In our newest feature, MileStat answers your questions! Check out what questions we answer this week and who asked them.
Photo by: John Herzog
Our newest feature seeks to answer and talk about exaclty what you want to hear about. We had numerous questions sent to us and of those we chose these to answer. If you are interested in having your questions answered then just shoot us an email at njez@milesplit.com for a chance to be featured next week!
MileStat, What was the biggest upset or surprise of the Va State Championships in your opinion?
by: Ray Gillian
Ray, This is a great question and makes me be completely honest. So, in full disclosure, I will give you my honest answer and also the answer that most people likely relate to. I will start with what many people will agree with. I think Deep Run's Girls team was the biggest upset or moreso Tuscarora stepped up the most. You can look at it either way but Tuscarora was a big shock winning and winning by that much in the girls 5A race. I know Margot Brown hasn't quite gotten back into shape since mid-season, and she is still young, but I really think that a lot of people did not see Tuscarora stepping up as big as they did. I think you could also say West Springfield stepping up big time in the boys 6A race could be seen as an upset. Technically though, and with all upsets, it is more about stepping up then upsetting someone. Both of these teams really stepped up and performed higher then I personally thought they could.
My answer though for who I thought the biggest upset was is Libby Davidson beating Weini Kelati. Not only beating her but beating her handedly. I am a big believer in both of these girls but cannot get over the fact that Weini has run 9:12 in the 3000. I do not think a lot of people recognize how good that time is. It is almost like a 45.00 second 400m runner losing a 500 to someone, it just does not happen. I am not discrediting Libby at all, her and her coaches know I think she is the real deal and a once in a generation athlete, but Weini may very well be the best high school 3000m runner all-time including Mary Cain. I know she is 17 and all but it does not matter what age you are (as long as you are legal) when you step on the line. I really thought with out the hills that Weini would come out ahead but alas Libby keeps showing us that she has another gear and is not to be taken litely.
Maybe since I am used to Libby and saw her as a super freshman and am already used to her excellence that I am not as star struck as I am with Weini but who knows. I think both are very rare talents. Libby very well may be one of the best runners in the entire nation but it is hard to get used to that idea when you have seen them for a year or so compared to one of the best runners in the nation just landing in your state. But you wanted my honest answer and there it is.
MileStat, What are the requirements to become all-state in cross country, indoor, and outdoor track?
by: Addison Roeschley
Addison, Last year things were a little different. Last year the top 15, like it was in the past, received all-state honors and awards. This year however only the top seven in each classification. Which is quite odd since they still give out awards to the top 15. In track though it will be the top 4 in each event across the board. This rule though is quite interesting... I personally want to know where in the world did they come up with this number. Was it just spliced in two since the classifications were doubled? Or is based on some secret algorithm? I think it could stem from both the fact that it is roughly half the individuals and also double the amount of events an athlete can compete in. Not really sure though to be completly honest on why they chose those numbers.
MileStat, What are the rules for how many meets an athlete can compete in?
by: Bob Graham
Bob, As you stated in your email, per VHSL rules an athlete may only compete in 10 contests not including Districts, Regionals, and States. You are correct, it clearly states that athletes may not compete in more then 10 regular season contests. Though this is true, I could not find (at least in the VHSL handbook) anywhere where it frowned upon outside competition... aka USATF sanctioned events. I tihnk also one can safely say the NFHS really would be any problem too since they are much more macro then anything else. But let's be clear. You cannot compete as a school registered "team" in anything but VHSL or NFHS sanctioned events. But we all know New Balance Nationals is USATF and thus open game as long as you do it under the guise of a "club team". So I really do not think you will stir the pot too hard and I hardly think there is any reprocussions for competing as a club team. Let's use this as an example:
Coach John Smith coaches at Matoaca High School (extremely nerdy joke there) and has a couple star athletes. He wants them to compete in a few extra meets but they are not sanctioned by the VHSL. He can then in turn name himself the head coach of "Matoaca Track Club" and enter them as USATF athletes in the meet. You have to be careful though because if you compete against college or professional athletes then you forfiet your elgibility. So you have to be careful about this and not tell your AD because they will no doubt ax any idea of competition outside of the sacred VHSL.
Loudoun County on the other hand just does not have indoor track so they have to find it elsewhere in more enlightended corners of the region that have state associations centered around inclusion. Not to say the VHSL is not, they just have some interesting rules regarding participation in a sport that some localities do not allow. If it is not obvious, let's just put it out there that it is a shame Andrew Hunter and Weini Kelati cannot run in indoor track.
The competing in Virginia part is due to the fact that the VHSL does not allow club teams to compete in VHSL sports... This is the problem the Patriot Pacers face every season. They have one of the best cross country teams in the entire state but cannot face off with any of them because of this. Even if you are not associated with a school per se, you cannot compete against individuals who are. So the only way to compete against other in-state folk is to compete against them all as part of a club team or unattached in your own competition. Though in theory, and this is getting risky, you can have a separate event that is not VHSL sanctioned but that is USATF sanctioned and have them compete in that. If you want to know more feel free to shoot me a line.
MileStat, When will the standards for States, Regionals, and Conferences be posted?
by: Quinn Hogan
Quinn, Honestly, I am personally only going to make sure the States and regional ones are posted ASAP. What I mean by this is that I will do them myself and with a friend by hand... I know, we live exciting lives. Aside from that it will be up to the VHSL and regional/conference meet directors to input them for all the other onces since there are so many. It can take hours upon hours just to check and double check all the formulas to make sure they are correct and regionals and states are what matter the most.
