tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post2547157844577164390..comments2024-03-27T17:43:26.504-07:00Comments on Cross Country Express: Northern California Cross Country Top 10 Individuals (Boys & Girls)Albert Caruanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14434646351717864405noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-89965657793969419422015-10-12T13:43:16.895-07:002015-10-12T13:43:16.895-07:00Rylee finished her track season in mid-July at the...Rylee finished her track season in mid-July at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Colombia. Most HS kids are a month and a half into their summer XR build by then. Down time, re-build, and delaying XC race efforts was, IMO, a very sound couching decision in this instance.<br />To my knowledge, she did not race again until 10/4, completing a 5K in 17:24, 33 seconds ahead of her 8th grade sister, Kate (who was, in turn, 26 seconds behind Morgin Coonfield - #7 on the NorCal list- at the Viking opener).<br />Rylee's Clovis performance, again, to my knowledge was her 2nd race since track season, and more a product of knocking the rust off than anything else.<br />While I agree that Rylee has no actual current XC season results to justify her displacing another young lady off of the top ten NorCal ranking, I trust that she will put up performances worthy of consideration before she is done with HER XC season.Steve Palladinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01161835154829541383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-1044938131510315482015-10-12T11:12:39.935-07:002015-10-12T11:12:39.935-07:00Valerie, thank you very much for your post. It'...Valerie, thank you very much for your post. It's great to hear your perspective as a parent of an elite high school runner as well as a family friend of the Bowens.<br /><br />It's very easy to try to knock successful runners, coaches and/or teams. That just comes with being successful as many professional athletes endure throughout their careers. However, we have to keep in mind that these are high school aged students. I would be willing to bet that most of the high school runners you may have an issue with are good, hard working individuals. All you have to do is watch them interact with their teammates and opponents at meets. Some are interviewed after races and you may get a better perspective of what kind of person they are from those interviews.<br /><br />I think having conversations about rankings of individuals and teams is great. While I do my research, I am certain that my rankings are not perfect. I welcome the comments and feedback. <br /><br />Trying to knock certain individuals/teams however is not right and I will delete comments if necessary.<br /><br />Other than that, there have been a lot of amazing performances so far this season and NorCal will represent itself well at the state meet. <br /><br />Best of luck to everybody the rest of the season.Albert Caruanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14434646351717864405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-5838687640417147552015-10-12T10:04:57.209-07:002015-10-12T10:04:57.209-07:00I would like to respond to to comments made regard...I would like to respond to to comments made regarding Rylee Bowen. I would also like to applaud Coach Albert for his responses. He clearly has an interest in keeping the board a positive place for athletes to share ideas, information, and conerns. <br />I have known Rylee her entire life. Her mother mentored by daughter, Julia Stamps and our two families remain close friends after many years. Julia earned many cross country titles while at Santa Rosa High as well as Stanford University. She was fortunate to have the support of the running community not only when times were good, but also during those challenging periods. Positivity to all and sensitivity to others who support the same goals and dreams provides a pleasant environment where lifetime friendship can be made. <br />Rylee is a caring and sensitive young woman. She is a team player and enjoys the friendly supportive commeraderie of her team. She chose a small division 5 school because she loves the school, coaching staff, and supportive environment. Comments were made pertaining to her school uniform not being consistent with the other team members. Sonoma Academy issues team cross country jerseys ONLY. It was suggested that she is sponsored by a shoe company because she wears a green jacket...the school colors. <br />Rylee cannot control what other coaches, athletes, reporters write. She is a humble girl who maintains a positive attitude toward all other competitors, and seeing cruel and unjust comments weigh heavy on her. I encourage posters to participate in keeping a healthy perspective on comments. It will all come back in a positive way. Good luck to all, and hope your goals are achieved.valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16451899580905682755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-15567520042511077002015-10-10T13:00:39.245-07:002015-10-10T13:00:39.245-07:00And then ended up losing to 7 NorCal girls, some o...And then ended up losing to 7 NorCal girls, some of whom weren't even on the honorable mention list. Championship season is all that matters but at the moment she's still riding her track results...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-12285756019700893052015-10-10T09:02:37.914-07:002015-10-10T09:02:37.914-07:00Bowen was leading seeded girls race at 5:30 openin...Bowen was leading seeded girls race at 5:30 opening mile.