The Sticks
Top Freshman Runner Right now!!!!!!!! 5/14/2012 11:54AM Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
I know that many people are recovering from the loss of their beloved Verzbikas.
After watching Verzbikas toy with our running hopes we quickly turned against him just as quickly as he turned away from running.

I Thought I would start this post to let you all know of a new Running Phenom that has not given the attention he deserves.

Out in the middle of no where--Pocatello Idaho-- Where 11th place foot locker finisher Dallin Farnsworth is also from, is a kid named Elijah Armstrong.

This kid as a freshman from America and isn't 17 years old has already run a 9:04 3200m at arcadia This year.
For Serious
RE: Top Freshman Runner Right now!!!!!!!! 5/14/2012 11:58AM - in reply to The Sticks Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Are you sure he is a freshman?

Sometimes results make mistakes on what year they are in school.
The Sticks
RE: Top Freshman Runner Right now!!!!!!!! 5/14/2012 12:01PM - in reply to For Serious Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Yep I know the kid he is really a freshman.

I think He has run around 4:18 in the mile. He did that about 2-3 months ago so he could have improved that time.

Does anyone know what Verzbicas ran when he was a freshman??????????

(Although he was a lot older than the normal freshman.)
Curiously curious
RE: Top Freshman Runner Right now!!!!!!!! 5/14/2012 12:02PM - in reply to The Sticks Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Does Anyone know what the American High school Freshman record is for the 3200m????
What you talkin bout reggie
RE: Top Freshman Runner Right now!!!!!!!! 5/14/2012 12:04PM - in reply to Curiously curious Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Does anyone know of a freshman right now that is faster than this Elijah Armstrong???
81runner
RE: Top Freshman Runner Right now!!!!!!!! 5/14/2012 12:27PM - in reply to What you talkin bout reggie Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
There is a freshman Discus thrower from Broome High School that is incredible
1 Jackson, Bauvier Broome 173-03 52.80m
He won the class AA state title in SC. This throw was from his region meet. At state he only threw in the upper 160s.
r u serious?
RE: Top Freshman Runner Right now!!!!!!!! 5/14/2012 2:10PM - in reply to The Sticks Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Not given the attention he deserves? He's been mentioned in just about every thread about freshmen. Check out the "Best High School Freshman" topic.
Not a Bruin
RE: Top Freshman Runner Right now!!!!!!!! 5/14/2012 2:23PM - in reply to r u serious? Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
There is a freshman at Cherry Creek High School in Colorado by the name of Daniel Book, who just ran 4:25 for 1600 this past weekend (obviously at altitude). Even more impressive was the 1:54 he split last weekend on Creek's 7:45 4x8. He also ran 49 point in the 400 recently. Unfortunately he doesn't run xc (yet) as he was on their jv soccer team last fall. We'll see if that doesn't change!
good times guy
RE: Top Freshman Runner Right now!!!!!!!! 5/14/2012 3:04PM - in reply to Not a Bruin Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Don\'t get me wrong, I appreciate a potential monster runner as much as the next fan, but....

What does he look like? Are these kids well-developed? Are they physically mature? Does he look like a young elf-boy (aka Rupp)? Are they prematurely balding? Or do they have a lot of maturation to go?
Fastnbulbous
RE: Top Freshman Runner Right now!!!!!!!! 5/14/2012 3:21PM - in reply to The Sticks Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
It's a bad idea to get overly excited about h.s. freshmen. Bad to put too much pressure on them, and bad to count yr chickns, etc.

Verzbikas had always been cagey and conflicted about whether or not to focus on running, which is why I did not hold much hope for him to be our next big running star. Though if it would have happened, great. He could always change his mind again, but I think to become, say, an American record-holding, Olympic medal contender, one has to be a lot more dedicated and single-minded.

Rob Finnerty ran a 9:06 3200 as a h.s. freshman, and like German Fernandez, has been plagued with injuries since. He ran a 4:00 1600 his senior year in 08, and an 8:50 2 mile at Nike Outdoor Nationals, but hasn't done much at Wisconsin due to more injuries. Like Fernandez, he's just now bouncing back, having placed 5th at the Big Ten Conference in 3:43.74.

Perhaps Finnerty will still hit a groove and fulfill his potential. But the point is that for every h.s. freshman prodigy, history shows there will be another couple dozen runners who mature later and will be even better.
Fluffy
RE: Top Freshman Runner Right now!!!!!!!! 5/14/2012 3:53PM - in reply to The Sticks Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

The Sticks wrote:
(Although he was a lot older than the normal freshman.)


If by a lot older you mean 1 year then yes.
watchout
RE: Top Freshman Runner Right now!!!!!!!! 5/14/2012 4:52PM - in reply to Curiously curious Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

Curiously curious wrote:

Does Anyone know what the American High school Freshman record is for the 3200m????


Pretty sure it is the 9:01.40 by Andrew Gardner (Mead, WA) in 2010 (though Eric Hulst's 9:04.4y in 1973 is slightly better, worth a 9:01.15 or so)
Seyta
RE: Top Freshman Runner Right now!!!!!!!! 5/14/2012 5:27PM - in reply to watchout Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

watchout wrote:

Pretty sure it is the 9:01.40 by Andrew Gardner (Mead, WA) in 2010 (though Eric Hulst's 9:04.4y in 1973 is slightly better, worth a 9:01.15 or so)


Realistically, this should NOT be the American Freshman Record.

Verzbicas ran an 8:53 while beating out Solomon Haile at the Midwest Distance Gala in the 2-mile.

Considering he ran a longer distance, they should honestly just scrap the 3200m record and make it Verzbicas' time. As it stands right now, it's just a mockery.
John C
RE: Top Freshman Runner Right now!!!!!!!! 5/14/2012 8:15PM - in reply to The Sticks Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
He won the freshman mile at indoor nationals in 4:18. Looked very relaxed doing it. I saw a lot of great runs at the Armory(NYC) this year and this was one of the most impressive!
watchout
RE: Top Freshman Runner Right now!!!!!!!! 5/14/2012 9:32PM - in reply to Seyta Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

Seyta wrote:

[quote]watchout wrote:

Pretty sure it is the 9:01.40 by Andrew Gardner (Mead, WA) in 2010 (though Eric Hulst's 9:04.4y in 1973 is slightly better, worth a 9:01.15 or so)


Realistically, this should NOT be the American Freshman Record.

Verzbicas ran an 8:53 while beating out Solomon Haile at the Midwest Distance Gala in the 2-mile.

Considering he ran a longer distance, they should honestly just scrap the 3200m record and make it Verzbicas' time. As it stands right now, it's just a mockery.[/quote]

does Verzbicas count as a frosh or soph that year? He graduated with the sophs of that year, and was the age of a soph... if he is recognized as being a frosh that year, then that's fine, that should be the record.

... score one for the case of age records vs. class records.
Old slow and ugly
RE: Top Freshman Runner Right now!!!!!!!! 5/14/2012 10:52PM - in reply to watchout Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
According to "The best of Dyestat" for freshmen, Armstrong's time is the 3rd best over the past 15 years or so. Pretty darn impressive. I wonder if he'll be going to the Freshman mile at the HS nationals in Greensboro?

Other Freshman of note are the Patterson kid from Fl who is ranked 8th on "The best of Dyestat" with a time of 1:54 in the 800, and the Tooley kid from Oregon who's also #8 with a 4:01 1500.