As everyone is no doubt aware, there has already been a great deal of speculation concerning the '02 Trot. How will OK stack up when the chips are down? The start list hasn't been posted yet, but it is fun to think about what could be in store for Trot fans this year.

This might be the year that OK takes back the title for women. Sharon Crawford has basically owned that each year after OK's victory in '98 with Sanna aboard. OK may be coming with a two-pronged attack this year. First of all, Spike and Mary have already been hard at work recruiting Terje, who, if not shell-shocked at the thickness of the misery woods, appears a likely challenger. Secondly, there has been talk of an appearance by the Comet. It would be her Trot debut, but if her form holds, a very dead possum could be heading back to Maryland.

The race among the women may feature several dark horses as well. A lot of attention has been focussed on Mary this Fall. There is at least an outside possibility that Mary, fresh off her US champs win, will want to throw her hat into the ring for OK. Some other clubs will surely want to enter women too. There is a rumor circulating that PTOC has lined up some women from among the ranks of the adventure racers. MNOC often shows up for the Trot, and may contend. Whatever the case, this could be shaping up into the most exciting womens' race in years.

OK is equally strong on the men's side, but the field will be bigger as always and open to many possibilities. All eyes at the start will be on Spike, who though saddled with a devastating knee injury last year, limped around the course at a walk to an impressive 8th place. Spike isn't back to pre-NH speed, but is much better this Fall and will be vying for his first ever PT win (reportedly a dream of his since childhood). Another possibility for a high finish is Mook, who might like to defend his title and erase the aftertaste of his US champs fiasco. He hasn't announced yet, but there are many who believe he can't resist sticking around after the state champs for a stab at the Trot. Will he make it three in a row? The picture for OK gets a little fuzzier at this point. Last year's runner up, Snorkel, is rumored to be opting out of the race this year. Snorkel might be sacrificing his Trot hopes in order to win a double state championships. If true, this could prove the death knell for hopes of an OK sweep. Might Snorkel have run his last Trot? If so, it would fall to someone like Clogs to pick up the slack. Clogs has led a relatively quiet fall campaign, but reports are starting to surface to suggest he's ready to make a move... big time! Long-range surveillance photographs have captured the image of Clogs blowing through high speed track workouts and grueling 6-hour long woods runs. If Clogs' mapreading can match his fitness level, the entire race will be turned on its head! A very mean Gene will be towing the start line for OK by the time this Trot rolls around. Mean Gene has taken his training up a notch and will definitely contend for a high finish at KK. The naysayers will have to eat their words come December 8th.

OK is never the only club to field a PT team. There are probably too many dark horses to mention, so I'll concentrate on the most obvious picks.

• SLOC has been the most consistent at getting its top people to Kansas City. One question that has surfaced regarding SLOC is whether they will be able to go two days in a row. In previous years, they have skipped or soft-peddled through the state champs. Since they have their own titles at stake this year, will they be worn out before Sunday even rolls around? Dave Frei was SLOC's highest finisher last year and must be looking for more now. Dave is well known for running strong second halfs. If he can maintain a hard tempo and stay with the pack through the start of the race, he'll be tough to beat. Eric Buckley showed us a little more finishing speed than Dave in '00. So, if Eric is in the lead pack with 500 meters to go and several teammates around him, SLOC will give him a leadout like Cippolini. It's almost impossible to come around Eric when the hammer is down and a lot of guys will just let him go. SLOC's third weapon could be Rich Ruid, who was a no-show last year. He is perhaps the ultimate unknown and a danger to anyone with the moxie to try to win the Trot.
• RMOC probably follows SLOC as the greatest threat to OK dominance in the PT. Orlyn always seems to be there and will contend for a top-five finish. Swampfox is RMOC's best hope for the win, however. Every year there is speculation as to Swampfox's intentions. Many think this is the year he will return to show that his PTIII victory was no fluke. RMOC can bring other contenders to the meet as well, but it remains to be seen how they will adapt to the conditions for which they are notoriously ill-suited.
• MNOC has been sending a team to the Trot in recent years. Ian Harding and Mike Carlson will have strong runs if they make it this year. If MNOC has an ace up its sleeve, it's probably Brian May. An appearance by Brian would turn the Trot field upside down. The only thing that might save locals would be the thorns, which strikes the fear of death in some people.
• If predictions of cometary appearances hold to form, this December could be a banner month for QOC if Nadim decides on a bid. Nadim knows how to run in mass starts as witnessed by recent relay leadoffs. He's hard to shake and tough enough to get around the green woods of misery. A good appearance by Nadim and OK may come calling him for Idaho duty next summer, especially if the on again, off again Snorkel "retirements" get to be too much of a hassle for the OK elders.
• Finally, you have to keep an eye on the home team. PTOC could very well field its best team ever. Many observers have noted the ascendancy of Keith Lay in PT standings over the years. From last in the field in '99 to 12th (midfield) in '00, to 17th in '01, the expectations keep rising. Gary Thompson and David Coziahr will provide PTOC with plenty of opportunities to score highly. If he's there, look for Gary to at least contend for a top-5 placing.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), November 05, 2002

