Great Lakes

Michigan 5th with 2 decent front runners. I would argue that nate brennan and nick willis are just a little better than decent. I can;t believe you would say decent runners when talking about 2 sub 4 minute milers. And also, when referring to 2 runners who just finished 3rd and 7th at BIG 10 cross. Lets hear your times when calling 2 sub 4 milers decent.

This is XC, sub 4 doesn't mean shit. Tolman and Atwater of Weber are examples of how great track runners are sometimes only good cross runners.

As for blocking, if everything went as ranked in the districts, the GL's send 9 teams! Miami getting pushed in at MSU when they finish 8 and 9. The only way a block happens is if Miami and ND finish consecutively. This district is going to set a record for sending the most teams.

Not correct.

I know nothing about Miami, but I'm guessing they have very few points. Let's assume they have 0, and finish 5th. They don't get in just because the 6th place team has 20 points. It only comes into play when the team finishes 3rd, and the 4th place has the points. We'll see in a week.

Beat Train,

You are incorrect here. The one time blocker rule comes into effect for the region's first "blocker" team. It could be the 9th team for all it matters. You are citing a myth that circulates the message boards. The stat man knows all.

I understand the rule completely, but rather than using your terminology, I named teams that fit it. ND and Miami are the only teams without enough points that would have a chance of coming into play.

I would agree that U of M's front runners are decent at best. However, it is all relative. Mortimer and Sullivan were front runners. Brannen and whoever that other guy is are hardly in their league. Your standards for a front runner must be pretty low.

1. Wisconsin

2. EMU

3. Central Michigan

4. Butler

5. Indiana

6. Michigan

7. Norte Dame

8. MSU

9. OSU

I don't know how you can say that Michigan will do better in the 10k than the 8k. They are made up of a bunch of milers

The blocker rule ONLY applies to a 4th place team pushing in a 3rd place team that doesn't have enough points to get in.

The Truth - you speak lies. I've confirmed this with many coaches. ANY team can get pushed in, regardless of place, if the ones ahead of it get in on their own points and the one behind it pushs them.

I'd bet my left testicle.

Beat Train wrote:

ANY team can get pushed in, regardless of place, if the ones ahead of it get in on their own points and the one behind it pushs them.

the wording of the rule is this:

"the situation my arise when a team under consideration from a region (team x) does not have enough wins (points) to earn an at large bid, but the team immediately behind team x (team y) does have enough wins (points) to be selected. in this case, both teams x and y will received at large bids. any additional teams still under consideration for at large selection will not be awarded wins (points) for having beaten any team (team x) advancing to the championships finals by virtue of the wins accumulated by the team behind it in the region. this aspect of the at large selection process can be employed only one time per region and only the first time it is necessary to do so."

i thought opposite, but it appears that beat train is correct.

Thank you kitty... It just can't happen if there is only one at large bid left where one team would get pushed and the pusher was left out. That's not allowed.

The race is not a mile, decent is what they are over 10k.

can someone address the ladies of michigan and their chanceof winning regionals

I'm gonna have to go with the Lady Irish on this one. I mean, besides my bias, they've been the most consistent team in the GL, even though they did lose to Wisco earlier in the year. However, I'd expect the 1-2 punch of Lauren King and Molly Huddle to knock out any other contending team. If anyone beats them, it'd be MSU. They showed their potential at Griak then barely lost Big 10's on an off day.

Key for MSU women might be Durocher getting back up there.

I agree w/ds-man. MSU needs a strong fifth runner to qualify automatically. I see a terrific race for the first 6 places, between two each from MSU, Notre Dame and Toledo w/the teams from MSU, ND and UM advancing.