tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post2151469343820520502..comments2024-03-27T17:43:26.504-07:00Comments on Cross Country Express: My “officially unofficial” pre-season ranking for BOYS 2010 CCS XCAlbert Caruanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14434646351717864405noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-39235153782720459252010-09-07T18:24:27.150-07:002010-09-07T18:24:27.150-07:00This just in...In the inter-squad race Bellarmine ...This just in...In the inter-squad race Bellarmine is looking great!!! Bourdoni and Hinojosa 1st and 2nd. Rae, having a bad day comes in 3rd. Sophmore DeAnda climbs to a number 5 spot and Valencia not far behind in 6th. Ferrari finishes in 4th and Jain holds on for a top 7 spot.BCP123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-9056789836674158082010-08-14T16:42:13.085-07:002010-08-14T16:42:13.085-07:00I'd imagine Los Gatos is moving way up this li...I'd imagine Los Gatos is moving way up this list, with the addition of Grant Foster.CrystalKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-7652392070484233282010-08-03T20:33:03.918-07:002010-08-03T20:33:03.918-07:00Thanks Luca, means a lot coming from you.Thanks Luca, means a lot coming from you.Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14982278595471418941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-17595386057057363012010-08-03T17:58:51.190-07:002010-08-03T17:58:51.190-07:00Actually the closest school to the Crystal Springs...Actually the closest school to the Crystal Springs course is Carlmont and they have only collected 9 CCS titles in the last 5 years.Albert Caruanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14434646351717864405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-61765712199054705192010-08-02T11:01:52.122-07:002010-08-02T11:01:52.122-07:00Luca,
I know how you feel... my team often gets l...Luca,<br /><br />I know how you feel... my team often gets left out of the rankings too (when I am not writing them). Regarding Lynbrook, last year I had you guys #13 pre-season and you finished a respectable 10th! So you are certainly on the radar. The key is to remember, these are rankings by some old coach on the internet who doesn't have inside info. The idea of pre-season rankings is just to get people excited about XC when there isn't a whole lot going on. <br /><br />You are probably right about Lynbrook being in the top 20 but all I have to go on is last year’s stats. The Monterey Bay schools like Alisal, Salinas, Carmel, San Benito, Stevenson look pretty tough so its more than "home turf." Soem schools return 5 guys all in the 16's!<br /><br />Of the returning runners St. Francis (#20) edged Lynbrook in 3 of the 5 head to head match-ups and in team time. It’s not a diss, I really looked hard at Lynbrook and tried to fit them in. They are a good team and could end up the season in the top 20 but who gets bumped?Coach Smallnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-11948476474929636752010-08-02T10:36:55.073-07:002010-08-02T10:36:55.073-07:00How come the Lynbrook guys are always left out of ...How come the Lynbrook guys are always left out of the pre-season rankings? Has everyone forgotten that we came in fourth in DII last year, losing only to the powerhouses of Mt.View, Gunn, and Palo Alto? Although we did lose a big part of our Varsity team, Andrew Kuo ran 4:32 in 1600 and ran 16:36 on Crystal on very little training last year and we had a good amount of runners near the 17:00 mark, I'm not pushing for a Lynbrook CCS Championship, but some of the teams ranked in the top 20 are only there because Toro Park is their "home course", last time I checked Crystal Springs Uplands wasn't setting any records at Crystal Springs despite being on 7 miles away. I do not wish to put down any other teams and I wish everyone the best of luck, but I truly believe that Lynbrook deserves to be included somewhere in the top 20 even if it is the 20th spot.<br /><br />Also on a side note; Kevin don't listen to what anyone tells you about Monta Vista not having what it takes, this year it's your turn to step up and be a leader for your team so give it all you've got to be the best you can be and to make your team the best they can be. Good luck man.Lucahttp://speedyspaghetti.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-5951742143934155002010-07-31T06:41:28.545-07:002010-07-31T06:41:28.545-07:00Thanks Coach Smith, I was happy to hear that one o...Thanks Coach Smith, I was happy to hear that one of the CCS coaching legends will be rejoining the sport again, and good luck to Mountain View in the upcoming season. I'm looking forward to racing Parker and the rest of your guys a lot this season (I may race in the seniors race at Earlybird just to get a crack at Parker and Will Geiken).<br /><br />As for a so-called reality check, I never promised a CCS championship, just that we would be in the mix for a state meet berth. But you are right on a couple counts: 4 runners under 5:00 would be a huge accomplishment for a middle school team, considering that most struggle to get even one runner under 5:00. On a more serious note, and as I previously admitted, we will have to step it up to get there, and not just Yeung either. All I'm asking is that you not be surprised when we do.Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14982278595471418941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-7203505575680248602010-07-28T00:56:57.620-07:002010-07-28T00:56:57.620-07:00It is always interesting to me how harsh people ca...It is always interesting to me how harsh people can be when they don't attach their name to their post. Kevin, ignore the naysayers. After looking at Walt's data on Hank's Lynbrooksports.com site and throwing in your 4:37 freshman, it looks to me like your #5 is either a 16:46 Crystal guy, or a 4:42 1600 guy. That is very solid in my mind. While I would still put Bellarmine and Carlmont in front of Monta Vista, your top 5 are definitely in the ballpark with the San Benitos and Serras of CCS D1. To me, it basically all depends upon what is happening right now. The teams that do the work in the summer will be successful in the fall. <br /><br />Also, I just want to point out that three seasons