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Post by chileduck on May 5, 2023 2:26:03 GMT -8
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Post by mallardg on May 5, 2023 7:57:56 GMT -8
With Archie Noakes flipping his Wisconsin commitment to Oregon, the incoming class is even more incredible. On top of that Reinhardt, Palfrey, and many other freshmen and sophomores redshirting, the Ducks' men's program will once again be a distance powerhouse sooner, rather than later. Coach Shumacher and coach Solinsky are selling the program in a big way. Could the '23 Cross Country team actually be a major player on the national stage?
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Post by allducksalways on May 5, 2023 9:17:10 GMT -8
With Archie Noakes flipping his Wisconsin commitment to Oregon, the incoming class is even more incredible. On top of that Reinhardt, Palfrey, and many other freshmen and sophomores redshirting, the Ducks' men's program will once again be a distance powerhouse sooner, rather than later. Coach Shumacher and coach Solinsky are selling the program in a big way. Could the '23 Cross Country team actually be a major player on the national stage? Because the men run a 10k at nationals I don’t think they can be a player until they land some more established 10k runners through the portal. This genius can get there but expecting all the freshmen and redshirt freshman to make an immediate impact is a bit of a stretch. But there’s still time for more transfers and grad transfers.
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Post by NateB on May 5, 2023 10:31:53 GMT -8
Another huge pickup by the Ducks. Don't forget about Isaiah Steury who isn't part of the freshman recruiting class but is still part of the the recruiting class as a whole who should also make a significant impact for the team. Being a major player on the national scene for the Men in XC is always a hard balance. Schools like NAU, BYU, OSU, Colorado, and Stanford come to mind. They have good 5k/10k runners which is what it takes for the men's XC national podium type teams. But those same teams aren't the ones who are national players on the track which on the men's side tend to go towards the sprints/jumps/field event powerhouses or teams that have really good middle distance mixed in with other events areas like Oregon has done with their Men's NCAA championship squads. If Schumacher can get the milers/800s runners firing on all cylinders in the next year or two and Coach Taylor can keep the short sprinters healthy, the track is where they will be the most lethal.
Without multiple low stick 5k/10k types transferring into the program I can only see a case for the men being a Top 10-15 team next year in XC and maybe Top 7-10 team in two years. I do see Larry Josh Edwards and Isaiah Steury being very good 5k/10k runners before their Duck Careers are over and Maybe Noakes could be behind them, but out of the current roster and recruits I don't know if their is enough heavy hitter 5k/10k talent on the team to be a podium team in XC.
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Post by arizonaduck on May 5, 2023 11:18:54 GMT -8
Another huge pickup by the Ducks. Don't forget about Isaiah Steury who isn't part of the freshman recruiting class but is still part of the the recruiting class as a whole who should also make a significant impact for the team. Being a major player on the national scene for the Men in XC is always a hard balance. Schools like NAU, BYU, OSU, Colorado, and Stanford come to mind. They have good 5k/10k runners which is what it takes for the men's XC national podium type teams. But those same teams aren't the ones who are national players on the track which on the men's side tend to go towards the sprints/jumps/field event powerhouses or teams that have really good middle distance mixed in with other events areas like Oregon has done with their Men's NCAA championship squads. If Schumacher can get the milers/800s runners firing on all cylinders in the next year or two and Coach Taylor can keep the short sprinters healthy, the track is where they will be the most lethal. Without multiple low stick 5k/10k types transferring into the program I can only see a case for the men being a Top 10-15 team next year in XC and maybe Top 7-10 team in two years. I do see Larry Josh Edwards and Isaiah Steury being very good 5k/10k runners before their Duck Careers are over and Maybe Noakes could be behind them, but out of the current roster and recruits I don't know if their is enough heavy hitter 5k/10k talent on the team to be a podium team in XC. Within scholarship limitations, it seems we are loading up on distance runners. If this is true, then Coach Taylor will get discouraged and find greener pastures to match his skills. What a shame that would be!!
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Post by NateB on May 5, 2023 11:49:24 GMT -8
Another huge pickup by the Ducks. Don't forget about Isaiah Steury who isn't part of the freshman recruiting class but is still part of the the recruiting class as a whole who should also make a significant impact for the team. Being a major player on the national scene for the Men in XC is always a hard balance. Schools like NAU, BYU, OSU, Colorado, and Stanford come to mind. They have good 5k/10k runners which is what it takes for the men's XC national podium type teams. But those same teams aren't the ones who are national players on the track which on the men's side tend to go towards the sprints/jumps/field event powerhouses or teams that have really good middle distance mixed in with other events areas like Oregon has done with their Men's NCAA championship squads. If Schumacher can get the milers/800s runners firing on all cylinders in the next year or two and Coach Taylor can keep the short sprinters healthy, the track is where they will be the most lethal. Without multiple low stick 5k/10k types transferring into the program I can only see a case for the men being a Top 10-15 team next year in XC and maybe Top 7-10 team in two years. I do see Larry Josh Edwards and Isaiah Steury being very good 5k/10k runners before their Duck Careers are over and Maybe Noakes could be behind them, but out of the current roster and recruits I don't know if their is enough heavy hitter 5k/10k talent on the team to be a podium team in XC. Within scholarship limitations, it seems we are loading up on distance runners. If this is true, then Coach Taylor will get discouraged and find greener pastures to match his skills. What a shame that would be!! I don't think that is necessarily true. Coach Taylor ever had a large contingent of male sprinters before the head coaching change. Also I think that if Coach Taylor wanted to go to greener pastures the prime opportunity would have been this past summer where I am sure many schools that had more sprint money available were going after him. I don't know another men's program who has a great sprints program that also is a middle distance and XC "powerhouse" program. Oregon is probably one of few schools that has had multiple men scoring in 60-200 at Nationals as well as having top men in the 800/mile/3k/5k/10k/XC. It is very hard to do that with limited scholarships.
