Colin Sahlman may not race for NAU in 2022 - "It's probably on the more unlikely side that we are putting him out there."

If you have academic goals, you don't go to NAU.

And won't the academics only get harder each year? (Yes i get college is an adjustment period)

Undergraduate psychology is a joke. You really don't learn that much about behavior/motivation.

My god that's crazy. I was like, "Is that really true?" Answer: Yes. GREAT POST and stat.

John Kellogg converts his 8:33 3200 pb to 7:57.99 for 3k which is a time that 109 NCAA guys beat last year. Shoot, maybe the should shirt him.

Ok i'm kidding - kind of. I'd say no as one would expect him to improve at his age as he's young and the 8:33 was run without competition. How much faster would he have run being towed along in a college 3k?

Guess how many guys broke 7:50 in the NCAA? 38.

His 3:56.24 mile pb would be top 20.

So yes I can see why it's far form a guarantee he's top 100 at NCAA xc but as 3k isn't 10k particularly at Ok State.

While I can understand expectation from fans, it seems odd to me that so many people are questioning the methods of Smith at this point in time. There are a lot of examples of freshman excelling, but people might forget what it is like to transfer into college training.

Additionally, Gault's article highlights a number of young talents that may (or may not) have been mismanaged early in their college careers.

Webb-all time great headcase that did not match desires with consistency or health or coaching philosophy.

Ritz- injuries

Lucas V- unaligned intrinsically with sport and coaching vision

German- injuries

If CS is smart, go to Stanford and get a degree. Running won't pay the bills unless he can medal. Even then that is only temporary.

Very underrated point of view. With all of NAUs success, the alumni aren't exactly killing it. If distance runners are supposed to be so smart, why aren't more planning for their future?

Speaking of smart distance runners - what the hell? I can't even piece together what rojo was trying to write in that last sentence.

probably meant, "shoot, maybe they should red-shirt him"

So yes, I can see why it's far from a guarantee he will finish in the top 100 at NCAA XC. OK State is also a very difficult course with lots of hills, and the 10K is a big jump up from the 3K.

Honestly, with the Youngs going to Stanford this is Mike's swansong for awhile and maybe forever. He could well be starting his own pro group before he is able to get a roster to top the podium again. I will be waiting for a "this post didn't age well" if NAU wins w/o Sahlman or next year.

Agreed on this. Stanford's big weakness is at its 4 and 5 right now. The Youngs arrive conveniently in time to fill that gap up next year, and assuming they adjust to 10k XC as well as Nico, the team next year will be practically unbeatable with the potential to put 5 in the top 20. How can you compete against a mass of exceptional talent so deep?

For the moment, Stanford men actually have a very good #4 in Thomas Boyden, a 13:38/5k guy who finished 16th today at OK State as the team's 3rd man with Ky Robinson sitting out after his long track season. Finishing 24 seconds behind a couple of 27:40s/10k teammates is more than acceptable. They do have to tighten up at #5 but have a few sub-14/5k guys contending for that position.

For next fall, biggest question will be Hicks returning for a 5th year. With Mo Farah retired from track, and Marc Scott possibly leaving track as well to focus on the roads, Hicks could elevate to Great Britain's top 10k guy and possibly make Budapest through WA's ranking system. Expect professional $$ will be there for the taking if he chooses.

Neither Rupp nor NP had any unearned hype. Rupp ran 13:37 in HS almost 20 years. Rupp was like 10x national champion and only lost to handful of Americans in his life in any race over 5k.

Rupp ran a solo 3:50 mile in January also owned the 10K. There was case for arguing that Rupp could set every AR from either the indoor mile or outdoor 2k up to half marathon or marathon. He’s been America’s most competitive marathoner since the the pre Kenyan era in the 1970s.

NP had 3 guys running at or faster than Nico Young all season. And a 4th that ran 1:48 / 4:01 / 8:01 at 16. And had ~ 2-3 other guys sub 9. In what world could this ever be an overhype.

Unless Hicks becomes a world breaker, he could value an NCAA Championship (and probable individual win) over 1 year of getting like 8th place in pro track events. He would finally get over the hump he failed to for years, and it would likely be absolutely dominant as a team with the Youngs.

You can't even?!? It's quite simple really: "I'm not going out on a limb here but if Sahlman doesn't crack the top 100 at NCAA XC I'll say I told you so, if he does, in fact, finish top 100 I'll say, Bruh, duh. 10k distance is hard (my brother was good at it though) add grass to the mix and its even harder add the speed it takes to run a 3k indoors on an oversized track with super shoes and it's even harder add that hellhole of the town of Stillwater and it's pert near impossible."

Hope that helps.

This will give him more opportunities to visit the girl that got 28th in this race:

rolltide.com

Alabama Cross Country Wins Men’s and Women’s Team Titles at North Alabama Showcase - University of Alabama Athletics

@alabamatrack

The Alabama cross country teams swept the top spots at the North Alabama Showcase, with the No. 10-ranked women's squad scoring 73 points for the victory, while

Link:rolltide.com/news/2022/9/16/track-fiel...