MileStat, Why are there two "National Championships" in cross country instead of one? Also, what would it take to make just one and have a true "National Champion"?
by: Jason McAvoy
Jason, Ok, let me preface this with the fact that I went to graduate school for sports business and know way too much about this type of stuff. The simple and most correct answer is money. There are two national championships because the market dictates that. Both for profits and returns on objectives for both Foot Locker and Nike. It is funny though since Foot Locker has Nike shoes too... So let's take a stroll down the speculation road. I can most likely say that Nike is not trying to sell its shoes by hosting NXN. I think what they do is more geared towards team apparel: singlets, uniforms, and other gear. Also they love having hip and cool gear shown around the country for free... Just think of how genius the marketing is for New Balance who literally make athletes pay to be walking billboards (those snazzy back packs).
It is really just a game of advertisements and brand awareness. Not only do they get a lot of that but in turn they get money for hosting the events as well. To the best of my vetting, NXN is owned by Nike and not a 501C-3. Organizations generally like to host events as non-profits for the tax breaks they can receive. NSAF for example falls under that cloud pretty well... and no, I will not go there today discussing their balance sheets.
Foot Locker on the other hand is much older and was formerly known as the Kinney Cross Country Championships and goes back 30 years. I am sure somewhere in there this had a non-profit structure... which really means 100% for profits and less taxes. Regardless both of these events are centered around naming a national champion while also producing the most money possible both in the present and future.
What would it take? It would take one of these events to go under or a major sponsor to pull out. I seriously doubt either of those will happen for a while since they are such great events. The events are centered around different things and thus attract different crowds. NXN is much more gritty and team oriented while Foot Locker is about producing rediculously fast times and an individual national champion. I personally consider the Foot Locker national champion the national champion and the NXN team champion the team national champion. Maybe two works in this instance?
MileStat, Has there ever been a cross country state champion who also won a state title in a sprint event or jumping event (not including relays)?
by: Matt Wajsgras
Matt, I personally cannot think of any that have done that. Though in 2003 and in 2004 Sarah Bowman (now Sarah Bowman-Brown) almost did the impossible. I was shocked when people quickly voted her out of the MileStat Madness last year considering the fact that she set the national record in the 1000, won tons of state championships and also cross country championships but also nearly won a state title in the high jump. We really mean nearly! She lost the state title in the high jump in both 2003 and 2004 in outdoor track by a tie-breaker! Both years she lost because of tie-breakers and came up just short. Aside from her though, I cannot think of anyone who did both at such a high level.
MileStat, How do you make your post race interview so amazing?
by: Owen McCarty
Owen, We are elated to hear you love them! I will answer your question in two parts. Part one is just how to make a good interview and part two is the personal touch. First if you want a good interview you have to know your stuff. I learned early on that if you want to be taken seriously in media you have to do your homework and know everything going on and who everyone is. If you know this and open your eyes you can learn a lot. Also, you have to be aware of special storylines. Making an interview interesting or asking a "real" question instead of a "stock" question makes the interview exponentially better. My personal favorite interview was probably a random one I did with Carolyn Brown and Brandee' Johnson when they both were waiting for awards at NBON. It was great because I knew the storylines between them how they kept beating each other and also because of the personal touch.
That brings me to my second part. If you want to be a good interviewer or member of the press then you have to be a part of the community. I think Blacksburg, Deep Run, Western Branch, Loudoun Valley, E.C. Glass and other schools that I have been to understand this well. I will talk to athletes, coaches, parents, and whomever to not only learn more about them but to be approachable and a part of the community. If I can get athletes to not be nervous and talk to me like they would talk to anyone else then the interview is going to be awesome. I also think talking to an athlete before hand or wishing them luck or saying good job even if you are not interviewing them helps as well. I am just as much a part of this community as anyone else and try my hardest to be approachable 100% of the time. If you ever yell "hey MileStat guy" at a meet I will probably come over, say hi and tell you to call me Nolan. Doing things like that are to make me a part of the VA HS running community and to build rapport with athletes so that they feel more comfortable being interviewed.
MileStat, Roughly what times would you need for colleges to look at you in the 200, 400, and 800 (girls and guys)?
by: Runningforever
Runningforever, It depends on a multitude of factors. Colleges will usually either give you a number too high or too low, it all depends on what they are looking for. An SEC school for example may say something rediculously fast when in all reality you could be much slower and still make their team. Coaches are weird about that type of thing and honestly, it is like the NFL Draft, you may have this idea of what makes a great high school athlete transfer into a great college athlete but at the end of the day there are a lot of things that are simply not quanifiable by times.
All that being said there is another thing you have to adjust for. If we are talking about these times separate then there is a big difference from them being all together. What is meant by that is if a guy can run a 22 second 200 and a 1:55 800 then coaches are going to look at him much differently then if he has run 21 in the 200 and 2:05 in the 800. So aside from all those variables here are some relative times. These times are just my opinion and could be off by a little or a lot. But we are also talking about coaches noticing you and not just to make a team. These times are what you would likely need to catch their eyes.
Men's D1: 200 - 21.9, 400 - 47, 800 - 1:53
Men's D3: 200 - 23.4, 400 - 51.9, 800 - 1:56
Women's D1: 200 - 23.9, 400 - 54, 800 - 2:09
Women's D3: 200- 25.9, 400 - 58, 800 - 2:13
