1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,880 Good morning and welcome to Tallahassee. 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:06,400 Chris Chavez here with Aisha Proutley and Eric Jenkins. 3 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:09,440 Coming to you live from the 2026 World Cross Country 4 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,840 Championships for our city, Smack Live at World's Pre show 5 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:15,880 presented by a six. They've got us in this awesome 6 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:19,240 space that is literally basically right on the course, 7 00:00:19,240 --> 00:00:21,360 right on the course. And in addition to that, the 8 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:23,920 press conference is about to start about 10 feet away from 9 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:25,600 us. So if at some point in this we 10 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:28,720 lower our voices a little bit, it's so that we're not 11 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:33,560 distracting from the traditional media over there asking 12 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:37,520 questions to President Sebco and they've got Paul Tergot in the 13 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:39,240 House, so. I was on this flight. 14 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:40,280 You were on his flight? Yeah. 15 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:44,800 Who else is on your flight? Paul Tergot, the whole South 16 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:48,280 Africa team, and honestly, that's about it. 17 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,200 Fine, yeah, good flight nonetheless. 18 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:52,520 Yeah, Eric, I guess we're here in Tallahassee. 19 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:55,760 This is a place that you used to come for winter training blocks, 20 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:56,360 right? Like. 21 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:57,880 Yeah, Yeah, I've done a few camps here. 22 00:00:58,400 --> 00:00:59,520 I love it. It's a great. 23 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,240 It's, I mean, at this time of the year, it's perfect weather, 24 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:06,160 right? It's like 70 sunny, great soft 25 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:10,160 services, really nice trails, as much fast food as you could 26 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:13,440 possibly desire. It's I always enjoyed enjoyed my 27 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:14,560 time here for training. Yeah. 28 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:17,520 But neither of you have ever raced on this cross country 29 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:19,200 course, right? Never raced on this cross 30 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,640 country course. Driving in, it's gorgeous. 31 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:23,600 There are all these beautiful trees. 32 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:27,320 There's a lake as we're entering and I can't wait to get out 33 00:01:27,320 --> 00:01:29,880 there tomorrow. Yeah, we're gonna do a little 34 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:31,920 bit of a course walkthrough after this. 35 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:35,920 Eric and I are gonna get our, our ASIC super blasts all dirty 36 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,040 while we're out out there trying to see the new additions that 37 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:40,960 they have. Cause they've tried to, you 38 00:01:40,960 --> 00:01:45,480 know, kind of pay homage to some of like the Florida coastline, 39 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:51,000 the Everglades, the theme parks are honored by like this hill 40 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:52,680 that they've built on the course. 41 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:55,520 This is already kind of a little bit of a challenging cross 42 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:58,720 country course before all of this, but now they're throwing 43 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:00,960 some extra challenges along the way. 44 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:04,520 It kind of gives it a little bit of a like a Spartan Race feel. 45 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:05,920 You guys have been talking about this on your. 46 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:07,640 Podcast, we have mentioned it once or twice. 47 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:11,560 Yeah yeah, we've seen the pictures of it, but I'm excited 48 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,680 to actually be here in person and see what the the obstacles 49 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,320 look like. It is like I used to said it's a 50 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:19,640 beautiful area. Of course it seems super nice. 51 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,440 If you can navigate the alligators and the and the man 52 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:26,800 made hill and the the Florida beaches it you should be able to 53 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:29,360 to run really well. I will say the photos, it was 54 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:33,240 looking a bit camp, but getting here, it looks awesome. 55 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,000 Like it, like it feels like we're actually at a world 56 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:37,440 championship. And Eric and I've been talking 57 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,600 about this like people are not excited enough for World 58 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:42,600 Championships. But getting here, getting to the 59 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:46,000 course, seeing all of the signage, everything looks, I 60 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,520 mean elite like we are, we are here with the best of the best. 61 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,400 And the course looks, I mean, we can only see a few 100 meters of 62 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:54,760 it. We can see the big hill, but it 63 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,280 looks really good. Yeah, the AI renderings didn't 64 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:00,200 really do it justice. Now that we kind of see them in 65 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:02,600 person, I'm like, OK, all right, this is going to be a little bit 66 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:05,400 challenging. And then I think the report from 67 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:07,840 David Monte yesterday at the from the walkthrough was that 68 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,000 they they found like poisonous snakes like on the course that 69 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:12,640 they had to like pull so. Did you put those there? 70 00:03:12,640 --> 00:03:15,040 Yeah. I got in early. 71 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:18,320 I I went, went right from the airport to drop a few poisonous 72 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:18,800 snakes. Wait. 73 00:03:19,920 --> 00:03:22,440 Well, Chris, we actually have to run this course in a couple 74 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:24,880 hours. How we poisonous snakes are we 75 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,800 talking about? They pulled 2 I think and it was 76 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,600 like by the alligator like little wood carving things that 77 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:33,200 they had so. OK. 78 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:36,680 I guess it's just another another obstacle for our Gawi 79 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:38,720 and Kiblima to deal with along the way. 80 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:41,080 All right. So that brings us sort of to 81 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:46,080 previewing the actual races that we have on tap and there are 82 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:50,040 some heavy hitters that have been that that are entered in 83 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,000 this one. So we're going to kind of go in 84 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:56,680 order of the events and how people can go about watching 85 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:58,600 them on race day. So first let's get hit you with 86 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:00,400 the basics is how to watch this thing. 87 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:04,840 So the races will be broadcast on Peacock starting at 9:35, 88 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:06,920 that's 10 minutes before the start of the mixed relay. 