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-53132673335003350402015-10-09T16:20:07.984-07:002015-10-09T16:20:07.984-07:00Anonymous 12:59 not "bashing" Bowen. The...Anonymous 12:59 not "bashing" Bowen. The topic is: should she be in the top 10 with this years times? The consensus seems to think not. The negative about Bowen is her lack of team spirit/support. Anonymous 1:50, she wears her school singlet for races. The rub is that before and after she does not wear her school kit attire. Again, a sign of not supporting her school team. She is not for her team, she is solely for herself. That is fine, just embrace it. Clovis will be exciting none the less. Stanford and Clovis are my favorite meets. A lot to be learned from those meets about team depths and seeded runners. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-15012690436914624882015-10-09T14:30:59.165-07:002015-10-09T14:30:59.165-07:00Bryson, totally agree. With the addition of top D2...Bryson, totally agree. With the addition of top D2, D3 and even out of state (and individual) talent, Clovis will probably give us no more than indication on who the trop teams and individuals are (among that rarefied field). Clearly, if one team runs away with it, it would be safe to assume they would become the prohibitive state championship favorite, similarly for an individual if he were able to gap the field. Some teams may teak tomorrow a little bit more seriously than others, some runners could be held out, etc. Even at this level, There are not too many teams that truly go 8 deep. Any injury or illness to a top 5 runner can spell disaster and as data has shown, the team with the fastest 5th man has a clear advantage. Places will tell part of the story, but times, gaps, etc. will be studied in great detail upon the completion of the meet. An exciting time to be a XC fan. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-74163193773871786762015-10-09T14:01:20.682-07:002015-10-09T14:01:20.682-07:00Unfortunately, Clovis will not be an exact "p...Unfortunately, Clovis will not be an exact "play-out" of the state meet, especially for those in the seeded race. Why? Because the seeded races are early in the morning at Clovis. Usually, seeded races have a lot of D1 teams, who will have to race later in the afternoon at the State meet. Last year, the Clovis and state meet races were drastically different. Nonetheless, it's a great opportunity for the runners to get used to the course and big race feel. <br /><br />P.S. not to mention that Clovis occurs in early October and State is late November.. a lot can change. Brysonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-78001268236881469232015-10-09T13:50:35.015-07:002015-10-09T13:50:35.015-07:00So did Rylee Bowen run for her club wearing their ...So did Rylee Bowen run for her club wearing their singlet in a high school race or not?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-81585886937049363942015-10-09T13:29:05.183-07:002015-10-09T13:29:05.183-07:00Wow, bashing a girl who ran 4:43 and 10:29 last ye...Wow, bashing a girl who ran 4:43 and 10:29 last year as a frosh. Lot of mean people on this board, maybe you should try letsrun.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-80468854885965236322015-10-09T12:59:47.433-07:002015-10-09T12:59:47.433-07:00Sal,
I thought we were talking about the top 10 i...Sal,<br /><br />I thought we were talking about the top 10 individuals boys/girls. Funny how the topics always circles back the evils of clubs and private schools.<br /><br />It shouldn't matter who is training her. That's for the coaches, parents, and athlete to figure out. If I had a superkid on my team, I'd welcome the assistance or advice for them. But if you want to run for the team, wear the school uniform and represent your school or go run somewhere else.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-80457567519540810272015-10-09T12:13:00.552-07:002015-10-09T12:13:00.552-07:00New contributor to the topic of private coaches......New contributor to the topic of private coaches...<br /><br />I have no experience with running clubs, but in the context of swimming, the VAST MAJORITY of varsity-level swimmers belong to year-around swim clubs. With perhaps a few inevitable exceptions, the club and school swim teams coexist peacefully - everyone understands that during high school swim season, the school programs take priority. Many school swim coaches are happy to let their high-performing swimmers practice at least a few times each with with their clubs, where they can have higher-level workouts than might be possible for the school program to provide. <br /><br />There is and will always be personal relationships that club coaches may have with particular private school swim coaches and perhaps subtle influence on their swimmers to go to particular private schools if they have the financial means, but that is just human nature.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-21729442688411567412015-10-09T12:08:17.863-07:002015-10-09T12:08:17.863-07:00I guess I don't understand the exact problem w...I guess I don't understand the exact problem we are debating: defined as 1) something that is happening that should not; or 2) something that is not happening that should. Are we saying that kids should not have a choice in where they go to school, or if they want to hire a private coach? Should kids be limited to running only for their local public school, or not be allowed to run for a club before, during, or after their HS season? Can someone on the more restrictive side of the argument distill this down to a problem statement(s) so we can take on the issues one at a time? Salnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-50820317397497764222015-10-09T10:22:13.378-07:002015-10-09T10:22:13.378-07:00Every situation is different. I know kids that get...Every situation is different. I know kids that get private instruction because their HS program only offers the bare minimum. ie inexperienced volunteer teacher/coach with not real expertise in distance running.