on Peoria's course is not really a comparison for those not old enough to know Virgin's H.S. and post H.S. history. Derrick is the real deal.

0 for 2 in my prediction is pretty good. Both races were good.

Fernandez is a entertainer, he has speed and great strength but will not have the heart to do what it takes to win. It'll be a close one between Derrick and Puskedra, both are wise beyond stupid high school games like kicking it in just to win a regional. Bigger things on their minds, mark my words fernandez finishes no higher than 3rd.

steele wool wrote:

your a fag!!! what has fernandez done to say he isnt going to win this kid has been money all year it will be a battle but its going to be german over puskedra with a strong chance of derrick sneaking in past puskedra as well

so what was that about fernandez, told you he couldn't take it. he may have a ton of talent and a bright future ahead, but you gotta have the heart for big races

what I had said over a week ago:Fernandez is a entertainer, he has speed and great strength but will not have the heart to do what it takes to win. It'll be a close one between Derrick and Puskedra, both are wise beyond stupid high school games like kicking it in just to win a regional. Bigger things on their minds, mark my words fernandez finishes no higher than 3rd.

steele wool wrote:

your a fag!!! what has fernandez done to say he isnt going to win this kid has been money all year it will be a battle but its going to be german over puskedra with a strong chance of derrick sneaking in past puskedra as well

so much for name calling, and I give german credit hes got a ton of talent and a bright future, but gotta find the heart to want it. Fout took everyone that didn't really know about him by surprise

Sun Devils FTW wrote:

I would say that once Fernandez and Pukcesdra break Derick, he will be toast and finish out of the top 10 like Jager did last year at regionals. Illinois runners have a history of choking.

Fernandaz

Pukesdra

Fout

Carbal

Lowe

Taye

Unterreiner

Johnson

Darling

Finnerty

Nice prediction! It's fun when idiots like you are proven wrong.