89 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:12,040 And then from there, ATV window does open up at 10 AM and we'll 90 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:15,760 go through 1:00 PM, so. On CNBC. 91 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:19,360 On CNBC. So that is how you can watch it 92 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:22,960 in the United States. So the order is mixed 4 by 2K 93 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,640 relay. Then you got the women's U26K 94 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:31,080 race, men's U28K race, women's senior 10K race, men's senior 95 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,760 10K race To follow. We have a full preview up on 96 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:37,960 cdsmag.com where we have links to the results, the start list, 97 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:41,920 the entries. But let's let's talk that mixed 98 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:46,400 relay, which is always a lot of fun 'cause you get the blend of 99 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:52,040 some milers, some 5K runners. And so traditionally the last 100 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:55,160 couple years Kenya has come out with the gold medal. 101 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,800 They've got a heavy header on their team with Reynolds 102 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:03,360 Chariot, the bronze medalist in the 1500 as part of that team. 103 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:08,840 So Kenya's probably like the favorite, but I'm thinking the 104 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,280 US might be a sneaky contender for medal in this one. 105 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:16,720 Ethan Strand, Gracie Morris, those were the US champs. 106 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:20,840 In addition to that, you got Wes Porter and Sage, her De Clecker. 107 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:24,880 Strong team. I think I issue your thoughts. 108 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,480 Yeah. So what's interesting is. 109 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:28,840 Whisper or whisper, because the press. 110 00:05:28,840 --> 00:05:30,840 Conference, press conference is going, yeah. 111 00:05:30,840 --> 00:05:35,320 So it's interesting because not every, there's not a single team 112 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,960 that put every big dog they have in the fight, right? 113 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:42,600 Like we've got the, we've got Team USA who has a great shot. 114 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:44,640 When when I'm looking at the other names of these teams, 115 00:05:44,840 --> 00:05:48,000 Australia is another is a, is a team that I think is maybe the 116 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,960 most full of studs. But I think the Team USA has a 117 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:53,960 great chance to come away with a medal. 118 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,760 Yeah. Yeah, I mean, Kenya's Kenya is 119 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,520 very dominant in this event. It's it whether they won three 120 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,440 of the last four, four of this event. 121 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,600 But so I think they will they will be tough to beat the like I 122 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,160 just mentioned that Australia team is stacked, yeah. 123 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:14,600 But America's I would, I would assume absolutely. 124 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:17,720 They've got a very good shot at making it, getting a medal and I 125 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:19,600 bet that's their goal. I think the best finish they've 126 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:23,920 had is fourth in 2019. So the US has never meddled in 127 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:27,040 the mixed relay. Australia did medal two years 128 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,040 ago when it they had in yeah, on their home soil. 129 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:33,160 So if there's a little bit of a home team edge, I think the 130 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:36,720 United States is looking for it. But a sleeper pick that Paul 131 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:41,240 Hoff Mahoney highlighted was Morocco's got like 4 NCAA stars 132 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:46,640 like like food Masaudi like yeah, so. 133 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,480 And plus, you're capitalizing on getting, you know, college 134 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:53,320 athletes who were super fit just two months ago running cross 135 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:56,360 country. So look out for Morocco as 136 00:06:56,360 --> 00:07:01,760 another sneaky contender there. Ethiopia always feels a strong 137 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:03,120 team. Now, the story with Ethiopia 138 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,520 coming into these championships is that their senior squads are 139 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:10,480 full, but it's their junior squads that got devastated by 140 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,960 like these visa issues. And it, they weren't the only 141 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:16,720 country, a couple other countries struggled with visa 142 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:19,880 issues to get athletes cleared to come to the championships. 143 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:25,120 I mean, the United States is, it's got it for sports. 144 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:27,320 At least you got to get your act together because we got a World 145 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:30,680 Cup, the Olympics, like all over the next couple years. 146 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:34,960 So I think that that's something that is unfortunate, I think for 147 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:38,840 a country like Ethiopia, which is so historically strong in the 148 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:41,040 junior ranks, to not have a full team here. 149 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:42,960 It was just the juniors from the Ethiopia. 150 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,440 Squad mostly, yeah. And I think it was it was even 151 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:48,000 up until the last second there was like a last ditch effort by 152 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:51,560 the athletes to go to the embassy and then they still got 153 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:56,480 rejected by like the to try and get a a visa. 154 00:07:56,480 --> 00:08:01,240 So super unfortunate, but they do have their senior team here 155 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:05,280 and we'll touch on them when we look at the, you know, the men's 156 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:09,080 and women's big races. But yeah, so the mixed relays. 157 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:11,120 Do we know in the mixed relays what the order is it? 158 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:15,080 Does it go man, woman, man, woman like What is How does do 159 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,560 we know yet how that goes? I do we got our what does eat is 160 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,080 Ethan Strand anchoring bringing home like or it. 161 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:21,920 Should right? It's. 162 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:22,760 Really, Morris? You know. 163 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:25,840 Yeah, I guess like it. I I guess I didn't write this 164 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:29,840 part of the preview David did, but I'm sure it's aligned like 165 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:34,039 just sort of like how they do at the Mix 4 by. 4 the mix, 4 by. 4 166 00:08:34,039 --> 00:08:36,840 where it's like, oh, you're not going to end up having sage 167 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:43,799 versus right Ollie whore. But yeah, so I think a bronze 168 00:08:43,799 --> 00:08:45,560 would be a great day for the United States. 169 00:08:45,560 --> 00:08:47,600 Huge day. It would be great to, you know, 170 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:51,520 kick off the day of, you know, world championship cross country 171 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:53,440 on American soil with a, with a medal, yeah. 172 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:57,720 I think what's also interesting too is we're here at a major 173 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:01,480 global cross country event and cross country is trying to make 174 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:03,080 its way into the Winter Olympics. 