We return to the Rolldown, described by someone on the Jelle’s Marble Runs subreddit as “Comprehensive. To the max.” This week another two events were on the schedule as we watched to see whether another team wanted to join the Minty Maniacs, O’rangers, and Crazy Cat’s Eyes in the upper echelon of this season’s competition, or if it would remain a three-horse race. We’re still in the early enough portion of the competition that one remarkable event, good or bad, can shoot a squad up the standings in either direction. We start with Event 6, the 5 meter Hurdles.

Event 6: 5 m Hurdles
One designated marble from each team runs this race, which is run like a standard track event. There are four heats of four marbles, and the top two in each heat move onto the semifinals (P9–16 are determined by best finishing time). Likewise, the top two in each of the two semifinals move onto the finals (and P5–8 are determined by best finishing time), before the final, in the ol’ “whoever crosses first wins” style. The hurdles aren’t jumping obstacles like they were in the first Marble League, but the marbles have to make their way through them.

King Stardust, as always, did a demonstration of the event, and though they didn’t show the timer I clocked him at around 9.75 seconds, using the tried and true phone stopwatch app.

ML Record: 8.552 seconds

All are from Lanes 1-4, starting on the course’s left.

Heat 1: Momomomo (Team Momo), Minty Flav (Minty Maniacs), Starry (Team Galactic), Sea (Oceanics)

Sea and Minty Flav got the best jump off the line as the heat approached the first of the hurdles. Minty Flav definitely hit the first one offline a little and was bouncing a bit through the lane. This opened the door for Starry, who not only passed the Maniacs’ captain, but also got by Sea. Sea lost steam through the hurdles and fell all the way back, as the Oceanics’ problems continue.

Results: Starry, Minty Maniacs, Momomomo, Sea

Don’t mind Starry, putting Team Galactic on her back like she seemingly always does. With a winning time of 8.586, she and Minty Flav go through.

Heat 2: Snarl (Balls of Chaos), Quacky (Green Ducks), Vespa (Hornets), Yellow Eye (Crazy Cat’s Eyes)

In a manner surprising absolutely everyone, Vespa got the best launch. Remember, she was 31st in Marbula One only above Mary due to average placement, so if only she had gotten those kinds of quick starts. Snarl and Quacky were behind, but ahead of Yellow Eye until the hurdles, as Yellow Eye suddenly got some speed in the hurdles to pull ahead, first of the two backmarkers, and then ultimately pipping Vespa at the line.

Results: Yellow Eye, Vespa, Snarl, Quacky

Yellow Eye’s time of 8.660 was only 25 thousandths ahead of Vespa’s.

Heat 3: Razzy (Raspberry Racers), Kinnowin (O’rangers), Yellup (Mellow Yellow), Bolt (Thunderbolts)

Another pair of captains in the first two lanes, and surprisingly Kinnowin was slow out of the blocks, with the other three marbles a bit ahead, Yellup holding a slim lead. That evaporated after the first hurdle though as Razzy seized the lead which grew and grew. In the background, Yellup was faltering and it was going to be close between Kinnowin and Bolt over second.

Results: Razzy, Kinnowin, Bolt, Yellup

ML Record: Razzy, Raspberry Racers, 8.439 seconds

That pretty much explains it. Razzy shatters Wuspy’s record by over a tenth of a second. Kinnowin holds on for 2nd by 18 thousandths.

Heat 4: Swifty (Savage Speeders), Smoggy (Hazers), Wuspy (Midnight Wisps), Swax (Bumblebees)

Up to Wuspy to pick up the gauntlet, I guess. And Wuspy got out of the gate strong with the lead as the three marbles behind jostled for position. Swax hit a hurdle wrong and fell out of it, and Wuspy got a bad jump out of the last one as Swifty and Smoggy caught up right at the finish. It went to the photo finish!

Results: Wuspy, Swifty, Smoggy, Swax

Wuspy’s time was 8.619, with Swifty 3 thousandths and Smoggy 7 thousandths back. Bad luck for Smoggy, that 8.626 would have won one of the heats and been good enough for 2nd in the other two, meaning Smoggy had the fifth-best time of the heats. Which nets him 9th place as a result. As they say, that’s marble racing, Suzyn.

