True that. I know first-hand that Peter Seufer wouldn't even train over the summer and Ben still took him to the top.
Ben Thomas is so disrespected
College Running
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I like it a lot wrote:
lol "one guy" didn't he have half the Oregon roster sub-4, kept Aiden Tooker healthy which is harder than climbing Everest, and turned Teare into a 3:50 guy/NCAA champ at 22?
Talking of climbing...
https://www.instagram.com/aidantooker/p/C90usLAt1FN/?img_index=1
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Also did a great job with Neil Gourley before he moved on from Nike.
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Neil Gourley talks about Ben Thomas at the 1:30 mark of this video.
Neil Gourley wrote:
yeah yeah going out to Virginia
Tech was probably the best decision I
made I was lucky to work with uh coach
Ben Thomas out there who really brought
me on a lot as an athlete um uh
physically but mentally as well just
made me a lot tougher
um that was something that you know took
a few years but he he really molded me
into the kind of athlete um today I know
a lot to him for that but uh also just
the experience with that uni just molded
me as well I mean it was a hell of an
opportunity and to also just compete in
the NCAA that molded a lot of my sort of
racecraft you see all sorts of different
situations that perhaps you don't always
always um if you're not exposed to it so
yeah I think I learned in a whole bunch
of different ways uh but yeah it
culminated me and me sort of being able
to pursue the sport as a job afterwards50 -
A buddy of mine at VT turned into a demon when he got there, that was enough to convince me
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VA Tech alum wrote:
Ben Thomas is a very quiet unassuming guy which may be why he doesn't get a lot of accolades, hates tooting his own horn but the dude can coach. His first college coaching gig was App State where he coached Mary Jane Harrelson to two NCAA 1500m titles (their only ncaa champion ever), then VA Tech with many all Americans (11) and the ncaa indoor DMR title there, then to Oregon w Hocker, Teare and another DMR NCAA record. everywhere he has gone there have been really good results. He just isn't the guy who would ever tell you so.
Agree. He keeps his cards close and does not seek the spotlight. His coaching accolades speak for themselves. Most of his athletes speak very highly of him. He is now the Head Coach for VT Track & Field and I bet he is pretty happy back there. He is smart enough to not spread himself too thin with a lot of pros, so his group is small.
A few more:
Tommy Curtin of VT under Thomas beat Ed Cheserek in CC and was one of only a handful of guys to do that. He also beat Justyn Knight on the track. Tasmin Fanning 3rd NCAA CC. Hannah Green 2nd in NCAA 800m to Raevyn Rodgers. 2018 NCAA Indoor mile Ciattei (2), Joseph (4), Gourley(7) after winning the DMR the day before.
Success like that is no accident. He builds them physically and mentally. A great coach and a good human. Being quiet should not detract from that.
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VA Tech alum wrote:
Ben Thomas is a very quiet unassuming guy which may be why he doesn't get a lot of accolades, hates tooting his own horn but the dude can coach. His first college coaching gig was App State where he coached Mary Jane Harrelson to two NCAA 1500m titles (their only ncaa champion ever), then VA Tech with many all Americans (11) and the ncaa indoor DMR title there, then to Oregon w Hocker, Teare and another DMR NCAA record. everywhere he has gone there have been really good results. He just isn't the guy who would ever tell you so.
Agree. He lets his results speak for themselves and does not seek a spotlight. His athletes speak highly of him.
A few more:
Tommy Curtin of VT under Thomas beat Ed Cheserek in Cross Country. He also beat Justyn Knight on the track. Tasmin Fanning 3rd in NCAA CC. Ciattei (2), Joseph (4), Gourley (7) in 2018 NCAA Indoor mile the day after DMR Win. Hannah Green NCAA runner up to Raevyn Rodgers the NCAA record holder.
Coaching success like that is no accident.
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He would get all the 2nd to 3rd tier VA talent and see who could make it. Lot of wasted potential to find the diamonds in the rough
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BeThoma1
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I like it a lot wrote:
True that. I know first-hand that Peter Seufer wouldn't even train over the summer and Ben still took him to the top.
I’m a Thomas fan - but let’s give credit where it’s due. Eric Johannigmeier (now at Illinois) was at the helm for Seufer’s biggest successes.
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papajs wrote:
Plus the near 100% humidity is equivalent to 4500"
This plus, just 16 miles away is Mountain Lake (where Dirty Dancing was filmed), at 4000 feet. Plenty of running up there as well as lodging. I know, not "real" mountains, but 4000 feet has 63% of the oxygen as sea level while Boulder, at 5420 feet, has 52%. I've ran up there, there is an altitude training effect. "Nike East at Mountain Lake" sounds nice.....
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