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Post by allducksalways on May 5, 2023 13:33:00 GMT -8
I look at some of these other schools that don’t have as many resources but still have a large contingent of sprinters. I wouldn’t be surprised if we turn away a lot of walk-on sprinters that then go other places. It actually frustrates me a little because who wouldn’t want to walk-on at Oregon? We could easily field a 4x400m men’s squad but I think we choose not to.
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Post by chileduck on May 5, 2023 14:42:26 GMT -8
I agree with NateB. Curtis Taylor could have left long ago but if you listen to his recent interview, I think he is truly connected to the Oregon community. He says his best memory of being here for a decade are "...meeting people and making friends in town". He appreciates the business people and the lifelong friends he has made here. He talks about being here for the next decade and being at the championship level. He talks about the tradition, Nike support and the championship level is what make Oregon special. He recognizes the challenge of the Oregon weather especially for his area of sprints and hurdles and so he focuses on recruits that really want to be at Oregon, and appreciates the new indoor facility that overcomes some of these challenges. He clearly indicates he is here for the next decade.
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Post by ducktafnut on May 5, 2023 16:01:31 GMT -8
Although a lot could change by next year, we could potentially have 6 sub-9:00 steeplers (and possibly sub 8:50 after Pac-12s) on the roster next year:
Benjamin Balazs Vincent Mestler Giuliano Scasso Alex Slenning Sergio del Barrio Archie Noakes
Of course, scholarships and primary events may shift causing a reduction in steeplers, but being a steeplechase "powerhouse" would be fun to watch.
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Post by NateB on May 5, 2023 20:19:29 GMT -8
I will have the pleasure of seeing Alana Reid, Nykoles Harbor, some High School National Record holder sprinters and a few other Jamaica U20 athletes compete in my hometown in Maryland tomorrow at the Puma East Coast International Showcase. This is probably the biggest High School Invitational that has ever been in this area. Weather should be sunny and in the low 70s so could be some decent times produced. Alana has been on the east coast for almost two weeks after competing at the Penn Relays last weekend where her High School won both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. She was leadoff lead for on the 4x100.
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Post by chileduck on May 6, 2023 11:02:24 GMT -8
There is an interesting podcast featuring two of our incoming distance freshman and if you have time it's worth the listen. The Call Room with Connor Burns & Simeon Birnbaum on Spotify https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cr4JcqxvoRe
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Post by chileduck on May 6, 2023 11:47:16 GMT -8
I will have the pleasure of seeing Alana Reid, Nykoles Harbor, some High School National Record holder sprinters and a few other Jamaica U20 athletes compete in my hometown in Maryland tomorrow at the Puma East Coast International Showcase. This is probably the biggest High School Invitational that has ever been in this area. Weather should be sunny and in the low 70s so could be some decent times produced. Alana has been on the east coast for almost two weeks after competing at the Penn Relays last weekend where her High School won both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. She was leadoff lead for on the 4x100. Nate got to see a good one! WOW! Go Ducks.
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Post by arizonaduck on May 6, 2023 13:26:00 GMT -8
I will have the pleasure of seeing Alana Reid, Nykoles Harbor, some High School National Record holder sprinters and a few other Jamaica U20 athletes compete in my hometown in Maryland tomorrow at the Puma East Coast International Showcase. This is probably the biggest High School Invitational that has ever been in this area. Weather should be sunny and in the low 70s so could be some decent times produced. Alana has been on the east coast for almost two weeks after competing at the Penn Relays last weekend where her High School won both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. She was leadoff lead for on the 4x100. Nate got to see a good one! WOW! Go Ducks. Many more like that this summer, and she might just turn pro, rather than enroll in college.
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Post by NateB on May 6, 2023 16:05:22 GMT -8
Just got back from the meet. It's been forever since I been to a high school meet. Glad I got the opportunity to see some of the top runners compete without having to travel far. I so hope Alana doesn't go pro and makes her way to Eugene. There is so much technical improvements that can be made by Coach Taylor. She is still very raw (long arms and stride, hips somewhat down) and definitely has more left in the tank.
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Post by allducksalways on May 6, 2023 16:06:02 GMT -8
Speaking of turning pro instead of going to college, does anyone else remember Chloe Cunliffe who is Hannah’s younger sister? She was a talented high school pole vaulter who I believe committed to WSU but decided to go pro instead. She competed unattached (no sponsor) this weekend to win the Twilight but only vaulted 13-5. It doesn’t always work to go that route but I will say it’s up to each person to make that decision and not me. I hope coach Taylor has some backup plans in case Reid does go pro.
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