9th to 16th (non-advancing): Smoggy, Swax, Bolt, Momomomo, Sea, Yellup, Snarl, Quacky

Onto the semifinals:

Semifinal A: Vespa (Hornets), Starry (Team Galactic), Razzy (Raspberry Racers), Swifty (Savage Speeders)

Razzy got the best start out of the blocks, with Swifty battling with Vespa for that all-important 2nd. Well it was a battle until Vespa hit the second or third hurdle the wrong way and well way back, even behind Starry, who was trying to sneak into a transfer position. But Razzy and Swifty were too much as they sped off, Swifty trying to catch the Racers’ captain, to no avail, but useful enough to stay in 2nd.

Results: Razzy, Swifty, Starry, Vespa

ML Record: Razzy, Raspberry Racers, 8.386 seconds

And Razzy lowers his own mark, this one by a smidge over half a tenth a second!

Semifinal B: Yellow Eye (Crazy Cat’s Eyes), Minty Flav (Minty Maniacs), Wuspy (Midnight Wisps), Kinnowin (O’rangers)

Wuspy got the best launch out of the blocks but with the secondary jump it was Yellow Eye getting to the hurdles first. And the two of them had their lead grow on the other two, but even among that Yellow Eye’s grew over Wuspy.

Results: Yellow Eye, Wuspy, Kinnowin, Minty Flav

ML Record: Yellow Eye, Crazy Cat’s Eyes, 8.126 seconds

That is another sledgehammer to the record, as Razzy’s mark stands for about 30 seconds before Yellow lowers it by over a quarter second! The record has been lowered by over four tenths in the time this event started. It’s almost five percent of the starting record.

It means the final will have three of the four recordholders from when we started (Wuspy, Razzy, and Yellow Eye). And also Swifty!

5th to 8th (nonadvancing): Starry, Kinnowin, Vespa, Minty Flav

Onto the final, but before that, I may have been hasty. Razzy was ruled out of the event due to crashing into the barrier funny in the semifinal. The JMRC (Jelle’s Marble Runs Committee) agreed to replace him with Ruzzy, the reserve.

Final: Wuspy (Midnight Wisps), Razzy Ruzzy (Raspberry Racers), Swifty (Savage Speeders), Yellow Eye (Crazy Cat’s Eyes)

It was a fairly even start between Ruzzy, Swifty, and Yellow Eye off the blocks, with Yellow Eye having the slightest edge getting to the hurdles. The three of them remained constant for a hurdle or two but Swifty and Yellow Eye began to lose steam, giving Ruzzy the lead, and having Wuspy go from 4th to 2nd. The question was whether Wuspy could close to Ruzzy, but that was a marble just a bit too far.

Result: Ruzzy, Wuspy, Swifty, Yellow Eye

Controversy? Probably. Wondrous? Sure. Timewise? Not a record, only because of Yellow Eye’s semifinal run—Ruzzy’s 8.311 is the second-fastest time in the event, beating both of Razzy’s times.

Podium:
Gold: Ruzzy, Raspberry Racers
Silver: Wuspy, Midnight Wisps
Bronze: Swifty, Savage Speeders

The $5,000 donation made in the Raspberry Racers’ name was to Food Bank for the Heartland.

Rest of results (4th-16th):
Yellow Eye (Crazy Cat’s Eyes), Starry (Team Galactic), Kinnowin (O’rangers), Vespa (Hornets), Minty Flav (Minty Maniacs), Smoggy (Hazers), Swax (Bumblebees), Bolt (Thunderbolts), Momomomo (Team Momo), Sea (Oceanics), Yellup (Mellow Yellow), Snarl (Balls of Chaos), Quacky (Green Ducks)

And through six events, the standings get even closer.

Standings (after Event 6)
1. Minty Maniacs-91 pts (2G 1B)
2. O’rangers-90 pts (2G 1S) (hold tiebreaker due to number of golds)
3. Crazy Cat’s Eyes-90 pts (1G 1S)
4. Raspberry Racers-75 pts (1G 1S 1B)
5. Midnight Wisps-68 pts (1S 1B)
6. Team Galactic-54 pts (1S)
7. Savage Speeders-52 pts (2B)
8. Balls of Chaos-50 pts (1S)
9. Hazers-45 pts
10. Bumblebees-39 pts
11. Team Momo-37 pts
12. Green Ducks-32 pts
13. Thunderbolts-31 pts
14. Hornets-27 pts
15. Oceanics-26 pts
16. Mellow Yellow-23 pts (1B)

Biggest rise: Savage Speeders & Hornets (+2)
Biggest drop: Balls of Chaos (-3)

Onto Event 7…

Event 7: Block Pushing
An event we saw in the qualifiers, four-marble teams face each other pushing a block down the track as far as they can. The measurement is based on the black piece of the block.