175 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:06,040 Like this is such a jumping off point for how great the sport 176 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:09,640 can be. And for the US to win a medal at 177 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:13,280 World Cross going into the hype of a future potential Olympic 178 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:16,360 bid is huge. Yeah, for you guys I guess. 179 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:20,880 What makes a 2K just such a fun key distance for this type of 180 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:25,120 relay? I mean, I've never done a 2K. 181 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:30,360 I've raced a 2K, I've raced a 2K professionally and I think it's 182 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:32,360 the perfect distance. But I mean on grass like on 183 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,360 grass like on grass. Yeah, so, but not on grass. 184 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:38,360 I've raced a 2K on the track and a 2K on the track is very fast. 185 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:41,920 It's 1500 meter, 1500m pace and add an extra lap like it is a 186 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:45,800 very, very fast pace. Now we have alligators to jump 187 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:48,480 over, we have water to run through mud saying like it's 188 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:50,000 going. Snakes we have new We have new 189 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:51,320 edition of Snakes which is great like. 190 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,920 It's going to be really hard to get in a rhythm, and the rhythm 191 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,120 that they're going to want to run is very, very fast. 192 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:00,840 So this is going to be intense. Honestly, if I was a Steepler, 193 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,360 this is where I would shine. Yeah, right, right. 194 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:04,880 Like you've got. Yeah. 195 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:08,160 You have all these things where you have to be be very good at 196 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:09,920 running fast with a bunch of stuff in your way. 197 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:13,880 So the athletes that are are, you know, sporty, resilient and 198 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:16,000 tough are the ones that are going to come away with the 199 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:18,280 metal. Yeah, I guess like the one thing 200 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:22,920 that we picked up on Intel wise from the course is that this 201 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:25,360 isn't this wasn't like advertised in any of like the 202 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:28,760 course renderings, but that the alligators get bigger as you go 203 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:30,560 along. And so by the last one like you 204 00:10:30,560 --> 00:10:35,760 actually do have to like pretty much hurdle over and of the the 205 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,320 athletes are required like there's no running around it 206 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:41,040 like they did at NCA course. There's going to be officials. 207 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:43,480 In those sections over. The alligators. 208 00:10:43,560 --> 00:10:45,680 You have to and they get and they and the alligators get 209 00:10:45,680 --> 00:10:46,800 progressively bigger. Yeah. 210 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:48,960 And the, and the athletes know that the alligators get 211 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:52,120 progressively bigger by the end. There's a bit, there's a they're 212 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:54,240 like. And the last alligator, Israel, 213 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:57,360 Give them the actual Florida experience. 214 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:00,920 Put a real alligator in there. I really try not to laugh 215 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:03,640 because. Put a real alligator in here for 216 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:04,920 Christ's sake. Actually, you know what? 217 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:11,040 That's what I'll do tonight. My, my day's got super busy. 218 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:15,840 I got to find a real alligator. All right, let's move over to 219 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:20,200 the the women's senior race now with this one. 220 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:22,800 Just picturing Eric like a wrestling and. 221 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:25,640 Alligator like, please, please come to the course. 222 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:29,080 We're trying to make this an Olympic sport. 223 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:36,240 All right, the story in the women's senior race is that 224 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:42,440 Beatrice Tribet isn't here decided to take 2026 to start a 225 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,280 family. So the two time defending champ 226 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:47,600 isn't back to defend her gold medal. 227 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:52,320 And just overall the I guess Eric and I were talking about 228 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:55,120 this in the car is just, it seemed like a little bit of like 229 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,720 the the upper echelon of 5K10K runners from the track aren't 230 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:02,000 necessarily here. Even Nadia Bataclidi, who's like 231 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:05,040 the silver medalist in the 5K10K. 232 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,640 She should be here. She Bataclidi should be here, 233 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:09,600 Yeah. Because, I mean, she just won 234 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:11,200 European Championships couple weeks ago. 235 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:13,560 And she's still and she's doing another cross country race after 236 00:12:13,560 --> 00:12:14,960 this. Yeah, she should be here. 237 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:17,320 She should absolutely be here. She had such a great. 238 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:18,960 Great job on the medal, but. Yeah. 239 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:22,800 Unfortunately, unfortunately. She's going to be trafficked 240 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:24,920 negator with Eric. Frankly, like I think that it's 241 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,200 a missed opportunity for a gold medal for her. 242 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:30,920 Absolutely. So she's not here. 243 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,240 Gudolph's a guy who meddled in the 10K, not here. 244 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:40,800 So Agnes and Getich has actually probably on paper the favorite. 245 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:46,360 I mean, a road 10K record holder, just a powerhouse on the 246 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:48,640 track for Kenya. So she's the low stick for 247 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:49,960 Kenya, right? Like that's where you're going 248 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:55,080 to get 1.2 points maybe in a worst case scenario. 249 00:12:56,600 --> 00:13:01,240 So from there, if we kind of look at like how wide open it 250 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:07,040 is, if we assess the Kenyan team, they have the Kenyan woman 251 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:11,520 who won the national championships for them is, I 252 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:13,960 want to get her name right, Maureen Chebor, who's 21 years 253 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:16,200 old, never represented Kenya internationally. 254 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:20,200 The rest of the Kenyan team is also still pretty young and 255 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:22,080 inexperienced, like at the global stage. 256 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,880 And that's also the storyline you'll see with Ethiopia. 257 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:30,880 Ethiopia has a bunch of there's 220 year olds, a 19 year old and 258 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:32,720 a 21 year old. That's like their core 4. 259 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:38,880 Some of them have won medals at the junior ranks here in cross 260 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:40,400 country. So that's like good experience. 261 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,120 And then in addition to that, you're just kind of, you know, 262 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:45,800 you've you've competed at a world cross before. 