Cross country fans, more so than any other sport's fans it seems, totally scoff at preseason rankings.  They're as worthless as a nickel in a dime fight.  One reason for this is because distance runners are simply more intelligent than your run of the mill, mouth breathing football or baseball fans (am I right, folks? Eh? Eh?).  Also, it's because a cross country race is the most fair and straightforward conclusion of all sports contests.  Once Josh McDougal beat Galen Rupp last year it was over.  No one from Oregon could say ANYTHING about it.  They couldn't argue that pass interference call in the endzone or a coach's decision to stay in the zone defense even though they are getting killed by the other team's shooting guard, the result was the result, fair and simple.

As simple as it is, cross country sometimes feels like an inside joke that only true fans, athletes, and coaches get.  One of the most common questions you get from non runners or even novice runners about the top cross country teams is "why don't they race more?"  "It's because you touch yourself at night" is what I usually say to get those stupid people away from me as quick as possible. 

The real reason is, obviously, because 8 and 10k races take a lot out of the legs and the runners need to be rested when they get to the national meet.  The goal is to qualify to NCAA's as easily as possible, which means you run Pre-Nat's (or another big meet), your conference championship (to appease the Athletic Director), and the regional meet (to qualify to nationals), with one or two other meets thrown in either as a rust buster or to pick up some team points if you need them going into regional.  It's a simple equation.

This weekend serves as one of those extra races to get points as well as to shake the rust off a bit and get used to racing against quality competition again.

With the track season finally over (or is it? I can never really tell), us insiders can all finally devote 100% of our distance running attention to college cross country.  And just in time as this weekend will be the first that counts toward earning points toward NCAA championship qualifying.  It is also the first time we get to see (close to) full squads from nationally ranked teams.  Without further ado, the weekend preview:

Biggest Meet of The Weekend


Iona Br. Doyle Meet of Champions
I will be at Van Cortland Park in the Bronx this Saturday morning, and this time it won't be because I wandered up there Friday night in a peyote-induced haze only to wake up in a pool of what I can only hope is my own mess.

Without a doubt, NYC is the place to be this weekend.  The Iona meet has the most nationally and regionally ranked teams in their field of any meet in the nation on Saturday, then Sunday there is an absolutely sick field this year for the NYRR Fifth Ave. Mile, and also, the New York Giants are playing my hometown Cincinnati Bengals (technically in New Jersey) which is where your humble narrator will be spending his self medicated Sunday afternoon (more on that later).

The latest national poll (which is largely bollocks, btw, pardon my British) has Iona ranked 4th.  Iona's new head coach, Ricardo Santos, will get a chance to prove he deserves what some might call a "generous" ranking.  Iona's biggest challengers will be 8th ranked Michigan, 18th ranked Providence, Navy, Penn St. and those scrappy Golden Flashes of THE Kent St. University.

The race will serve as an early preview of the Northeast region championship between Iona and Providence as well as a chance for Michigan to make a statement to the oft-favored Wisconsin Badgers who might be in danger of breaking up their Big Ten Title streak.  It's about as important as a mid-September meet gets.

Underdog of the Weekend
Providence has played second fiddle to Iona for many of the past several years up in the Atlantic northeast and this is the year that is going to change.  The Friars will make a big statement in beating Iona on their home course and with Syracuse looming in the background, it might be a scramble for that third spot at NCAA's coming out of the NE region.

Overdog of the Weekend
It's a good bet that 5th ranked Alabama will win this weekend at their home meet " The Crimson Classic."  In the past few Meat Grinders I have been foolhardy enough to take some unnecessary pot shots at Alabama and their mysterious southern ways.  This didn't sit well with some of you.  Here is a portion of one email I received:

 I also know you are trying to be humorous with your articles, but putting down coaches is not the way to go.  I do not know if you have something against Joe Walker (the coach you fail to mention every time you talk about Alabama), or you just don't know much Southern teams, but Joe Walker's teams have dominated the South Region since 2000. He has coached a runner to 13:10, 6 national champs, won the Southern region 5 times, been top 10 in NCAA XC and the guy is only 36 years old. Oh and he ran 4:06 in the mile in college.  Last year he had an American freshman run 8:14 for 3k indoor, the kids pr in high school was only 9:19 for 3200.  He's taken 3 kids from Alabama who never broke 9:50 in the 2 mile and made them all Region.  So next time you mention Alabama you can say you know who their coach is.

