Drew MF Griffith - Footlocker boys national champ

The West covers four time zones, and I don’t think a couple extra hours on a plane is going to impact a high school kid all that much.

I agree on your points in your second paragraph.

Another fun fact, Berkeley Nance got 30th at NXN and 4th at Footlocker. Obviously Todd had a bad race. But when you choose to put the regional on the same day as NXN it's just not fair for anyone in those regions, because I feel like you can't be the national champion if you don't beat all the best guys, just because you won't change when the regional race is.

King I’ve been telling you for 25 years to follow western PA runners. About time you listened to me!

The good news is, Griffith will prove it on the track this year so all the West Coast cry babies can shut up about the legitimacy of his win. His times have been insane all year. Course record after course record. He's a 4:08/8:48 guy as a junior with those PBs from the same weekend. He's going to put up big times this year and crush any doubters.

Give it a rest OED. No one cares.

And what's crazy is Pajak might beat him at Penn, Baldwin or nationals. Or all 3! He beat him 2 weeks ago and had a faster time at the state meet in a different class. They're both good. People out west aren't used to young men coming from places they have never heard of.

Fire Cheif it's great to see you! You're damn right, these two boys are exceptional. Hershey isn't national known for how damn hard it. The times they ran there are absolutely insane. Already both sub-8:50 guys and getting comfortable on the national stage. I assume they both have huge goals this year. If (when) they run 8:42 for 2 miles and 4:02 for the mile, there will be a few of us who won't be surprised.

Western PA course record after course record? That’s your argument?

How many times do I have to point out I think the guy is good before you nitwits get it? He ran the wrong race though if he wants to be considered the best. That’s indisputable.

I think this thread is evidence that it is a very disputable fact.

Also, in what world does the west cover 4 time zones?

You got a citation for that claim? I find it rich that folks who think there is only one time zone in the US and that the Penn Relays is the best meet in the world every year would criticize anyone else for being small-minded. People in the west know far, far better than eastern snobs how to acknowledge talent when it is there.

You think winning Foot Locker means he proven himself the best in the county? Surely, you cannot be serious.

Hawaii, Alaska, Pacific, and Mountain. You only have to use fingers on one hand to count that so it can’t be too hard for you.

So I guess what I’m about to say doesn’t matter because you guys will talk about how NXN wasn’t a thing.

but I’ll say it anyways.

in 2005 Acosta and Coe (people in Pittsburgh actually know who those guys are and remember them well) went 1-2 in Footlocker. Not since have two guys from the same state done that until this year.

not only are Pajak and Griffith from the same state they are from schools about 50 miles apart, in the same district in an area with a total metro population of under 3mil people. Not southern CA where the guys were in 2005.

So for right now, YES we do have the best runners in the country and we aren’t east coast either. I’d argue with people from NY or NJ the same point.

These guys also traveled to CA to run Footlocker but somehow they’re dodging the best west coast runners??? Friday May 3rd Baldwin Invitational in Pittsburgh. Maybe you west coast fans can get your athletes to show up out here for our biggest meet. Let me know if you’re interested, but my guess is nobody wants to fly cross country to get dusted by these guys.

and ya I’m back. I can’t let people downplay the greatest day in WPIAL track/Xc history. So you guys will just have to learn to appreciate these runners or you’ll see a lot more of me.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

C’mon! The best west coast runners all ran NXN. Did you seriously not know that? Also, the best runners in the country are either in Utah or California. Jourdon and Simmons are the best one-two punch out there and they’re only 20 miles apart. American Fork and Herriman are also about 20 miles apart with Riverton in between (although much closer to Herriman). Riverton was 9th at NXN but only 4th in their classification at state, and their state finish wasn’t a fluke. PA is nowhere near Utah or CA this year. Its not even close.

PA better indiviually, CA/UT better teams this year. I'm sure we'll see Griffith and or Pajak up against Jojo and or Simmons in track this spring. Either way these talented runners will push each other to great performances this year.

My argument is 2 guys from Butler and Ringgold are better than any other runners out there. Nobody is arguing that PA has better teams than California or more Individual depth than utah, although I think that's pretty close tbh.

Come June we will know more. I doubt anybody from Utah or California goes to Penn. That meet is second fiddle especially to those of us old enough to be there to see USAin Bolt running as a 13 year old. Have you ever heard of him or do I need to talk about him in the sprinters forums?

Maybe you haters are just protestant and don't like that Griffith and Pajak are going to Notre Dame?

Maybe you dislike the Steelers or Pirates?

Maybe you find fireflies the state insect of Pennsylvania to be particularly annoying or the white tailed deer the state animal to be especially invasive?

Let me know if I'm getting warmer.

PA doesn't have close to the individual depth of Utah. No state does except maybe Colorado and California. Utah and California hit the US distance running trifecta of fairly affluent, high elevation, and incredible, obscenely white. California just has a crap ton of people.

North Allegheny, the #1 finisher at Girls NXN that doesn't cheat with "open enrollment" is about 10 miles from Butler and about 20 miles from Ringgold. More Western PA champitude. The girls and boys teams there have won like 15 state titles in a row, and they don't need to live at 15,000 feet to do it.

Look, I get it, you're all bent up because you think drinking about fifteen sodas in one day is Godly but let me tell you something Brigham, Western PA is the home of true champions and that's that. So go cry to your fifteen wives like Wren Kucler, Drew Griffiths, Ayden Owens-Delerme, and Sidney Crosby ball out on every level.

Damn rich and white makes good distance runners. I always thought most Kenyans grow up poor and black. Guess that's what I get for stereotyping.

Winning footlocker on a beautiful day without breaking 15 is a joke. If you want to claim to be the best in run NXN.