263 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:50,120 So when I'm looking at those two, the two historically deep 264 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:54,160 squads, I kind of give the edge to Ethiopia over Kenya, although 265 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:56,440 Kenya's looking to three peat at this point. 266 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:00,560 It just, there's a little bit of, it's a little wide open at 267 00:14:00,560 --> 00:14:03,920 the top, it feels like. This sometimes happens at world 268 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:08,520 cross, like world cross can be a big sort of debut for top talent 269 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:10,000 coming out of out of East Africa. 270 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:14,640 So I wouldn't necessarily bet against any, you know, new up 271 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:16,720 and coming athlete like they were chosen for this team for a 272 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:18,880 reason. Maybe they haven't haven't 273 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:22,480 competed internationally before, you know, many, many times. 274 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:25,360 But this is where we see like the the next generation. 275 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:27,440 This is where we see, you know, the faith, keep the icon so the 276 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:30,280 world rise up. So this can often be the 277 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:32,840 beginning and a big jumping off point for the next stars in the 278 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:33,400 sport. Yeah. 279 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:37,360 So to that point too, it's like what limited international 280 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:38,760 experience some of these athletes have. 281 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:43,080 Like so if you go back to like last year and you think of, oh, 282 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:47,640 I tuned in for that Rome Diamond League in the 5K and there was a 283 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:49,760 couple young Ethiopians in there. 284 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:52,600 It's the people who like you see a PR, but not a whole lot of 285 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:54,400 history. Like those are these athletes, 286 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:56,240 right? And that's who's being part of 287 00:14:56,440 --> 00:15:00,120 this Ethiopian team. So Ethiopia, Kenya, young 288 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,320 squads. But again, they've just proven. 289 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:05,720 Yeah, they're so they're just historically so good at cross 290 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,440 country. Yeah, it's like I feel like it's 291 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:10,840 it's where they like kind of like I used to say, like it's 292 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:13,560 where these really great talents guys start out at. 293 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:18,240 I mean, what did in the last World championships Kenya went 294 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:21,680 on the women S side 12345 Yeah, yeah, I mean, that just shows 295 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:24,720 you right there. It's how dominant they are. 296 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,320 And yeah, the the team might be green and inexperienced on 297 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:31,440 paper, but you would still probably have them in the 298 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:33,600 favorites for sure. Yeah, cross countries, cross 299 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:35,120 country. Exactly, they just understand 300 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:37,160 cross country. Yeah, another country that has 301 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:39,640 been on the rise on the women South side and been part of 302 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:41,760 podiums over the last couple of years is Uganda. 303 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:43,520 I mean, they're always looking for a metal upgrade. 304 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:48,640 Now what I would classify as like championship experience, at 305 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:50,800 least like on the track and representing their country. 306 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:54,960 Uganda has a bit more of that compared to Kenya and Ethiopia 307 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:59,640 because the likes of Joy Chip Toyak, who is 7th at the 2025 308 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,520 World Championships in the 10K is their low stick. 309 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:05,200 And then they got Sarah Chalangat and Rebecca Chalangat, 310 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:09,800 who have also represented Uganda internationally over the last 311 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:13,080 couple years. The interesting team Uganda gets 312 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,920 interesting because they're other members of the team don't 313 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:20,160 really have track PVS. They're they competed at the 314 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:23,080 World Mountain Championships, which interesting, Yeah. 315 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,240 Well, they got a man made mountain right behind us. 316 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:27,240 Hopefully they hope. Yeah, they. 317 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:29,320 Look at that. They're like, that's it. 318 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:32,840 That's like that's a, that's a couple pieces of two by fours 319 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:35,600 just like stacked up. That is such. 320 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:38,800 An interesting strategy going to this. 321 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:39,920 I kind of like it. Yeah. 322 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:41,200 Very cool. Yeah, I think. 323 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:45,520 From the database on the results, it did say, I think 324 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:47,680 World Athletics Mountain Championships. 325 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:51,640 So I think there's an extension. I think that at least it's 326 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:54,840 populating on their World Athletics and the other 327 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:56,800 databases. So that's an interesting thing 328 00:16:56,800 --> 00:17:00,280 that I think that Uganda brings. It's like, OK, a couple names 329 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:05,160 that you don't know, but they do have racing experience in 330 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:09,079 mountain running, which I feel like is pretty valuable. 331 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:12,400 I would say very valuable. I mean, if if Agnes and Getich 332 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:16,640 isn't doesn't win it Joy from from Ugandic is, you know, she 333 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:17,920 could be the could be somebody to. 334 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:23,040 Break up like A12345 yes yeah. And then that brings us to Team 335 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:27,920 USA and like is there a chance that they can get a medal? 336 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,960 A medal would be. A medal would be really amazing. 337 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:35,800 I mean, it's to to to get on the podium with the type of teams 338 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:37,800 that are going to be lining up tomorrow. 339 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:40,200 This would be a huge day for Team USA. 340 00:17:40,200 --> 00:17:42,200 But you would never, I'd never want to sit here and be like 341 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:43,440 it's they're not going to be. Able to? 342 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,760 No, because so the United States has not meddled at World Cross 343 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:51,520 since 2011, and they were fourth in 2024. 344 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:53,360 And you're like, oh, that means that they're right. 