Ratcliffe just misses 4:00 barrier!

Room for improvement!

Nice job Ratcliffe

This may be the most under-trained talented kid in the country. He plays Soccer in the fall (has never run XC), ran an 8:57 2 mile in an indoor duel meet lapping everyone at least twice, and ran some ridiculous DMR anchor legs at NBIN and Penn.

The reality is, he's not a miler at all, this is a 5K kid. His 4:01 is all strengh. It won't surprise me at all to see him go sub 14 indoors or out next year at Stanford.

And he wasn't even invited to Brooks PR. What's up with that??

Does anyone know where he's going to college?

Stanford. They got a very good recruit.

Quien?

BigFan wrote:

This may be the most under-trained talented kid in the country. He plays Soccer in the fall (has never run XC), ran an 8:57 2 mile in an indoor duel meet lapping everyone at least twice, and ran some ridiculous DMR anchor legs at NBIN and Penn.

The reality is, he's not a miler at all, this is a 5K kid. His 4:01 is all strengh. It won't surprise me at all to see him go sub 14 indoors or out next year at Stanford.

And he wasn't even invited to Brooks PR. What's up with that??

I don't know anything about this kid, but that statement seems to make no sense given your first paragraph.

BigFan wrote:

This may be the most under-trained talented kid in the country. He plays Soccer in the fall (has never run XC), ran an 8:57 2 mile in an indoor duel meet lapping everyone at least twice, and ran some ridiculous DMR anchor legs at NBIN and Penn.

The reality is, he's not a miler at all, this is a 5K kid. His 4:01 is all strengh. It won't surprise me at all to see him go sub 14 indoors or out next year at Stanford.

And he wasn't even invited to Brooks PR. What's up with that??

He speaks the truth

BigFan wrote:

This may be the most under-trained talented kid in the country. He plays Soccer in the fall (has never run XC), ran an 8:57 2 mile in an indoor duel meet lapping everyone at least twice, and ran some ridiculous DMR anchor legs at NBIN and Penn.

The reality is, he's not a miler at all, this is a 5K kid. His 4:01 is all strengh. It won't surprise me at all to see him go sub 14 indoors or out next year at Stanford.

And he wasn't even invited to Brooks PR. What's up with that??

Also the son of one of the most respected agents in the business.

As someone who's run against Ratcliffe and watched him race many times - I have to agree with some of the above posters. He has speed (1:22 high 600m) but he is truly a strength runner. He can truly grind and has never run a XC season. He will run some fast 1500s in college but expect to see him in the 5000.

Sjt wrote:

As someone who's run against Ratcliffe and watched him race many times - I have to agree with some of the above posters. He has speed (1:22 high 600m) but he is truly a strength runner. He can truly grind and has never run a XC season. He will run some fast 1500s in college but expect to see him in the 5000.

Not necesarily a 5k runner. He can grind out pretty well, but he's split 50.x and has run 51.0 in open 4s

malmo wrote:...respected agents...

Contradiction in terms.

Sounds kind of like Grant Fisher (soccer background, under trained in high school, natural speed, and solid endurance).

Both going to Stanford. Fear the Trees!

Sounds Fishy wrote:

Sounds kind of like Grant Fisher (soccer background, under trained in high school, natural speed, and solid endurance).

Both going to Stanford. Fear the Trees!

Both will prove excellent time trialers, be MVPs at P Jordan, and never win a race . . . except against pathetic Cal in the "Big Meet"

This kid will be a better runner then Grant. I promise that.

The Real Tragedy wrote:

malmo wrote:...respected agents...

Contradiction in terms.

How so?

Tree skeptic wrote:

Sounds Fishy wrote:

Sounds kind of like Grant Fisher (soccer background, under trained in high school, natural speed, and solid endurance).

Both going to Stanford. Fear the Trees!

Both will prove excellent time trialers, be MVPs at P Jordan, and never win a race . . . except against pathetic Cal in the "Big Meet"

You are barking up the wrong tree.

Why would you say that?

You sound testy.

I am happy to know Stanford is getting another excellent recruit.

McGorty, Fisher, Ratcliffe, Osterberg, Lauer and others. A good group of guys to train with and push each other.

As another person who's watched him run for the last 4 years, gotta go with sjt on this one. He can run a fast 400 by HS standards, but he's got no ability to change gears and so no chance in competitive college miles/1500s. He knows this too, which is why he ran the 2-mile at indoor nationals.

For all of you out there who like to pick on Hunter's form, you'll have a field day with this guy. Runs like a robot, all right angles. He must have the greatest heart and lungs of all time because it's not coming from his legs.