LRC note: We texted a college coach today (11/22/2023) and he confirmed that Baloga (Colorado) and Watcke (Oregon) are in the portal. However, the thread stating Rheinhardt Harrison in the portal is not true. He isn't in it.
He's definitely fast in the 800m, but his h.s. xc times (14:34 3 mi, 14:58 5k) show he has some strength, too. He doesn't seem like just a long sprinter.
Watcke was one of Illinois's best at cross country and a contender to win any meet, including the state meet, but he was a lock to win the 800 meters on the track. Throughout all of high school, Watcke lost one 800 meter race to in state competition (that being the state meet his junior year, where he finished second). He was very good at cross country but transcendental on the track.
He's definitely fast in the 800m, but his h.s. xc times (14:34 3 mi, 14:58 5k) show he has some strength, too. He doesn't seem like just a long sprinter.
Watcke was one of Illinois's best at cross country and a contender to win any meet, including the state meet, but he was a lock to win the 800 meters on the track. Throughout all of high school, Watcke lost one 800 meter race to in state competition (that being the state meet his junior year, where he finished second). He was very good at cross country but transcendental on the track.
Yeah, I don't think he'll run 5k and up, but he might eventually have the strength for the 1500/3000.
It’s possible that Watcke simply didn’t enjoy the community or team culture of Oregon and is looking for somewhere that’s a better fit for him. I have friends who have been on runs with some of the guys there now and haven’t exactly heard the best things. Id be shocked if an 18 year old kid, however mature in running he is, would be able to ascertain the exact pros and cons of a new training program within a semester and transfer accordingly. Maybe he just doesn’t like it there.
any insight to why? Big fish in a big pond or the writing is on the wall that the coaches are gone?
I'm not sure why an 800m runner or sprinter would want to come here - this isn't a place where fast twitch muscles thrive. It's all speculation at this point, but I can say from the last couple of months that Fall came in like a mofo before the time change and has been fairly cold, dark and miserable. There was no slow taper from the low 60s down to the high 30s in the AM - it went straight through in less than a week. If someone has never experienced the depressing October/November in the PAC NW, trying to adjust to college and a challenging athletics program aren't close to an ideal introduction.
any insight to why? Big fish in a big pond or the writing is on the wall that the coaches are gone?
I'm not sure why an 800m runner or sprinter would want to come here - this isn't a place where fast twitch muscles thrive. It's all speculation at this point, but I can say from the last couple of months that Fall came in like a mofo before the time change and has been fairly cold, dark and miserable. There was no slow taper from the low 60s down to the high 30s in the AM - it went straight through in less than a week. If someone has never experienced the depressing October/November in the PAC NW, trying to adjust to college and a challenging athletics program aren't close to an ideal introduction.
He's from the Chicagoland area, I'm sure he's used to tough weather. It'll be interesting to see if more people transfer out.
Dan Watcke is super talented, coaches should be drooling over the opportunity to have him on their team. I wonder where he'll end up! He was in the top 30 at NXN last year, plus 1.47.7 800m runner, which is the new state record in Illinois. Plus, he won the Pan Am games.
He was def in the running for winning the state XC title in Illinois in 2022; Watcke, Bandukwala, or Liam Newhart could've won state XC, it was a roll of the dice, they're all really good. Watcke ended up 3rd that day.
His parents were both All Americans, too. Part of me wonders if Watcke isn't hitting the portal ahead of the rush with that team. morale has to be low. they didn't qualify for the national meet this year.
I'll add: after Nationals XC your freshman year, you know! You know if it's a good fit. sometimes it's hard to see that in a trip, or a weekend, but by November you'll know if it's going to work out or not.
I regret not transferring out after nationals my freshman year because I knew at that point it wasn't a good fit. It didn't get any better in track season!
Maybe he's looking into that JC that won the Texas Relays 4 x 8 last year or Angelo St? In other words, it could be anywhere. My strongest inclination would be Illinois for the proven coach and the talent he's bringing in then somewhere warmer like Texas or Texas Tech. Washington wouldnt be a good fit if Oregon isnt.
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I hate to say it, but he's a natural miler more like Alan Webb. He's a hair slower than Brazier at 400m, but slightly better at cross country.
Clayton Murphy seems like a more apt comparison. I don’t see Watcke ever winning Big Ten XC or running a 27:34 10,000 like Webb did.
I don’t think people quite understand just how much potential Webb had. I think he could’ve been the next Coe in the sense he could’ve been medal contending world class 800m-5000m had he been handled right.
Murphy is definitely the better comparison.
Oregon has their distance guys going out and doing 10-12 miles at +\- 6:30 pace almost daily, and lots of high volume rep work. The 46.x 1:47.x guy on my team would not have liked that not even a little bit. You gotta feed the cats with your 800m runners. This guy would do 300m reps in 39 with a smile on his face, so there’s no reason to send him on a 5 mile tempo where he averages 5:50 pace and almost dies let alone a good weekend 13 mile progressive run faster than that. I reckon oregon isn’t really a good place to be a pure 800m guy right now. A miler who also runs the 800m yes, but if the 800m is your best event and you have options don’t go to oregon.
any insight to why? Big fish in a big pond or the writing is on the wall that the coaches are gone?
I'm not sure why an 800m runner or sprinter would want to come here - this isn't a place where fast twitch muscles thrive. It's all speculation at this point, but I can say from the last couple of months that Fall came in like a mofo before the time change and has been fairly cold, dark and miserable. There was no slow taper from the low 60s down to the high 30s in the AM - it went straight through in less than a week. If someone has never experienced the depressing October/November in the PAC NW, trying to adjust to college and a challenging athletics program aren't close to an ideal introduction.
Bruh, you ever tried the weather in Illinois in November - February. Eugene would be a picnic
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