345 00:17:53,360 --> 00:17:56,200 They're not quite. They were 69 points behind 346 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:59,880 Uganda and then Uganda was separated from Ethiopia, I think 347 00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:01,680 by a point or two. So the gap. 348 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,720 Is a big gag, yeah. And when we look at this team, 349 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:09,120 Wayne, this is gonna be I think her third world cross country 350 00:18:09,120 --> 00:18:11,480 championship. She brings the most experience, 351 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:16,040 the best aerobic engine. I think of everyone in this that 352 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:19,760 she if if, when you could get into the top 10, which I think 353 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:21,080 are best. You would need a huge day from 354 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,160 Wayne leading the leading the charge to get have Team USA end 355 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:27,760 up on the podium, yeah. And so I mean, Wayne is, is the 356 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:30,160 the low stick. Katie is, though, the way she 357 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:34,040 raced at at US Champs, I mean, you guys were there like she 358 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:35,400 was. So aggressive. 359 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:37,440 It was aggressive and brave, Yeah, I think. 360 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:40,600 Yeah, yeah. I think we'll see a big day from 361 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:43,280 from Katie. Like you don't, you don't enter 362 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:47,480 the race at USA's with that strength and depth of field and 363 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:52,720 and take the race and lead and push without confidence. 364 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:55,880 That only comes with extreme good form. 365 00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:59,680 And Katie's got she's fit. Yeah, clearly, clearly she's 366 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:01,480 fit. So I think she'll take a a big 367 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:04,720 swing and a big step up here. Edna Kerrgat, Kerrissa 368 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:06,520 Schweitzer. This is their Second World cross 369 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:07,880 team. Both of them have competed here 370 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,280 in the past. Edna Kerrgat I think in 2023. 371 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:15,200 Karissa Schweitzer in 2019. And then I think the thing to 372 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:17,320 just always remember about someone like Carissa Schweitzer 373 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:19,880 and say across both of them NCAA cross country champions. 374 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:23,680 But Chris is just like so consistent at making these teams 375 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:28,680 just year over year. 5K10K5K10K doubling and all that. 376 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:33,240 So it's, it's I'm, I'm excited to see what she could possibly 377 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:36,560 do here. And then our team is rounded out 378 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:40,040 by Emily Venters and Grace Hartman, who this is their first 379 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:42,920 time representing Team USA at a global championship. 380 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:47,400 And honestly, like Grace Hartman's performance at the NCA 381 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:50,920 Cross Country Championships kind of just instills further 382 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:53,720 confidence that, like, she's made for an event like this. 383 00:19:54,240 --> 00:19:56,520 Oh, absolutely. And I, I think that the NCAA 384 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:58,600 cross country athletes have such an advantage. 385 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:00,560 Pros don't race cross country very much. 386 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:02,560 There aren't very many opportunities to get on grass 387 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:04,680 and race on grass and run hard on grass. 388 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:07,120 That's a totally different sensation than being on the 389 00:20:07,120 --> 00:20:09,640 track. So I think anybody who's has a 390 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:12,800 recency toward NCAA cross country is gonna have a really 391 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:13,560 good day tomorrow. Yeah. 392 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:16,920 I mean, USA, the US championship race was so tough. 393 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:21,600 So to to just to make it on to this team shows that you're 394 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:23,920 going to have a you're going to be able to mix it up in the top 395 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,280 and in this race. Yeah, great. 396 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:30,600 Like Grace Rain has run so well all year, super sharp in terms 397 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:34,040 of cross country racing. I mean, Chrissa Schweizer is 398 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:35,520 like the a real veteran. Yeah. 399 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:39,160 She's someone who makes teams who when she's healthy and 400 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:42,280 running well, she's on. And so I would assume she's she 401 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:46,040 looked great at USAS and and she tends to look better the more 402 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:48,720 she races. So I think the optimistic 403 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:53,120 outlook on Team USA is probably what another fourth place finish 404 00:20:53,120 --> 00:20:54,520 would be. A good day would still be a good 405 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:55,720 day. Yeah, getting on the podium 406 00:20:55,720 --> 00:21:00,200 would be amazing. And then if we can squeak 2 407 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:04,400 runners into the top 30 I think. That would be pretty solid. 408 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:07,560 That would be great. 20 in the top 20 and then someone else 409 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:09,160 close behind. That's a good day. 410 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:12,560 For sure. I think really, I think if I 411 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:16,720 were if, if my Co workers at FanDuel have the line right, I 412 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:22,000 think it's like 4th would be a great, would be a good solid day 413 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:24,640 for them. Third would be, you know, it's 414 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:28,040 just unbelievable. And so it's it's not out of the 415 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:31,680 picture, but I think it's, it just takes a few like superhuman 416 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,760 performances, which can be tough to all get right on the same 417 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,200 day. So I think 4th would be great 418 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:40,640 and then and 3rd would be, you know, just fantastic. 419 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:42,720 Wayne, he's got to get over that final alligator. 420 00:21:43,120 --> 00:21:46,680 If we Wayne she she's she's a bit of a shorter runner, so 421 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:49,800 hopefully the Gator isn't as big as as we're hearing. 422 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:52,600 But if she can get over that Gator, my God, who knows. 423 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:57,600 Yeah, All right. Some quick hits on other runners 424 00:21:57,600 --> 00:21:59,600 to watch. Megan Keith is so with the 425 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:02,120 absence of Nadia Vado, Claudia, it's Megan Keith probably from 426 00:22:02,120 --> 00:22:05,920 Team GB, who will lead like the European charge and then 427 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:10,080 Australia. Lauren Ryan, former Florida 428 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:13,520 State Knoll is out here. There's a lot of Florida State 429 00:22:13,520 --> 00:22:15,240 alums. Home course race, Yeah. 430 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:17,600 I think like everyone S like I can't miss it if it's here. 431 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:20,720 Yeah, and Lauren Ryan was top ten at worlds in the 10K. 432 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:23,920 Like she she is ready to have a big race. 433 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:26,920 Like she's shown that she's not afraid to mix it up in these big 434 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:28,240 international fields. Yeah. 435 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:31,880 And I think like she's probably picked things up from each one 436 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:34,960 of those World Championships where I think Paris, she went 437 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:39,040 out a little too hard and then kind of faded and she ran a much 438 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:42,240 smarter race in Tokyo. So we'll see just kind of how 439 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:44,680 measured her approach is this time around. 