ago, Mountain View had a preseason #23 ranking in CCS. We ended up going to state as the D2 #3 team. So I believe what you are proposing is possible. I have been impressed with Monta Vista's current junior class since they were freshman, and I believe they do have the potential to achieve exactly what you are hoping for. Good luck this season!Evan Smithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-68191022670401390122010-07-27T23:35:04.651-07:002010-07-27T23:35:04.651-07:00Well, 4 runners under 5 is a big accomplishment......Well, 4 runners under 5 is a big accomplishment... if you're a middle school team. Most contenders for a CCS championship are likely to have their whole top 7 under 5:00, if not their whole JV squads as well. Unless Yeung can keep up that 4:58 for 3 straight miles, he's not going to be a viable threat in a competitive race. I wouldn't have them ranked any higher than St. Francis... and they are.Reality checknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-37371144745066944932010-07-26T19:33:53.823-07:002010-07-26T19:33:53.823-07:00At risk of sounding like a shameless self-promoter...At risk of sounding like a shameless self-promoter, I wouldn't count out Monta Vista when championship season rolls around. We had an excellent track season, getting 4 runners under 5 in the 1600m (me 4:36, Lu 4:42, Rao 4:45, Yeung 4:58), and this was without Hasan, our projected #3/4 runner, who was already a sub-5 guy. And this just in, incoming freshman Takuto Doshiro just ran a 4:37 at the last LGAC meet on 1 day a week of training. I think if Rao can translate his success (2:02/4:45) in track into success in XC, and with the return of Hasan (missed track to train for XC) to full form, we can be a force to reckon with come CCS, and possibly contend for a State Meet berth, even without any seniors on the projected varsity squad.<br />Of course, it's on us to perform up to our potential and avoid injuries in a competitive D1 (teamwise, at least) this year.Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14982278595471418941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-84447461401235034312010-07-18T13:23:43.319-07:002010-07-18T13:23:43.319-07:00Comparing apples to oranges with Sam and McGhee.Comparing apples to oranges with Sam and McGhee.Albert Caruanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14434646351717864405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-75570391267088276052010-07-17T22:57:29.435-07:002010-07-17T22:57:29.435-07:00Sebastian Sam never did XC and won CCS.. McGhee an...Sebastian Sam never did XC and won CCS.. McGhee and Sam both train with ISC.togarunnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-71580721694602055042010-07-17T11:46:13.549-07:002010-07-17T11:46:13.549-07:00McGhee not running cross is just ridiculous. Can ...McGhee not running cross is just ridiculous. Can someone name the last CCS champion at 800 who did not run cross country? <br /><br />Dear club coaches who steal athletes away from their cross country team so they continue to pay you in the off season: Do you know who Clyde Hart is? Do you know he has his 400 guys do mile training and cross country runs (be it short ones) in the off season in the fall? Do you know the best 800 runners in the world run 12 mile long runs and average 50-60 miles per week? The base does not hurt your 800, especially in high school. These boys are still growing and getting stronger, don't steal their high school experience. Let their college coaches decide what they want to do. They are young, let them enjoy running before you burn them out and ruin it for them. <br /><br />As for Woodside, they have tons of potential but do you guys remember Pioneer last year? Two top runners and the rest 18 guys and they didn't finish inside the the 25. Very similar to Woodside this year.NCRnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-51518942944930032092010-07-16T17:14:55.084-07:002010-07-16T17:14:55.084-07:00Considering the Carlmont boys have won CCS 5 times...Considering the Carlmont boys have won CCS 5 times in a row, I would be careful about making such claims.<br /><br />So in the case they do win again...<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtZTIwSIuGwAlbert Caruanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14434646351717864405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-62277944245337794142010-07-16T16:15:33.063-07:002010-07-16T16:15:33.063-07:00I will eat my boots if Carlmont beats Bellarmine a...I will eat my boots if Carlmont beats Bellarmine at CCS... again. Who knows what can happen. That said, I hope Carlmont has a great season and whoever wins DI has to earn it.Bellarmine Fannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-51079780544632205032010-07-16T15:04:29.190-07:002010-07-16T15:04:29.190-07:00Have to agree with Coach Caruna. My son, Kevin Gri...Have to agree with Coach Caruna. My son, Kevin Griffith, attributes much of his senior year success to running XC for the first time. Gave him a base he had never had before. Also, ended up having a great XC season and gained more recruiting interest. Most importantly, he had a great time running a team sport. McGhee is same position as Kevin was last year. I would encourage McGhee to run XC. He'll have plenty of time to prepare for track season once XC ends. Every kid in the State 800M final ran XC...not a coincidence.Doug Griffithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-75382031624198060452010-07-16T13:52:25.095-07:002010-07-16T13:52:25.095-07:00I think we all agree that Woodside has the potenti...I think we all agree that Woodside has the potential to be very good.<br /><br />That would be sad news if McGhee chooses to not run XC this fall. I would say the majority of the top 800m. runners run XC as well.Albert Caruanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14434646351717864405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-50640283734681134232010-07-16T13:26:25.100-07:002010-07-16T13:26:25.100-07:00Woodside is going to be in the Top 10 - they shoul...Woodside is going to be in the Top 10 - they should have 2 in the Top 5 at D-2. Rumor from McGhee at M-A is he's not running XC this year, going to train with ISC for the 800.Woodside XC Fannoreply@blogger.com