Unlike in the qualifiers and friendlies, each team will have two opportunities (one from each track), and unlike the halfpipe, only the farthest single attempt of the two will determine scoring.

Again, there was no official measurement for King Stardust and crew, but it seemed to be in the low 50s. Regardless, it’s a total of 16 runs due to two each. All will be marked as left lane, then right lane.

ML Record: 82.60 cm (marked in red on track)

Run 1: Crazy Cat’s Eyes & Balls of Chaos
Both teams got a fairly spread start, and the Crazy Cat’s Eyes nearly got all the way under the block, nearly knocking it out of the track. They got their bearings back and had an acceptable run.
Crazy Cat’s Eyes: 70.50 cm
Balls of Chaos: 67.65 cm

Run 2: Thunderbolts & Minty Maniacs
The two teams had slightly less of a spread than the first two, and it was the Thunderbolts getting a very nice push, despite all the bouncing around in the lane.
Thunderbolts: 74.80 cm
Minty Maniacs: 68.25 cm

Run 3: Oceanics & Hornets
Two teams near the bottom of the standings needing big numbers if possible. The Oceanics had a tighter grouping but the Hornets were able to get much more push. You can see the Oceanics had their second marble bunch up with their third, and that energy lost cost them.
Oceanics: 73.55 cm
Hornets: 76.80 cm

Run 4: Green Ducks & Mellow Yellow
Speaking of bottom of the standings, especially with Mellow Yellow, which has a medal and then a whole lotta nothing. The two teams had similar groupings, and similar speeds, which led to similar results.
Green Ducks: 76.00 cm
Mellow Yellow: 75.05 cm

Run 5: Savage Speeders & Midnight Wisps
Now for former champs steadily working their ways up the standings, the Speeders and Wisps both medaled in the last event. The camera panned but it didn’t look like it was four marbles connected, and I think a bit of a spread actually helps maximize distance. And both squads maximized distance, especially the Wisps.
Savage Speeders: 81.80 cm
Midnight Wisps: 85.80 cm

Yes, the Wisps break the O’rangers’ record. And by quite a bit too, considering it was about a marble and a half difference. The Speeders might have been able to as well but there seemed to be some early turbulence in the block that probably cost them a couple centimeters.

Run 6: Raspberry Racers & O’rangers
Both had a somewhat separated grouping, and with a pair of good pushes they’d at least be in decent contention after the first run. Not as good as the previous run’s outcomes, but in the mix.
Raspberry Racers: 75.70 cm
O’rangers: 76.80 cm

Run 7: Hazers & Team Momo
Again, similar groupings, this time more of a three for the initial push with the one anchor lagging behind, and it worked well, especially for Team Momo, which at least made 75. The Hazers had the idea but the block going skyward means the block doesn’t move forward.
Hazers: 66.20 cm
Team Momo: 76.55 cm

Run 8: Team Galactic & Bumblebees
Last of the first runs, as remember, each team will get another chance and from that the better of the two will determine the standings. The Bumblebees were faster down the track, and again it shows that there is such a thing as too close. Team Galactic got their spacing down well and got towards the 80 mark.
Team Galactic: 79.10 cm
Bumblebees: 67.20 cm

After the first sets of runs the Midnight Wisps, with the record, were in the lead, ahead of the Savage Speeders and Team Galactic. Most of the midpack was in the 73.5–76 range, and I imagine that number will at least creep to the top of that range before all is said and done. For teams like the Minty Maniacs, Balls of Chaos, Bumblebees, and Hazers, all scoring under 70, they’re glad it’s a best run format, rather than a cumulative. Since this is the second run, we’ll have provisionals for it.

Run 9: Balls of Chaos & Crazy Cat’s Eyes
Personally I’d be okay with “8th from the left with 8th from the right” and so on for the second leg, rather than the same pairs. But I’m going to guess that makes things easier for Jelle, so I’m not going to argue it. Anyway, these two teams were in the bottom with their first runs, so improvement would be nice. The Crazy Cat’s Eyes got better speed down the ramp, and they got first to the block and farther down the track as a result.
Balls of Chaos: 73.05 cm, final result 73.05 (13th)
Crazy Cat’s Eyes: 78.55 cm, final result 78.55 (4th)

Run 10: Minty Maniacs & Thunderbolts
The Thunderbolts are in that middle pack. Meanwhile the Minty Maniacs are behind even that, and with a one-point lead could use a nice run to try and maintain it. It was an even run for both though the Thunderbolts had some bunching up at the end, and at the least it’s improvement for the Maniacs, but it’s not massive runs for either.
Minty Maniacs: 72.30 cm, final result 72.30 (14th)
Thunderbolts: 69.80 cm, final result 74.80 (11th)

