Not a pr (1:11.26), but noteworthy nonetheless . . . because, the next day, 2nd placer Shawnti Jackson broke Sydney McLaughlin's hs record (36.82) in the 300m:
Per Milesplit, she's considering "at least five schools" for next year, focusing solely on track: Texas A&M, Virginia, Penn, Harvard, and Texas (she had previously considered doing both track and lacrosse when in college).
Her father ran at Brown in college, so no doubt, he's pushing for her to get good academics. I believe her sister is currently at Penn playing lacrosse while her brother ran for Boston University.
Question is if she will end up doing all 4 years of NCAA eligibility.
For those who are curious, here is a list of her PBs on World Athletics' website:
Texas A&M has been so good at developing 800m runners lately. I think that's where she could go to maximize her running potential. But academics are important too. Will be interesting to see what she picks.
Texas A&M has landed the biggest talents. For the several that have run well, there have been MORE that have bombed out (Sammy Watson for example).
In 2022 outdoors, they only had 2 under 2:13 in the 800 (at 2:02 and 2:06).
In Athing Mu's only year there, she was the only runner under 2:11.
Fray broke the collegiate record indoors as a soph but never ran a PR since. She always choked at NCAA's until her senior year outdoors.
There are dozens of schools that develop 800m runners much better, they just aren't getting the Athing Mu type of talents that would make any coach look like a genius.
Not a pr (1:11.26), but noteworthy nonetheless . . . because, the next day, 2nd placer Shawnti Jackson broke Sydney McLaughlin's hs record (36.82) in the 300m:
The two prep stars met in an early season indoor match-up.Website: http://flosports.link/3p20lTjSubscribe: http://flosports.link/3p4YLQpGet the FloSports iOS...
LOL your example mentions 2 girls that won 3 NCAA titles, then proceeded to not improve as they left Texas A&M and the amazing Coach Mallard… hilarious!
Sophia will be an Aggie for a year, come train for Paris and make the Olympic team just as Mu did after her one year at A&M! The 800 is her event and A&M is where she will thrive. Athing Mu dropped 6 seconds off her PB one year training at A&M! Imagine what Sophia will do! The other schools aren’t up to the challenge, Virginia can be great but want have the experience of working with someone as talented as her, I don’t think it’ll be Stanford and they don’t have room, and Texas will overrun her all year and make her train distance based like they do all their 800 runners!
Sophia is an intelligent young lady that comes from an amazing family. Sophia will prioritize academics, but she has her whole life to get her degree. She has one year and one shot to train for Paris 2024… therefore #SophiatoCollegeStation
A&M 800 seemed to be doing fine on the men's side.
Brandon Miller was stalled out at 1:49 for years and had a dozen threads on this site about how he was burnt out and trained too hard too young and now he's 1:44 and a worlds qualifier.
Sam Whitmarsh 1:51 in HS to 1:46
Caden Norris 1:52 in HS to 1:48
Moitalel Mpoke trained with the 800 group and ran 45.8/48.7/1:49, Dude basically runs his pre A&M 400m open time over hurdles now.
I think her approach is refreshing. Like to compete apparently and lines up and races.
She will certainly freshen you up with her racing schedule at the BU Bruce Lehane Invitational this weekend . . . entered in the 200, 400, 500, 800, and 1000 . . . that has to be some kind of a record for number of events entered by an non-heptathlete/decathlete . . .
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