440 00:22:44,680 --> 00:22:47,480 So that's the women's senior race. 441 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:51,920 Let's move on over to the men's side where the top guy, and I 442 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:54,120 think he's probably not that far from us because he'll be on the 443 00:22:54,120 --> 00:22:56,480 stage shortly during the press conference. 444 00:22:56,480 --> 00:23:01,920 It's Jacob Kaplimo who won the Chicago Marathon in two O 2. 445 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:05,040 I think it was. It was 2O2. 446 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:14,960 Where was it? I have it somewhere, 2O2 And the 447 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:18,480 thing about world cross and marathoners is that once people 448 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:21,480 make that transition to the marathon, they're less likely to 449 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:26,040 come here and run a championship like this where there isn't as 450 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:28,360 much money as getting ready for world major. 451 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:32,360 And so when we've talked about like when people throw the fall 452 00:23:32,360 --> 00:23:36,680 off of World cross in the 80s, I mean, this event used to attract 453 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:41,680 Kenenisa Bikele, Paula or 90s Paula Radcliffe, Kenenisa Bakele 454 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:43,680 before that. I mean, Alberta Salazar is the 455 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:45,280 last American to get on the podium. 456 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:49,120 And that's when he was, you know, a a top marathoner in the 457 00:23:49,120 --> 00:23:53,640 world that it, it's been a while since like, oh, one of the best 458 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:58,880 marathoners is also here. And Jacob Ippolimo is filling 459 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:01,400 that spot. And so major kudos to him 460 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,680 because he could just be in Uganda right now getting ready 461 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:06,400 for London, But he's like, I want to go down as one of the 462 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:09,720 all time greats and cross country is one of those things 463 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:12,440 that adds to my legacy. So I want another title. 464 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:18,120 And I guess just we've seen him run in at these global 465 00:24:18,120 --> 00:24:22,280 championships in in in Chicago. He's just so impressive in those 466 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:27,560 late stages where sort of like a mile to go, you know, you know, 467 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:31,160 2K out from on that final, the final loop I think is where he's 468 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:33,920 going to throw down here at the like in this race. 469 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:37,160 And like, yeah, there's going to be people who try and stay with 470 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:39,120 him. A Burihu Aragawi from from 471 00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:41,640 Ethiopia. But Kablimo's the the big dog in 472 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:44,560 this race that everyone's going to be keying off of, I think. 473 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:46,840 Oh yeah. I mean, he's definitely like the 474 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:52,240 you'd probably say he's the favorite, but also it's it's 475 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:55,520 training for the marathon is a is a is a whole different thing. 476 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,840 So it's it's going to be interesting to see how he does 477 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:04,040 coming back from Chicago and and getting back here with guys like 478 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:06,800 our Gawi, our always come second twice, right? 479 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:10,080 Yeah, and he went. 2nd on the track. 480 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:13,040 He wants it bad. I mean like this guy has put in 481 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:15,680 his his time and got his silvers. 482 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:18,880 He wants a gold. And I think if there is a year 483 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:20,760 to do it, it would be it would be this year. 484 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:25,720 I think Kiplino is the favorite, but I still I that battle 485 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:27,880 between them up front is gonna be fantastic. 486 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:30,560 And I don't you know, like, yeah, Kip limo might be the guy 487 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:32,960 that with one lap to go makes the move, but you could 488 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:35,240 certainly see our God, we're doing the exact same thing. 489 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:38,400 And even even farther out. They're not afraid to to push it 490 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:40,200 for it when the finish line is not that close. 491 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,040 Insight. I mean, it's a Telos oldest 492 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:43,880 time, like strength versus speed, right? 493 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:46,720 Like Kip Limo has the engine. He's got the marathon legs. 494 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:49,720 Our guy always got the kick. You know, he has that track 495 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:53,200 recency and he's hungry. I mean, if we look at the head 496 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:55,720 to head, Argawi wants those golds. 497 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:59,200 So I I think we'll this is not going to be a blowout. 498 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:02,240 If I had to bet, it is not going to be a blowout between Kaplina 499 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:04,640 and Argawi. Those 10 KPBS are so much closer 500 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:10,560 than I thought they would be. 26332631 And I think the thing 501 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:13,680 that yeah, to to your point, Eric, is like our gawi's done 502 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:16,800 being the bridesmaid. Like you, you remember even just 503 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:21,840 when Yaka brand 717 for the 3K, it's like our Gawi was second 504 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:23,560 and also was under the previous record. 505 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:26,480 But people forget that. And so it's like he is super 506 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:28,160 talented. So it wouldn't come as a shock 507 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:30,840 if if he if he came away with the way now. 508 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:37,440 I think that Aragawi leads the Ethiopian team and Ethiopia I'm 509 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:39,960 going to kind of like put as the favorite on the team side of 510 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:44,680 things because they I their 1-2 punch is so good. 511 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:47,120 You got Aragawi and then you got Binyam Mahari. 512 00:26:47,360 --> 00:26:51,120 They're like 17 year old who ran the fastest 10K in the world 513 00:26:51,120 --> 00:26:55,440 last year when won the Pre Classic, did well at worlds, but 514 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:59,040 he competed in the 5K. He doesn't have as much cross 515 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:01,360 country experience. But like we said before, cross 516 00:27:01,360 --> 00:27:04,880 countries, cross country. And if he, you know, fared so 517 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:07,240 well at the Ethiopian trials, like he's going to do well here. 518 00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:09,880 So I think Ethiopia is a team favorite. 519 00:27:10,360 --> 00:27:15,120 Kenya Daniel Abeno is their is their number one guy who was the 520 00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:17,880 best 10K runner in the world. Now the impressive part about 521 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:21,840 him is that he ran Chicago and then doubled back three weeks 522 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:24,720 later or two weeks later. I I think it might have been to 523 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:27,360 win the Kenyan cross country championships. 