dkap, on , said:

Again, those were rough estimates. Split 1->2 HAS to be identical in distance to split 3->4, because there are only two split pads and they don't move during the race (and the course only deviates at the start and finish).

If the pads are evenly spaced out, then it would be 775-1850-2925-4000. But without knowing the EXACT location of the Split 1/3 pad, you can't say for sure - so the first split is somewhere between 750-800m, and the third split is a little short of 3k, and the distance of split 1->2 and split 3->4 is identical. And that is all we can really say.

Either way, it doesn't really matter - this is cross country, not track.

Excellent work! I'm pretty much convinced by all those numbers except for the first split. It just doesn't pass the eye test that adjusting it for being 200-250m short makes it nearly identical in pace to the latter stages of the race.

Dan

dkap, on , said:

Maybe. But I'd bet on inexact placing of the mats taking the splits.

Between the "1k" split and "2k" split (and "3k"/4k) is the man made hills AND the first set of hay bales.
Between "2k" and "3k" and 4k/Finish is (mostly gradually) rolling ups and downs mostly on the far corner, plus the second set of hay bales.

I don't think the course is symmetrical enough that there is exactly 2k between each of the times the runners hit the pads (Split 1 -> Split 3, Split 2 -> Split 4). Split 4 is the only one I'd be very certain is at/very near the km mark. 3k isn't too far off (the pad is a little before the path into the infield, and the 3k mark is just after). Wherever that leaves the first and second splits in actual distance, I don't know... but my best guess is Split 1 ~ 750-800m, and Split 2 ~ 1800-1850m (and Split 3, a little shy of 3k, is ~2900-2950m - probably closer to 2950m)

Which would mean the gaps between the splits would be...

Start -> Split 1 = ~750-800m
Split 1 -> Split 2 = ~1000-1100m
Split 2 -> Split 3 = ~1100m
Split 3 -> Split 4 = ~1050-1100m

Leaving only the first split as being an odd distance (and the Split 4 -> Finish a little shorter than the middle three splits, but the only one that's actually 1k).


As for what that means regarding their pace throughout the race...

If we call Split 1 @ 750m, Split 2 @ 1850m, Split 3 @ 2950m, Split 4 at 4000m, and Split 5 at 5000m (obviously),

Runner: Split 1 pace, Split 2 pace, Split 3 pace, Split 4 pace, Split 5 pace

Efraimson: 3:23.87/km, 3:22.36/km, 3:22.36/km, 3:28.76/km, 3:12.80/km
Cranny: 3:23.87/km, 3:22.55/km, 3:22.27/km, 3:28.10/km, 3:17.30/km
Baxter: 3:23.87/km, 3:22.55/km, 3:22.00/km, 3:28.10/km, 3:21.40/km

The only split that seems off there is the fourth, but I'm pretty sure that's due to the runners "settling in" more than anything else - because in order to balance it out, it would mean the 4k split is actually closer to 4030m, and that would suggest that the "kick" wasn't really a kick but everyone else slowing down by quite a bit.

watchout, on , said:

Okay, that changes things. Still, it looked like they took it out crazy fast and held pretty even the rest of the way, and the splits don't reflect much of a change after the first kilo. I have a hard time believing there's a 200m discrepancy there... Maybe 50-100m, but perhaps the relative difficulty of different portions of the course covers up distance variations.

Dan

The fourth split is the only one at an accurate distance, as far as I know - they use 2 pads for the splits, one is at ~800m and possibly a little short of 3k (though it should be close, I think it is 50-100m off), the other at 4k which is a little short of 2k (maybe 1800m? 1850m?).

That's why it's probably better to just say "Split 1/2/3" rather than put an exact distance to it.

Extremely entertaining races on both sides. Thanks to DyeStat, I even felt like I was familiar enough with the top teams and individuals this year to finally make sense of the team naming requirements as the races unfolded.

I must be in the minority, because it never looked to me like Efraimson lost contact. If I were to have made a prediction before the race, it would have been a 2-parted hedging of my bets: 1) too close to call between Baxter and Efraimson, with Cranny ever so slightly less likely to take the win (I've seen Efraimson and Cranny race on the track and figure Efraimson's fitness has caught up enough to where her much better kick will easily be the deciding factor at this point), and 2) Baxter/Cranny needed a much bigger lead than that to hold off Efraimson.

What I couldn't tell is whether Efraimson dropped back repeatedly, or if the other two kept surging and she just stayed steady.

Are the race splits accurate 1k marks? More specifically, is the first split actually 1k?

http://www.rtspt.com...3/Girls_Spl.htm
http://www.rtspt.com...13/Boys_Spl.htm

If so, my eyes weren't deceiving me that both races took it out WAY too fast. Did people forget that the course was in good shape this year and there was room to pass?? The boys slowed down 60-65 seconds on the 2nd 1000m, while the girls slowed down a pretty astonishing 80 seconds. If correct, I think that explains why Baxter didn't win ... you have to attack kickers in the middle of the race. A fast start and then pushing to merely hold on plays right into their hands, letting them sit back and size everything up. (Instead, attack in the middle of the race where they least want to press and compromise their ability to kick.) The announcers were surprised that the girls' times weren't faster. Slow-ish times are exactly what you would expect from a race set up for the kickers.

The swing between Wayzata and F-M's 5th kilo splits is pretty impressive.

Dan

Remember this photo from earlier in the year?



and then today....

They're coming.

I can tell you that it was pretty amazing. It looked liked Cranny and Baxter had dropped Efraimson and she just came roaring back and blew by so fast neither one of them could respond.

It was good stuff. We have lots of material that will be going up over the next few hours.

Can't wait for for race videos to be posted. Was unable to watch the girls race, and it looks like it was exciting.

GREAT day for WA running: Boys team championship and BOTH individual championships!!!