Answers

Glad someone looks at these things as much as I do. Maybe I can try for a top 10 finish this year. (I was a little disappointed last year to get lapped by Everett before I finished 1/2 of one loop) Eric will probably not like me ruining his dark horse states but everyone seems to be forgetting about Eric Saggers, He did manage a 6th place finish last year. The highest for any PTOC'ers for a wile I think. So hopefully PTOC can represent with a couple of top 10’s from some part time O'ers.

I would like to know who the female adventure racers from KC is?!?! The last result I saw from a female AR's was 50pts in a the 2 hour score O'. I keep forgetting to ask her how that was even possible. .

-- keith (keith_lay@hotmail.com), November 06, 2002.

Yvonne Deyo will be representing SLOC on the women's side this year (SLOC's first entry with a full set of chromosomes.) Dave will also be back, but I believe Rich is still hiding behind the guise of marital bliss.

It’s nice to know that my full-on effort in Kansas Champs the last two years is seen as “soft pedaling” by Mook. He apparently believes me to be much quicker than I am.

-- Eric (ejbuckley@earthlink.net), November 07, 2002.

Eric will probably not like me ruining his dark horse states but everyone seems to be forgetting about Eric Saggers, He did manage a 6th place finish last year.

And while Keith was sitting in front of his computer posting things on the OK forum, Eric was running a night O' practice at Shawnee Mission Park.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), November 07, 2002.

Sure, everyone knows that Eric Saggars is a serious threat, but I wasn't completely sure if he'd show up this year. We heard earlier that he _might_ not have signed up for the Trot yet? Whether that was true or not, word on the street now has it that he's "shopping around" and that PTOC was balking at the heavy appearance fees he wanted. One guy who hangs around in the online (O-Buzz) chat room claims that Eric's being "actively recruited away from PTOC" even as we speak! This apparently comes from a "source close to the situation". This is all just a rumor of course. Nothing is final until (if ever) a contract gets signed.

Personally, I don't put much stock in rumors. You never really know what to believe going into a Trot. We'll just have to wait and see.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), November 07, 2002.

Boy, you would think someone with a two week old baby would get a little bit of slack.

I know Eric S. with be there in PTOC colors. Now if just a few more top guys will twist there knee this year so we can move up a few slots. (of course it didn’t help me last year maybe they will have to twist two knees)

Glad to see the woman’s race getting a little more competitive. It might make a goal of betting the top female a whole lot harder though!!!! I will have to say there nobody like Sharon to keep your ego in check.

-- Keith (keith_lay@hotmail.com), November 08, 2002.

It looks like last weekend's night-o course has shaken the pundits' predictions just a bit.

Spike reports that there was "some trash talking going on" as Keith and Eric went one-on-one. Now we know both can talk the talk. Does that tell us who will walk the walk in 4 weeks' time?

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), November 12, 2002.

Observers of goat races witnessed a little foot speed from Dave Frei last weekend as he won OCIN's Billy Pig a second ahead of Eric Buckley. It really looks like Dave is on schedule for a breakout performance at the Trot, but the Billy Pig is no Trot. How will their performances carry over?

The Bubba Goat is this next weekend down in Georgia. Will anyone running the Trot be going there? Apparently you can get a 10-minute head start in that race by showing up to run in overalls. How many people outside of the deep south actually own a pair of overalls?

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), November 21, 2002.