524 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:29,680 So he's nuts. So yeah, he's kind of nuts. 525 00:27:30,360 --> 00:27:32,000 That's awesome. And I think part of that stemmed 526 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:35,280 from the fact of like, oh, Kenya had a bad Track World 527 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:38,320 championships and it's like, yeah, we missed the podium in 528 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:40,800 the 10K. He's like, I need to correct 529 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:43,720 things. And if it means that me, the 530 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:48,120 formerly the best 10K runner in the world, has to come back to 531 00:27:48,120 --> 00:27:50,640 the track, to the cross country, then sure, I'll do that. 532 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:55,680 So like there's some, some good, I guess, national pride there. 533 00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:59,560 Yeah, and and you, that's a good point like this, you know, we're 534 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:04,440 talking about this as sort of, you know, not as premier and 535 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:06,240 prestigious as a Track World championships. 536 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:08,880 That is not the case for Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda. 537 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:12,440 This is this is war is their Super Bowl, is their Super Bowl. 538 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:15,320 It really is. So you have these, you know, all 539 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:18,520 time greats that are coming and and, you know, making sacrifices 540 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:21,400 to be here because this means everything. 541 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:24,080 Yeah, he's like Palter. God is watching. 542 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:28,440 I'm like, yeah, this is, this is a true, like this is part of 543 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:30,560 their culture. Like this, this is what they do. 544 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:33,240 They they understand cross country on an intrinsic level. 545 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:35,920 Like it's they they're fantastic at it. 546 00:28:37,360 --> 00:28:40,680 And yeah, Kenya's on a bit of like a, they're not as powerful 547 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:43,560 and strong as they have been. And, and they, you know, they 548 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:48,800 used to be the absolute best in the sport and as far as the 549 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:51,640 distance running goes. And it's hasn't been quite to 550 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:54,040 their expectations in these previous years. 551 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:57,800 And I'm sure that they, they're scratching, they're like, how do 552 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:01,000 we get back to that? And this would be a a huge 553 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:03,680 stepping point in the in the process of doing that. 554 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:06,880 So then Uganda was the third team on the podium the last time 555 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:08,840 out. But the thing about Uganda is, 556 00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:11,840 yes, you have Kip Limo, but they lost their number 2IN Joshua 557 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:16,480 chapter guy, So pretty big #2 And I think this this is where 558 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:19,640 the window of opportunity kind of opens up a little bit of tiny 559 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:23,960 hope for the American squad, where if we look at the the 560 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:26,600 lineup of Team USA on the men's side. 561 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:30,000 I'm going to say I think, I think the the USA men's squad, I 562 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:31,720 think they're going to meddle. Yeah. 563 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:36,360 I'm going to whisper it, but I think this is a really, really 564 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:39,120 strong men squad. I know. 565 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:42,920 I'm pretty sure USA hasn't got on the podium since, what, 2013? 566 00:29:42,920 --> 00:29:44,800 The Ben True? Ben True came in sixth. 567 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:47,280 Chris Dare came in 10. So like, you're gonna need 568 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:50,800 athletes to do pretty similar things this year. 569 00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:54,520 And if you look at these tops, these six guys, that's 570 00:29:54,520 --> 00:29:56,440 absolutely in the realm of possibility. 571 00:29:56,560 --> 00:29:58,960 Ahmed Muhammad is Florida State alum. 572 00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:00,960 He knows this course probably like the back of his hand. 573 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:03,560 Parker Wolf. Great showing in Portland, but 574 00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:06,080 it's just sort of like the two guys who had a bad day, Nico 575 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:09,520 Young and Graham Blanks are now all of a sudden like, all right, 576 00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:11,120 you gave him a couple extra weeks of training. 577 00:30:11,320 --> 00:30:14,640 Graham was apparently sick leading into USAS and then Nico 578 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:17,280 probably like in a block of heavy training. 579 00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:18,800 Yeah. I mean, that's what at least 580 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:21,360 like I'm telling myself. Rocky Hanson riding the momentum 581 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:23,560 of NCA cross. But if Nico Young and Grand 582 00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:27,040 Blanks have a better day than they did in Portland and all of 583 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:29,200 a sudden this team is in. Contention. 584 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:32,320 I mean, Graham Blanks, how many? He's a two time NCAA cross 585 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:33,280 champion, right? Yeah. 586 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:38,080 Fantastic cross athlete. Nico, that's how he made his. 587 00:30:38,080 --> 00:30:41,400 Name Nico this Nico the same thing like these are. 588 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:46,800 This is a squad that is if they all they don't need to have a 589 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:50,000 plus efforts, but if they just bring their best and have an A 590 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:53,120 effort right, this is a team that could absolutely sneak onto 591 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:56,040 the podium more. Kudos to Wesley Kiptu as well. 592 00:30:56,040 --> 00:30:59,240 I mean, he debuted in the marathon in Chicago and similar, 593 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:02,360 like had I think a little bit more time than a Daniel Abeno, 594 00:31:02,360 --> 00:31:06,840 but, you know, locked himself into his first US national team. 595 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:11,800 Like he became a citizen I think earlier, late into 2025. 596 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:14,720 And now this is his first time you'll see him in a Team USA 597 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:19,040 vest amid Mohammed made a world cross team in the past. 598 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:24,520 He's amid Mohammed is overlooked I think so much going into some 599 00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:26,840 of these championship races, like he's consistent when he's 600 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:29,880 done the road 5K. So he's made for just sort of 601 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:32,800 like it hasn't come together on the track necessarily, but cross 602 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:35,400 country roads, he's one to watch. 