Below is an excerpt from the Lap Count newsletter, posted with permission. Kyle Merber’s Lap Count newsletter both entertains and enlightens fans about athletes and happenings in our sport.
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From the Lap Count Newsletter
Shoutout to the city of San Francisco’s parks and recreation department for forcing USATF’s hand into doing something I’ve always expected would lead to more complaints: running cross country races fully on a track, over distances way shorter than advertised.
At the Club Cross Country Championships this past Saturday in Golden Gate Park, the first event of the day – the 60+ masters race – went off without a hitch, and with Brit-approved cross country conditions: rainy, windy, muddy, cheeky.
But during the lull before the 40-59 men’s masters race, an enormous tree located just behind the starting line was felled by borderline gale-force winds. After a lengthy delay, city workers closed the course, and meet organizers moved all remaining races to the tree-less confines of the roughly 1200m polo field track.
I’d like to commend the hosting committee for its consideration of the safety of the athletes and spectators, and for rushing to action to ensure the final three races of the day could still take place despite a difficult set of circumstances.
[Stephen A. Smith voice] HOWEVER, [/Stephen A. Smith voice]
I’d also like to acknowledge how funny it was that what was billed as a 6k or 10k cross country race wound up being loops of a half-paved, half-packed-gravel oval for ~3.4 or ~5.9 miles.
While I’m sure many competitors were disappointed by the sudden change in terrain and distance, as a fan it provided for an unmatched spectating experience, and as an editor for a running newsletter, it allowed me to draw some much more direct conclusions from the races’ outcomes.
Women’s Race
Relatively new BAA member Bethany Hasz took the win over a solid field that notably included Annie Rodenfels, who just ran 15:08 indoors. Now ordinarily, I would be quick to point out that success in cross country doesn’t always translate to success on the track. But in this case, cross country basically was track, and Hasz took down an athlete that’s actively knocking on the door of a sub-15-minute 5000m. You do the math!
Men’s Race
In the men’s race, Cole Hocker toyed with the field for about 5.5 miles before launching into a recognizable, track-like kick. That uniform may also be vaguely familiar, as the Eugene-based training group coached by Ben Thomas has now taken up the banner of the Oregon Track Club. This is not the return of the Nike-backed OTC Elite – though Hocker will of course continue to represent his sponsor. The rest of the team wore a brandless kit that is for sale via New Gen T&F and will go towards supporting its athletes.
The last time Hocker raced cross country was at NCAAs, where he finished 69th, a humorous place, but also one he’d definitely like to avenge. In all likelihood, he still would have won had this race been run on its original course. But given the venue, any statement about cross country and Hocker’s place in it rang hollow.
Team Title
Hansons-Brooks took both the men’s and women’s team titles, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. The team makes this race a major part of its racing calendar annually – which is something I wish way more pro-level clubs would do.
If you’re the coach or manager of a professional group, consider this year’s race an open invitation to come out for club cross next year. You never know, it might wind up being an off-distance track meet anyway.
And to all of the sub-elites on the fence about spending your own money to travel to this race in the future… just ask the hundreds of runners out there how much they’re enjoying their new “6k” or “10k” PBs!