Run 11: Hornets & Oceanics
Very nice spreads, very nice pushes, but maybe not the wowing kind. As a matter of fact, for both teams their first run was better, so throw both out.
Hornets: 72.60 cm, final result 76.80 (6th)
Oceanics: 72.40 cm, final result 73.55 (12th)

Run 12: Mellow Yellow & Green Ducks
Mellow Yellow got the better run off the line but it doesn’t translate into a huge amount of distance, as both teams were around the 70 mark. Considering where they both were, that means both got tossed.
Mellow Yellow: 70.70 cm, final result 75.05 (10th)
Green Ducks: 70.30 cm, final result 76.00 (8th)

Run 13: Midnight Wisps & Savage Speeders
Not expecting either of these second runs to be better. In the case of the Wisps it would be tough to top, with another record. Yeah, toss ’em both, as neither even made 75. But if the first scores hold, they’ll definitely be happy.
Midnight Wisps: 69.60 cm, final result 85.80 (1st)
Savage Speeders: 71.40 cm, final result 81.80 (2nd)

Run 14: O’rangers & Raspberry Racers
The Racers had the better spacing and the better speed from that lead marble, but it came down to rear marbles, and that rear marble on the O’rangers got the necessary push to even threaten the Speeders’ mark, because it was certainly in the 81-82 range. For the Racers it would be high 70s and decent points, but that would mean no medal.
O’rangers: 82.40 cm, final result 82.40 (2nd)
Raspberry Racers: 79.05 cm, final result 79.05 (5th)

Run 15: Team Momo & Hazers
A tale of two runs. The one Greg Woods talked about was the Hazers’. It wasn’t great. A lot of bouncing around, a lot of the block bouncing on the track, and as rough as the Hazers did on the first run, this was even worse.
In the meantime Team Momo’s run, so far away that on the comparison lines they actually had to do a camera cut, had crested 80 and was a medal contender.
Team Momo: 82.45 cm, final result 82.45 (2nd)
Hazers: 55.35 cm, final result 66.20 (16th)

Yeah, the Hazers’ second run almost got beat by Team Stardust. And that’s no disrespect to the king, but he hasn’t been training all year for this, last I checked.

Run 16: Bumblebees & Team Galactic
Not sure what happened on this one for either team, as the launches were fine and there wasn’t excess energy, just the push didn’t come. For both teams it would be their first runs to be scored, and for one team that’s a far better outcome than the other.
Bumblebees: 64.65 cm, final result 67.20 (15th)
Team Galactic: 72.70 cm, final result 79.10 (5th)

Podium:
Gold: Midnight Wisps (85.80 cm)
Silver: Team Momo (82.45 cm)
Bronze: O’rangers (82.40 cm)

The $5,000 donation in the Midnight Wisps’ name was made to Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan.

Rest of results:
Savage Speeders, Team Galactic, Raspberry Racers, Crazy Cat’s Eyes, Hornets, Green Ducks, Mellow Yellow, Thunderbolts, Oceanics, Balls of Chaos, Minty Maniacs, Bumblebees, Hazers

What does this do for the current championship standings as we near the midpoint? Well, it’s definitely opened the door a little bit, as it’s now arguably a five-team scrum at the moment.

Standings (after Event 7)
1. O’rangers-105 pts (2G 1S 1B)
2. Crazy Cat’s Eyes-99 pts (1G 1S)
3. Minty Maniacs-93 pts (2G 1B) (hold number of golds tiebreaker)
4. Midnight Wisps-93 pts (1G 1S 1B)
5. Raspberry Racers-85 pts (1G 1S 1B)
6. Team Galactic-65 pts (1S)
7. Savage Speeders-64 pts (2B)
8. Team Momo-57 pts (1S)
9. Balls of Chaos-53 pts (1S)
10. Hazers-45 pts
11. Bumblebees-40 pts
12. Green Ducks-39 pts
13. Thunderbolts-36 pts
14. Hornets-35 pts
15. Oceanics-30 pts
16. Mellow Yellow-29 pts (1B)

Biggest rise: Team Momo (+3)
Biggest drop: Minty Maniacs (-2)

That does it for this week. Next week we again have a pair of races as we wait for the second half of the Marbula E schedule to add to the races. The triathlon will be this Thursday, with the mogul race on Sunday. And we’ll see you next week at this time.