What?! No Palmer Ridge in the MileSplit National Rankings?


Colorado has learned that Bears are dangerous. Who's next? Photo by Alan Versaw.

If you check out MileSplit National's latest Saucony/Flo 50 National Boys Rankings, you will find Palmer Ridge ignominiously listed as a "Bubble" team. To which I say, "Really?"

I admit it, though, I'm a bit of a homer. 

With that on the table, let's look at Palmer Ridge's season.

The Palmer Ridge boys have stayed mostly in Colorado this season. Truth is, that's a good plan. You can wear yourself out with travel. They've put their regular varsity squad on the course at Vista Nation, St. Vrain, Woodbridge, Metro State, PPAC, 4A Region 2, and State.

Most California teams never leave California. I know a very good Utah team that never left Utah this season. They didn't even leave Utah to go trick-or-treating. You know that team, too. But, it sure looks like Palmer Ridge got penalized for only leaving Colorado once.

They were beaten, but not by much, by Mountain Vista at Vista Nation, St. Vrain, and Woodbridge. They are unbeaten, and essentially unthreatened, since then. That includes beating Mountain Vista at Metro State--arguably the showcase meet of the Colorado season. They were only 12 lousy points behind Mountain Vista at Woodbridge, back before the wheels on the Mountain Vista season started going wobbly!

More importantly, who was behind Palmer Ridge at Woodbridge? Great Oak, currently #5 in the MileSplit national rankings, was 40 points behind Palmer Ridge at Woodbridge. Great Oak didn't have to take a plane trip to go to that meet. Palmer Ridge did. And, Palmer Ridge did that against the same Great Oak varsity squad that beat up the field at Mt. SAC on October 21. Palmer Ridge beat Great Oak at every position but #5, and the Bears have masterfully shored up the #5 position since that time.

Ask anyone around Colorado, "Has Palmer Ridge gotten better or worse as the season has progressed?" I'll give you a clue, the universal answer to that question begins with a 'B'.

So, how is it that Great Oak checks in at #5 and Palmer Ridge, undefeated since Woodbridge, checks in at "Bubble"?

I know, I don't get it either.

Palmer Ridge has no weak spots in their roster. They had a 37-second 1-7 gap at state! Who else around the nation does that with everyone under 17 minutes on a course that doesn't exactly have a reputation as a screamer?

I can't wait for some good, post season cross country to settle this issue. 

Keep your kids healthy, Coach Rudnicki!