Tinoda Matsatsa 1:45.17

Looking at his page on athletic, it shows 5 years of racing in high school, some for a public school, some for a private school. First guy I have seen to run 5 years of high school track, I guess there are no rules against this, including age?

Former Franklin Field 800 record was 1:45.34 run by Bucknell’s converted basketballer Tom McLean to win 1978 IC4A’s over Villanova’s Mark Belger.

admittedly I know nothing about his specific situation, but haven't other students in the past been allowed to compete for a high school team while still in eighth grade? wouldn't that result in five years of high school track racing?

i have also read that he hasn't done crazy high volume or intensity training. 147 and sub 4 in high school, now 145 as a freshman. yall need to chill with the expectations; maybe he'll make the trials final maybe not; but his talent and his progression are super exciting and i'm sure in the next few years he'll make a worlds team

I was told he reclassified to have 5 years in high school. You can do that as long as you go to a different league. It's very common in the prep school leagues to encourage kids to reclassify when they transfer in. It's just more common in other sports.

he probably ran against highschoolers as an 8th grader

Can you tell us more about his training? What is it like in high school and what is it like now?

From the interview below, from August 2023, he explains his background from about 6:00 to 10:00 or so. His parents are both Zimbabwean. They emigrated to the U.S. several years before he was born. He was the top Maryland freshman at mile and two mile in Spring 2019. Later, he reclassified and switched schools because he was recruited for soccer. He wasn't able to run xc that year because soccer season was at the same time. He also had club soccer but ultimately dropped it after December of his reclassified sophomore year, if I am understanding it (meaning his nominal junior year). He learned to love running during COVID when he was just running with a friend, usually seven milers. Later, he dropped 30 seconds in the mile after doing a lot of 300s around 44-45 (doing soccer instead of xc really showed him that he had good speed and led to him prioritizing the 800m).

It sounds like he has tremendous upside.

Maybe he makes the final at Trials. Maybe he makes the team.

Any way it goes, the long-term potential is looking great.

It's especially encouraging to know that he played soccer seriously. Real athletes often fare well in the 800. (As opposed to 'running-only' type milers who just don't have the top-end speed to reach a high level in the 800.)

Not sure what the proccess is in Malawi. Might be too late. In many countries takes several months.

Besides USA isn't that strong in the 800m. If he breaks 1:44.7 he's got a shot at making the US team (there are only 5 Americans under that time, and only 1 under 1:44). Only 6 Americans faster than his 1:45.17 as we speak - one of them being Kessler who might not run the 800m.

Someone just posted an interview where he said his parents are from Zimbabwe, not Malawi. I know reading comprehension is hard, but they are in fact not the same country. He cannot run for Malawi. Not to mention he clearly identifies himself as American, was born here, and has spent his whole life living here.

Personally, I am very glad he doesn't seem to be trying to find a loophole to run for a country he has no real connection with, and instead is doing his best to represent his home country, the United States of America. I sincerely hope he makes the team and represents us well in Paris and beyond.