603 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:39,840 So when you take and list out all of the PBS that these guys 604 00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:44,560 have, Nico Young and Grand Blanc's alone give us 2 sub 1250 605 00:31:44,560 --> 00:31:49,560 guys versus like Ethiopia, yes, you do have her, Gawi and 606 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:52,400 Mahari, but it's like OK, we've got R12 punch here. 607 00:31:52,440 --> 00:31:55,480 As well I mean I think I think Parker Wolf is going to race 608 00:31:55,480 --> 00:32:02,240 really well again today. I, I, I think that just that you 609 00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:06,960 again that that US championship race was so tough and Rocky 610 00:32:06,960 --> 00:32:10,400 Hanson was a guy who he didn't just like sneak onto the team. 611 00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:14,360 He took charge of that race prettier like he made it a very 612 00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:16,560 hard effort. Think Parker Wolf ran really 613 00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:22,040 strong and again in in past we've seen Parker went out these 614 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:23,840 championships. He's not all all the time like 615 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:26,360 100% healthy. So I think when he's healthy, 616 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:28,520 when he's able to string together good training and he's 617 00:32:28,520 --> 00:32:32,200 been, he's with that that Swoosh track club group with training 618 00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:34,040 with Nico Young training with all those guys. 619 00:32:34,040 --> 00:32:37,040 I think he's going to have another super big performance 620 00:32:37,040 --> 00:32:39,120 this weekend. Now if we want to talk a sneaky 621 00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:41,680 squad that might be able to disrupt, that might disrupt some 622 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:45,440 things, it would be France, led by Jimmy G. 623 00:32:45,640 --> 00:32:49,440 Jimmy G. Mostly because and, and kudos to 624 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:52,080 them because like there's a lot of European squads missing from 625 00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:54,280 this championship there. The European Championships are 626 00:32:54,280 --> 00:32:57,400 on the calendar for 2025. And So what that means is people 627 00:32:57,400 --> 00:32:59,680 are out there chasing 10K qualifying Marks and there's 628 00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:01,320 money in the road 10K scene out there. 629 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:06,360 And so for Jimmy G to recruit Yon Shrub and you know, all some 630 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:09,440 of these other guys who have had good success at European Cross 631 00:33:09,440 --> 00:33:12,880 and that the European track championships watch for for them 632 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:14,640 to also try and make a podium push. 633 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:18,200 Then you got Terry Indukamuman, Yahoo. 634 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:21,240 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thank. 635 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:23,480 You I was, I was practicing. Yeah, yeah, All right. 636 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:25,680 Well, you nailed it. Well, he beat Jimmy G at 637 00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:28,760 Eurocross, so look for him on the individual race. 638 00:33:28,760 --> 00:33:31,680 You got MOA Med. So like it's it's going to be 639 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:36,200 thrilling, I think both on the individual and the team race on 640 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:39,040 the men's side. So if I were to my prediction 641 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:42,360 men's side Ethiopia for the win, Kenya silver USA. 642 00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:44,280 Bronze or sorry, bronze, Gold in my heart. 643 00:33:45,720 --> 00:33:48,160 I'm very excited to see how how this race plays out. 644 00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:50,840 Like who takes it, who makes it. It's always hard, right? 645 00:33:50,960 --> 00:33:55,960 It's this is this race is never a slow sit and kick race, no 646 00:33:55,960 --> 00:33:57,800 matter how bad the Americans might want that. 647 00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:02,080 Yeah, it's it's going to be fast from the gun and I mean like 648 00:34:02,240 --> 00:34:06,920 talking like the guy like Jimmy G after the year he had last 649 00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:11,560 year his his confidence camp is at an all time high. 650 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:13,280 He'll absolutely mixing up moment. 651 00:34:13,280 --> 00:34:16,120 I mean, these are all these athletes are so talented 652 00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:21,360 candidate might not be on the team side, but Mohammed is is 653 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:24,600 has got medals and events like this in in the past. 654 00:34:25,080 --> 00:34:27,120 I'm it's going to be such a fun race. 655 00:34:27,679 --> 00:34:30,360 All right, final note, we've got the community around after that. 656 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:36,080 We do, we do, we have, we have the 4K, thank God we have the 657 00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:39,920 inside scoop on the alligators getting larger and larger each 658 00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:44,040 one you come across. So we have two laps of this 659 00:34:44,040 --> 00:34:47,040 course and. That second lap. 660 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:52,199 'S going to be tough now in the community run, just like the the 661 00:34:52,199 --> 00:34:53,719 championship run. This is never easy. 662 00:34:53,719 --> 00:34:56,159 It's never sit and kick. It's going to be hard from the 663 00:34:56,159 --> 00:34:57,440 gun. We're going to have to get out. 664 00:34:57,440 --> 00:34:59,800 We're going to have to we're going to have to work together. 665 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:02,640 We're going to be smart, obviously, like Mac is the clear 666 00:35:02,640 --> 00:35:04,040 favorite. He might be coming in and he 667 00:35:04,040 --> 00:35:05,840 might be our low stick. Mac doesn't want the pressure on 668 00:35:05,840 --> 00:35:07,000 it. He's shaking his head, he's 669 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:10,920 saying no, but we're going to need to all work together, 670 00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:14,320 figure out how we're going to attack the hills. 671 00:35:15,720 --> 00:35:17,000 I attacked the. Beach I attacked. 672 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:18,680 The beach I forgot about the beach I attacked. 673 00:35:18,680 --> 00:35:20,560 The mud pit, I think we're. Going to have an interesting 674 00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:22,440 pack time. You know how that's one of the 675 00:35:22,440 --> 00:35:24,080 stats that's thrown around in cross country? 676 00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:26,960 OK, our our the pack time is going to be. 677 00:35:27,560 --> 00:35:28,360 No. Is it now? 678 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:30,800 Is there a winning team from this? 679 00:35:31,640 --> 00:35:33,120 We'll, we'll, we'll make note of it. 680 00:35:33,240 --> 00:35:36,000 OK, yeah, we'll be doing our own scoring, but here's a quick 681 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:36,960 look. Look at the course. 682 00:35:37,160 --> 00:35:39,160 We've got the roller coaster, which again is that man made 683 00:35:39,160 --> 00:35:43,400 hill, Florida beaches I believe is the sand pit. 684 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:47,240 Then we go to the Florida coastline that has a dyed blue 685 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:50,400 water feature. Don't drink. 686 00:35:50,440 --> 00:35:52,640 It don't. Well, you know loser. 687 00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:54,280 How about loser has to drink from the water? 688 00:35:54,360 --> 00:35:57,160 The the last place Sidious Mag finisher will have to have. 689 00:35:58,000 --> 00:35:59,040 No, OK, Mag says. Now. 690 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:02,440 HR says now and then we've got Alligator Alley with the, you 691 00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:06,320 know, increasing height hurdles, which we've learned everyone has 692 00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:08,600 to, they are going to make sure that everyone is going over 693 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:10,560 those, those Gators. There's no going around. 694 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:14,360 NCAA. Crossroads and we've got Florida 695 00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:15,880 Everglades, which is the the mud pit. 696 00:36:15,880 --> 00:36:19,400 So a lot to see. It's going to be extremely 697 00:36:19,400 --> 00:36:21,200 exciting. This is the hardest race in the 698 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:23,680 world and I cannot wait to watch it. 699 00:36:23,800 --> 00:36:24,880 Yeah. All right. 700 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:27,200 So follow along with CDs Mag all throughout the weekend. 701 00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:30,920 We'll be bringing you interviews, updates, results and 702 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:33,840 then we'll a post ratio right here tomorrow live from 703 00:36:33,840 --> 00:36:36,200 Tallahassee. I've been Chris Chavez with 704 00:36:36,280 --> 00:36:38,240 Aisha Pratt Lear and Eric Jenkins. 705 00:36:38,360 --> 00:36:39,680 We'll see you tomorrow.