ttc wrote: Don't forget: His XC ability has usually been better than his track ability
I've seen this said a lot, and i don't believe it at all. Ritz won XC nats as a sr....and granted did take 3rd, but was blown away by the best in that jr xc meet, but he went on to run the second fastest HS time ever in the 5k in track by .7 in his only challenged race.
Then as a frosh he finishd 5th? in XC, but also went 13:27 in the 5k which was one of the best times back then, and basically 11 seconds faster than the AJR holder at the time, but was a day short of being eligible. In each instance, i consider his track performances better. He went on to set the ACR in the 10k as a jr....he has also run 811 in the 2mile which at the time was his best commpetition ever IMO, and now 1256 in the 5k..again his best competition ever.
What has he done in XC, other than his one standout 3rd in WJ Cross that even remotely compares?