Discussion: USARA Nationals

Nationals are seemingly a bit under the radar this year after all the excitement around the World Champs being in the US for the first time.

Who do you have winning or finishing in the top 5?

With Kyle P. racing with Adventure Medical Kits after missing worlds, I'd say the smart $$ is on them repeating.

Rootstock and Wedali were my other top three picks, but Rootstock running two teams makes it a bit more complicated!

It's going to be an exciting race from a competition standpoint at least. I agree, it's hard to bet against AMK.

But the field is quite deep after that. I may be a bit biased, but I like the Rootstock team of Abby, Jim, and Brian. Wedali should be good as well. Untamed New England will be tough, and they also have multiple teams out there. Checkpoint Zero, Main Nerve, and Journey are all coming off excellent performances (or have racers who did) at Worlds. Rib, Tanz, NYARA, and Kuat will all be in the mix too. And GOALS has three teams of their own who should all be good.

There are a number of other teams who are also quite good, but I'd bet that the podium comes from some combo of this group. I really don't know the order though.

I'll be there racing (South Jersey Adventure Racing) but will be back of the pack and just shooting for an official finish and to have some fun.

I'm pulling for all the local-ish teams that smoke us every race (GOALS, Rootstock, NYARA) to have strong finishes.

2016 results, for reference, with:

1. AMK
2. Tecnu
3. WEDALI
4. Rootstock Racing
5. Checkpoint 0
6. Rib Mountain
7. Bushwhacker
8. Only MOSTLY Lost
9. Poopy Pants
10. Hombres de Maiz

Mountain Race/Main Nerve did fairly well at worlds. I'd give them the possibility of a high finish based on being a well-oiled machine at this point in terms of team dynamics.

Any tracking for this championship race?

From the info we've gotten it looks like just social media updates, which can also be seen on the "race hq" section of the USARA website for those of you without facebook

pre race briefing pertinent details
75-80 CPs
one paddle leg to start - about 25% of race (not sure time or distance?)
then one bike leg - about 50% of race
then one trek leg - remaining 25% of race
at least 18-20 of the trekking points on a 1:10 o-map (abiperk, where are the o-maps in this area!?!?!)

80 cps! I hope the teams have strong mules to carry the passport!

seems like Hickory Run SP has several o maps. (thx DVOA). and seems like park property butts up to Race HQ hotel property? or pretty darn close to it.

Silkychrome, my guess would be Hickory Run!

AMK
Untamed NE
WEDALI
Rootstock
Checkpoint 0

I think the big battle will be between AMK and Untamed. After that, I have no idea as there are a lot of good teams, Journey, Main Nerve, NYARA, and others could easily be in the mix for top 5 as well. Too bad there is no live tracking...what a bummer!

Hard to bet against AMK for the win;
2-7 spots are toss up really- who has the better race. Imagine it will be tight until the very end.

Looks like a beautiful area with great race weather.

I know all too painfully well not to rule out Wedali, at USARA rogaine event format.

Looks like an O-meet for sure this year!

Kyle *may* make an announcement after the race about his 2018 intention to compete at the Coney Island hotdog eating championships. He thinks he can take out Joey Chestnut.

Here's the link for live race info.
http://www.usaranationals.com/race_hq.aspx

TanZ
Lupine
AMK
-first 3 through TA1 I believe.

I am figuratively dying without a leader board.

I will try to post updates from TA2 this evening as teams check in.

Awesome, thanks!

I got the following from Carrie Sona who's out on the course following Kuat. This is all as of a point about 50% of the way through the bike.

Don't have any actual time differences, and also don't know who might have already chosen to skip points, although I could guess? This is the order that teams came past Carrie, although it's possible she missEd someone. She actually missed Kuat at the takeout somehow and thought they were in last for a bit. And that's the team her husband is racing on...

Sounds like lead teams are 40 to 60 minutes SLOWER than RD estimates.

Lattanzi still in first
AMK
Journey
Rootstock Abby
Rootstock Brent (sounds like they missed a CP but are going back for it, eliminated from KOM, no they penalty other than time to get it)
Untamed (Britt I think)
CP0 (possibly more than one?)
Good Nuff
NYARA
Rib mountain
Kuat
WEDALI
Untamed (different one)

Again, no idea who might have skipped, and whether anyone slipped by this point without her seeing them.

This is at State game lands point on this map:

https://goo.gl/maps/bEH9fj4pfL12

So yeah, take all that for what it's worth!

USARA Facebook page is updated better than what I posted now.

Carrie's at the start of the land nav. Teams are three hours off expected pace so far, and still no one to that TA yet.

First 3 teams just came in to TA2 where they do an O course and a trekking section in either order.

TanZ Navigation/Ex2 Adventures
Journey Racing
AMK

thanks Sandy! Please keep updating us as teams flow into TA2.

Rootstock just came through.

So far only AMK chose orienteering first.

Next three:
Checkpoint Zero
UntamedNE.com
Checkpoint Zero Masters

And Rootstock 2 just came through.

And to round out the top 11:
Team Kuat
NYARA
Good'Nuff

Posted 40 mins ago on AMK Facebook:

Team Adventure Medical Kits completed the orienteering section and are on the final trek. Teams can complete these sections in any order so we will not know the placings until teams check into the TA after finishing both sections. They will then have a 1 to 1.5 hr run to the finish. The race has been very close for the top teams. Cheer on Mari, Kyle and Olof as they dig to the finish.

cool beans! kinda tough to piece things together, thanks.

Checkpoint Zero and TanZ have returned from the Hickory Run, both missing 1 CP and are continuing on to the Shades of Death orienteering section.

This is from an hour ago per USARA.

Rootstock is the first team to finish both sections successfully.

Rootstock first on the bike to the finish!

Damn, I'm too slow in posting as well as racing!

wow, strong work RS!

And the second team to successfully clear at TA2:
UntamedNE.com

Rootstock for the unofficial win!

Congrats (unofficially), Rootstock! :)

And AMK is the third team to have cleared both foot sections.

Congrats to Abiperk, Brian and Jim of Rootstock - this year's USARA champions!
http://www.usaranationals.com/results.aspx

(Another great prediction by Broots!)

Thanks, Bash! So many awesome performances out there this weekend.

way to go abiperk!