<br /><br />I know private coaches that are hands-off the kids while they run for the school and help them between seasons when the HS coaches can't train them.<br /><br />I know kids that were happy with a club program & coach and while others didn't gel and moved on to other clubs or sports.<br /><br />I repeat that the clubs aren't exclusive. Look at the results. There are kids at all ability levels. Private coaching or assistance isn't unique to running. I guarantee anyone here that had a kid in little league, spent hundreds of dollars for private batting or pitching lessons hoping their 10yr old would make the all star team. We did. How many of those kids are playing HS ball. Not many. If you're complaining on this site, I'm guessing they are runners not. Welcome.<br /><br />As for club coaches recruiting and suggesting that families move or spend thousands in tuition for a particular school? That sounds crazy to me. Suggesting is one thing. Actually doing it is completely different. Especially with Bay Area home prices and rents. The Central Valley could be a completely different story. I've seen a couple McFarland club kids over the years, now running for McFarland HS. I don't know what the high school choices are. Based purely on the movie, it doesn't look like McFarland had a strong football program. Maybe kids with that gift go to a different school in the area. There may be a site where the McFarland parents complain about the other school getting all of the football players. I don't know.<br /><br />I can't imagine a family uprooting themselves for the sake of a teen that may change their mind at any time. Mom, I think I really like water polo more. It's just foolish.<br /><br />As for private schools, I believe the parents are looking at the complete offering in terms of academics, college preparation, as well as athletics. I'm familiar with some of the clubs and school programs that have been bantered about on this site. I've seen that most of the kids are running for their public school.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-29723716126806425512015-10-09T06:18:07.704-07:002015-10-09T06:18:07.704-07:00Once again, in my opinion. Just because you are a ...Once again, in my opinion. Just because you are a nice person who knows how to train kids doesn't necessarily make you a great coach who is advancing the sport. I loved the part in McFarland where the coach drove around the whole San Jaquin Valley seeking out the top track club coaches. Eagerly gaining each of their approval so now he could receive all top Jr. High talent that were willing to move to McFarland as long as he trained them the way the club coaches and parents expect, or was willing to look the other way, and just let the kids show up to race. These coaches are advancing 5 kids who can pay enough an hour to train them like they were in college. This is not something that is a reality for 99% of the kids who try to compete on this level. It's not just a wanting it more kind of thing. Maybe for the parents it is. I understand why top coaches only want to coach certain kids, but I don't think it's advancing the sport, and it's not that hard on this level. Especially for people who have trained and raced at a D1 level or better.. <br />Clubs are having kids move to certain schools. We all know it's going on. The teams that repeatedly have incredible incoming talent aren't just growing these kids on trees. Let's not mistake willing to work with kids H.S. coach with willing to recommend you move to select schools where coaches either let you do whatever you want, or are approved by club coaches. The devide is growing, and it's not advancing the sport. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-62923799630652921332015-10-09T00:31:57.355-07:002015-10-09T00:31:57.355-07:00Great post by anonymous 7:07PM about clubs. No pr...Great post by anonymous 7:07PM about clubs. No problem with them as long as the club coaches are willing to work with their kids' HS coaches. They are the ones who wants to make the sport better for the actual kids. However, it's club coaches who try to take kids away from their HS programs with false promises of making them a lot better that makes people not like them, and I don't blame those people. There are a few really good club coaches around and if you are looking for one, just ask the successful kids in the sport since those coaches usually doesn't shamefully recruit kids to join their clubs. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-46645879663879505732015-10-09T00:24:00.381-07:002015-10-09T00:24:00.381-07:00I really enjoy the comments here and it's heal...I really enjoy the comments here and it's healthy for people to give opinions here…however, in regards to Bowen, yes, kids are remembered by their November performances for XC and June performances for Track, that's when IT COUNTS - THE BIG SHOW!!! So let's look back at how Bowen did at State XC in Nov. uhhh…1st in D5 but her time was 68th overall that DAY!!! In the State Track Trials, she barely squeaked in the FINALS and finished 11th overall in the 1600M Finals in June! Again, what is your basis of having her in your top 10 list based on her performances in those 2 BIG RACES?!?!?! A clear bias here. But don't get me wrong, she's very talented indeed but not so deserving of such biases while others are actually performing a lot better than she is. And by the way, how does the author here know about her coach's light racing in the beginning of the season, I thought the author here coached for Crystal Springs Uplands School, and not Sonoma Academy…thus again the bias here. Anyways, we will just see what happens to Bowen…I hope her career takes off year after year, but so far, it doesn't seem that way as she was really not looking good at Lowell when we saw her race and get beat by Leung and it would've been even worse if the course was longer…Other than Bowen, the other selections are very accurate indeed so I have to give the author lots of credits for those. Ok, I'm done here wasted 10 mins of my time. Good luck to all and enjoy Clovis Invite…it's going to be a great race indeed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-14816801173222489002015-10-08T23:07:39.721-07:002015-10-08T23:07:39.721-07:00Mark my words, by the end of her high school caree...Mark my words, by the end of her high school career Rylee Bowen will be one of the best to have come though NCS in a long time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-54936118162836710222015-10-08T21:19:31.593-07:002015-10-08T21:19:31.593-07:00I honestly don't know how things are handled i...I honestly don't know how things are handled in the Bay Area, but this is a foreign concept to me in the Sacramento area. Which teams would you consider a super team? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-8009462988912955892015-10-08T19:55:05.018-07:002015-10-08T19:55:05.018-07:00The copetative imbalance created by the kids who c...The copetative imbalance created by the kids who can afford to pay former pro runners to train them year and the clubs that are now forming super teams by advising kids to move to certain schools is not advancing the sport. At least not on the H.S. Level.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-77043395978932075062015-10-08T19:44:10.997-07:002015-10-08T19:44:10.997-07:00Per CIF rule she cannot compete in a uniform repre...Per CIF rule she cannot compete in a uniform representing a club in a high school race. This can lead to ineligibility for the rest of the season (SI swimmers a few seasons ago). I am assuming she ran a separate club race? Running for a club in CIF is bad. Very bad. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-66087415553011270542015-10-08T19:07:08.732-07:002015-10-08T19:07:08.732-07:00Why all the club bashing? Running clubs are availa...Why all the club bashing? Running clubs are available everywhere in Northern California. No secret handshakes are necessary.<br /><br />There are kids running at these meets as young as 8 at age appropriate distances.<br />Slaney, Teare, and Rocha have been club runners for years, and all I hear is praise for these BEASTS. And they deserve it too for their hard work and dedication.<br /><br />These clubs aren't exclusive. They cost far less than what parents pay for club soccer, volleyball, travel baseball, swimming, gymnastics. <br /><br />Many runners that don't make it past league, section meet continue on to the local usatf or aau meets for regional and national competitions. There were THOUSANDS of young runners at Nationals last year.<br /><br />You can see last year's results and this year's schedule too. Regionals is at Clovis the day after the state meet for Pete's sake. Run for a club or run unattached for $20. <br />http://www.pausatf.org/youth/<br />http://www.pausatf.org/joinrenew-now/clubs/clubs/<br /><br />Rocha ran in the state meet and won USATF Nationals last year with Teare right behind him. <br /><br />Nothing pleases me more than seeing my son laughing with or cheering on someone he met years ago as part of his club experience that now runs for another school today.<br /><br />Please get a grip and support these athletes or coaches that are trying to advance the sport.<br /><br />This isn't meant to be a plug for any particular organization. I'm just lifting the veil of secrecy and exposing the double standards some of these poster exhibit. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-69985029523941461722015-10-08T18:49:52.626-07:002015-10-08T18:49:52.626-07:00I am pretty positive that this is a coaching decis...I am pretty positive that this is a coaching decision.Albert Caruanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14434646351717864405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-58717253137487271412015-10-08T18:46:03.022-07:002015-10-08T18:46:03.022-07:00Sorry dude, I was working via a mobile devise must...Sorry dude, I was working via a mobile devise must have autocorrected name-- Bowen. Bowen is a talented runner, don't get me wrong. It is her attitude in which she presents herself. If she is running for her school, she should be in her school uniform--period.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31292861.post-4945716768442721772015-10-08T18:25:42.552-07:002015-10-08T18:25:42.552-07:00Let's remember that we are talking about high ...Let's remember that we are talking about high school kids here. I am very positive that the adults in charge of these young athletes have their best interest in mind and are following a plan to have these athletes perform their best in November. What happens before November is important but you are remembered for how well you perform in those bigger races at the end of the season.Albert Caruanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14434646351717864405noreply@blogger.com