So, there you go, Joe Walker is obviously a good coach, for the record I have nothing against him personally, just the south as a whole (proabably stemming from my fear of excessive sunshine and my trepidation near scantilly clad, very tan women), and, yes, I am trying to be humorous.  And isn't that the most offensive thing of all?  Please send more reader feedback to ben@trackshark.com and you could be published too!

Song to listen to before you race/train this weekend that will make you want to shotput a Volkswagon
Fall of Troy -- "Ex-Creations"
Fall of Troy is the absolute rawest, hardest performance I have seen in the past 5 years. At one point during their set, the lead singer/guitarist hawks a huge loogy, spits it in the air, catches it, then licks it off his hand, never missing a beat.  That is gross, but that is sweet.

Song that won't make you feel like throwing anything, but is still good.
Santogold -- "Lights Out"

Santogold is funky.  She's got some spunk, some style.  And, she has another sweet Converse web commercial thingy video with Pharrell.

Coach that has the most to prove this weekend
Without a doubt, Ricardo Santos has to prove that his Iona team is still national caliber after losing two key scorers from a team that lacked depth last year.  Showing that their 4th and 5th man are in good form would be huge this weekend.  Top 5 might be a bit lofty a ranking for this Iona team, but Santos has to show Providence and Syracuse that they are still legit and the door to the Northeast Regional Title is not as wide open as they might think.


Restaurant to stop at on your way home from your race
Ryan's Steak House

Ryan's is an oasis of all-you-can-eat slop that exists in just about every corner of this great nation.  After a long day of racing and sweating and calorie burning, the bright red R-Y-A-N-S lit up on the horizon makes my heart start beating rapidly in preparation for the pain and damage I will do to it by stuffing around 2 and half pounds of cheap steak and pork chops and another half pound of all you can eat soft serve with rainbow sprinkles.  Bon Jovi (thank you anonymous commenter) Belinda Carlisle put it best: "oohh, heaven is a place on earth" and that place is called Ryan's.

Runner who has the most to prove this weekend
Every team's 4th through 7th men.  Opening races are not about the top dogs, they are about the role players being able to show that they are in good form for the season.  It's in early meets like these that the 8th guy on last year's team can show that he has made the jump to being a contributor this year after a year of hard work.  It's inspiring really.

Football game of the weekend
LSU-Auburn.
One thing the south does right is make some delicious fried chicken and sweet tea.  The other thing they do well is college football.  It doesn't get much more southern than someone from Louisiana vs. someone from Alabama in anything (note: Georgia could also be substituted).  Also, as per the Dean at Auburn's wise instruction, please no booing.  Thanks.

How many beers I will have to drink before I think the Bengals have a chance of winning this weekend
5

Quote of the week
This is what I don't like to hear from a coach taking over a huge, state-school program.

First and foremost, the athletes can expect to see a big commitment from me to academic success. They must first understand that they are student-athletes and as such, must be accountable for their performance in the classroom.

--Mick Byrne currently of Wisconsin, formerly of Iona

Beer to enjoy responsibly (and only if you're over 21) at your post-race party
J.W. Dundee's Honey Brown Lager

An award winning, smooth, not too sweet, not too heavy lager that can be enjoyed by the sip or by the chug.  AND, at $8.99 for a 12-pack, it's cheap enough to justify use while playing flip cup.

Pickup Line to use at your post race party
Pick-Upper:  Was your father a meat burglar?
Pick-Uppee:  Um, no, he was an investment banker, I don't see what this has to do with...
Pick-Upper: 'Cause it looks like he must'a stole two fine Christmas hams and shoved 'em in your back pockets!

Over-the-Top Inspirational Pre Race Pep Talk Quote of the weekend

Live (Race) daringly, boldly, fearlessly. Taste the relish to be found in competition - in having put forth the best within you.
-- Henry J. Kaiser

MMMMMMmmmmmm, kaiser with relish.

That will do it for this week's Meat Grinder Weekend Preview.  I encourage you to add your $.02 in the comments or in a private note to my email that I will probably publish anonymously next week.

--ben@trackshark.com