The PSU IM Cross Country Race was held on a cool, blustery morning this past Saturday. Forty-two runners in the Residence Halls and Men's Open Divisions lined up for the 9:30 race. There were eight Men's Open teams registered this year, including four Triathlon Club teams and two Old Fartlek Teams. The OFs were looking to avenge their pitiable showing of last year, when they finished dead last in a field of six teams. The Tri-Club decided to spread its talent among its four teams (and they are loaded with talent), so the OFs thought they had a shot at placing high.

Well, for lack of a horse, the kingdom was lost. Actually, the way it worked was this: For lack of better heel support, Gerry Glyde has had heel problems and had to drop from the OF B-team, which ran with Marty Klanchar, Marty Mazur and Chuck Phillips. And for lack of a (required) PSU+ ID, one of the OF's top scorers, Tom Cali, had to bow out of the OF A-team, which ran with Ken Davis, Bill Bahnfleth and Mike Dooris. Tom Cali teaches a real estate course now and then, but apparently that's not good enough for a PSU+ ID. The Old Fartlek teams tried valiantly nonetheless, but finished 4th and 8th among teams. Tri-Club runners took the top 4 finishing spots. Tri-Club II won the Men's Open with finishers 3, 8, and 14. The next 3 team places were closely contested. The Tri-Club III team took 2, 9, and 26 to
get 2nd place; the Tri-Club I team took 1, 17 and 21 to get 3rd; and very close by, the Old Fartlek A team took 7, 13 and 22 for 4th. If Cali or one of the other talented OF runners had been able to run, no doubt the OFs would have had 2nd locked up. Next year! Tri-Club IV finished 5th and Air Force ROTC finished 6th.

Team Strategy Note: The Talent-rich Tri-Club wasn't doing anyone any favors by spreading its talent. They took 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th. Judging by the scoring runners, if they instead had loaded their best runners on one team, their next best on another, etc., they would have taken 1st, 2nd. 4th and 6th! Old Fartleks A would have gone up to 3rd. Team strategy pays...on the other hand, talent pays more. The reason Tri-Club could do this is because they are stacked. If the Old Fartleks would have spread their talent, then OF B would've finished higher, but OF A would have dropped.

Martin A. Mazur ....................http://www.personal.psu.edu/mxm14/