Tough breaks for UAC/Julian. Two of their athletes are running their absolute best, and one apparently doesn't get offered a contract (Koko), and the other makes a life decision unrelated to her training (Hull). All while Nike is reigning in costs it seems, so I'm not sure if they could add a Lauren Gregory or someone like that.
Klosterhalfen is far from her best.
UAC has three world-class athletes now - Rogers, Johnson, and DQ Brazier - and twice as many hangers-on, Bowerman refugees, children of Nike employees, favors to Vin, etc. If you had a talented athlete, would you trust Pete Julian to be a good steward of that talent?
Don't forget Engels left, Brazier hurt, Hasay is done, etc.
If you look at each case individually its "ah tough break" but you add them all up and the bigger picture looks a little differently.
People underestimate how much of coaching is personality and dealing with people. That is all I will say on that....
People really hate Julian I guess. Koko had an encouraging end to the season including a fast HM and European 5,000m title. Pretty close to her best-ever form. Hull undoubtedly has had the best few months of her career (monster World XC leg, wins in Australia, PBs, national records). Sinclaire Johnson is way better than she was at BTC. Raevyn Rogers has PBed and medaled with Julian though last worlds she probably wanted more. Jordan Hasay I mean come on, and Engels does his own thing.
Don't forget Engels left, Brazier hurt, Hasay is done, etc.
If you look at each case individually its "ah tough break" but you add them all up and the bigger picture looks a little differently.
People underestimate how much of coaching is personality and dealing with people. That is all I will say on that....
People really hate Julian I guess. Koko had an encouraging end to the season including a fast HM and European 5,000m title. Pretty close to her best-ever form. Hull undoubtedly has had the best few months of her career (monster World XC leg, wins in Australia, PBs, national records). Sinclaire Johnson is way better than she was at BTC. Raevyn Rogers has PBed and medaled with Julian though last worlds she probably wanted more. Jordan Hasay I mean come on, and Engels does his own thing.
I don't respect Julian as a coach for one simple reason-
You have possibly the MOST talented 800m runner we have ever seen in the US and you can't get him to the starting line healthy for the last 2.5 years?
I know that isn't the most rational but when you have a generational talent and are screwing it up I will judge.
Don't forget Engels left, Brazier hurt, Hasay is done, etc.
If you look at each case individually its "ah tough break" but you add them all up and the bigger picture looks a little differently.
People underestimate how much of coaching is personality and dealing with people. That is all I will say on that....
People really hate Julian I guess. Koko had an encouraging end to the season including a fast HM and European 5,000m title. Pretty close to her best-ever form. Hull undoubtedly has had the best few months of her career (monster World XC leg, wins in Australia, PBs, national records). Sinclaire Johnson is way better than she was at BTC. Raevyn Rogers has PBed and medaled with Julian though last worlds she probably wanted more. Jordan Hasay I mean come on, and Engels does his own thing.
"Pretty close to her best ever form."
People forget how unreal peak Klosterhalfen was.
In 2019 alone she:
- Ran 8:20 for the 3000m
- closed a 3:59 1500 in a 58s last lap, 28s last 200 to get second in the Diamond League final beating the likes of Dibaba, Simpson, GDS, Tseguy. Those last two when 3:54+3:56 in Doha so not crazy to think Klosterhalfen was in comparable shape.
- closed the the last lap of the 5000m at Doha to medal in a 59... impressive alone. Even more crazy given she went 14:28! Closing a sub 14:30 race at Worlds in under 60s is absolutely wild.
- solo no pacer 14:26 at German nationals. It took a pacer til 3k + SSchweizer pushing her to go 14:23 and Klosterhalfen whipped that off 100% by herself mid season.
- honourable mention her totally solo 4:19 mile at millrose.
The only thing in 2022 that holds a candle to that season is the half marathon. Her SBs last year on the track were 4:04, 8:40, and 14:37. Good for sure, not a bad year, but nothing compared to 2019.
Tough breaks for UAC/Julian. Two of their athletes are running their absolute best, and one apparently doesn't get offered a contract (Koko), and the other makes a life decision unrelated to her training (Hull). All while Nike is reigning in costs it seems, so I'm not sure if they could add a Lauren Gregory or someone like that.
Don't forget Engels left, Brazier hurt, Hasay is done, etc.
If you look at each case individually its "ah tough break" but you add them all up and the bigger picture looks a little differently.
People underestimate how much of coaching is personality and dealing with people. That is all I will say on that....
And don't forget Shannon Osika either. She joined UAC right after missing the Olympic team by only 1 spot and .09 seconds but has been MIA since.
This is a laughably terrible comment. Jess Hull is easily the best and most popular mid/distance runner in Australia. She owns all our national records basically. She's more liked than Stewy McSweyn, Ollie Hoare and the rest put together.
This mixed with the fact that Jess is attractive, marketable and a great ambassador for the sport, if you can't see why Nike would continue to throw money at her then you need your eyes checked.
Have any of you thought…maybe it isn’t fair to speculate and make things dramatic? Situations change. Shady things could be happening…yes. Or maybe some falling out…yes. Or maybe homesick or maybe more money offered elsewhere in a dog eat dog world …yes. It’s just not fair to speculate until we hear it from them themselves.
The part of Pete Julian building UAC from the ground up made me laugh.
When will Nike pull the plug on UAC?
I'm sure that the non-running marketing guys there are asking themselves what the UAC is contributing to Nike.
Pull the plug on UAC? Look at what is going on at BTC.
Nike, at least the new people in charge at Nike - from the outside looking in, seem to not give a flying hoot about track and field any more.
One has to ask if there is any oversight of either group from Nike Sports Marketing the way things have been going.
Neither group have been restocking the shelves with new up-and-coming stars. Other groups are landing the big fish or catching the fish that are swimming away.
So we were supposed to believe that all the years that NOP had amazing success with all of its athletes (biggest thing seems there were very few injuries), the only athletes Salazar worked with were Rupp, Mo and Hasay and PJ was coaching everyone else. Then as soon as Salazar is forced to steps down performances drop way off (ok PJ had some success with members of the women's squad). PJ is NOT a good coach and has done incredible damage to US mens middle distance running.
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