Crunching some IC4A numbers

As I said in a previous post, I definitely have more of a records database stored for our men’s team. Here is some historical perspective and analysis of our IC4A history as a team, and our current VCP history on the “construction course,” and why the 2010 meet on balance was a strong effort top to bottom for the men.

Team history

Since our win in the University Division at this meet in 2000, here is what we have done each year since.

2001: 11th place, 391 points
2002: 12th place, 313 points (All-East, Kirk Dornton, 20th place, 25:50)
2003: 11th place, 263 points
2004: 5th in University Division with 145 points
2005: 2nd in University Division with 98 points
2006: 5th place, 161 points (All-East: David Raucci, 13th place, 25:32.9; Girma Segni, 15th place, 25:37.5)
2007: 8th place, 216 points (All-East: Girma Segni, 14th place, 25:36; David Raucci, 15th place, 25:38)
2008: 3rd place, 102 points (All-East: David Raucci, 2nd place, 25:13; Girma Segni, 16th place, 25:43; Tim Keegan, 22nd place, 25:49; Will Griffin, 25th place, 25:54)
2009: 6th place, 153 points (All-East: Matt Flint, 12th place, 25:48.5; Will Griffin, 23rd place, 26:07.7)

2010 Men’s team standings

1-Duke 44, 2-Duquesne 141, 3-Harvard and Central Connecticut 147, 5-Marist 162, 6-George Mason 189, 7-Columbia 190, 8-Albany 201, 9-William & Mary 209, 10-Syracuse 239, 11-Iona 273, 12-Princeton 318, 13-Delaware 340, 14-Boston College 344, 15-La Salle and Rider 346, 17-U Mass 446, 18-St. Joseph’s 489, 19-Boston University 551

Individual results analysis:

This year’s “construction course” was much better than last year. However, I will still consider it “more difficult” than the Original VCP course in this regard: The amount of flat terrain between the Back Hills and Cemetery Hill is significantly shorter than the original. That makes the back end of the course harder.

Having said that, the Championship Division race today was as deep and as fast as I can ever remember it! The conditions were pretty good; the strong winds that were forecast never materialized. It was chilly, but it was above average racing weather, in my opinion.

IC4As is an odd meet. It’s a week after Regionals, which for most is a tough and draining race. Some programs do not bring their “A game” squads. We usually choose to bring our best team. Once again, we were without the services of Adam Vess. Today, Vess’ absence was finally felt, as our gap from 4 man to 5 man was larger than we would have liked. Such is life, and this is how it is during a long cross country season.

Again, though, look at these numbers below, and you’ll see significant improvement for almost every member of the team. Listed here are today’s results again, with the previous VCP “construction course” personal-best times in parenthesis. In many cases, there is a startling improvement in performance, which is exactly what we are looking for (**indicates a (in most cases, significant) VCP construction PR)

7-Matt Flint 25:11.5 (25:48.5)**
14-Arquimedes DelaCruz 25:26.4 (27:00.2)**
26-Will Griffin 25:32.6 (26:07.7)**
34-Ken Walshak 25:47.8 (26:25.28)**
84-Tim Keegan 26:32.6 (26:26.2)
90-Pat Duggan 26:38.7 (26:57.98)**
98-Nick Webster 26:45.1 (26:47.22)**
114-Joel Moss 26:58.3 (27:37.75)**
124-Ryan Scrudato 27:08.9 (first time at VCP)
129-Mike Nicoletti 27:14.5 (27:38.04)**
148-Nick Hughes 27:49.4 (27:12.90). Note: Knee injury.

Coaches Association race

5-Brian Townsend 27:05.1 (28:46.0)**
7-Nick Salek 27:16.6 (28:31)**
8-Isaiah Miller 27:22.9 (28:01)**
12-Ryan Brown 27:30.9 (28:40.7)**
14-Kevin O’Sullivan 27:41.1 (first time at VCP)
15-Mike Keegan 27:42.4 (28:35)**
17-Billy Posch 27:44.1 (27:26.92). Note: Foot injury.
21-Ryan Fitzsimons 27:56.2 (29:54.2)**
22-Zak Smetana 28:04.7 (27:04.5)
28-Ben Windisch 28:16.0 (first time at VCP)
32-Pat Deedy 28:24.2 (28:13)
35-Will Schanz 28:31.3 (28:25)
37-Billy Hild 28:36.9 (30:18)**
44-Doug Ainscow 28:48.3 (28:48)
49-Brendan Green 29:55.8 (30:53.4)**