All the hell Hoey catches — never mind the insinuations fired at a 16 year old kid from Texas, and no one has the honesty to note that Brazier’s comeback, supposedly on “…five months training,” might just be a little bit sus, just a little bit… or a lot according to others. Why does Brazier get a pass, hmmm?
Anyone who watched Brazier run when he was younger wouldn’t doubt him. He negative split a 1:47 in high school and ran a 1:48 with 56-52 splits off like 30 miles a week.
Then he lowered his mileage and ran 1:43 to win NCAAs as a freshman. The runs 1:42 to win worlds a couple years later, all before bicarb and super shoes. Never having run more than 7 miles in a row in his life.
He never needed a lot of training. If he could run, he would run fast. He may not be quite as talented as Lutkenhaus, however, he’s easily the second most talented 800m guy in the world and could’ve run low 1:41 if healthy in his physical prime.
He didn’t negative split his 1:47 and you intentionally reversed his splits for that 1:48, which was still a great solo effort. No need to lie. Three years off is a long time. Five months training, if that’s true, raises eyebrows among those who are trying to be realistic. It may be something made up to try and paych opponents. In the end, hopefully Lutkenhaus continues to improve and ends the circus side show as he takes over the top spot in the US.
Anyone who watched Brazier run when he was younger wouldn’t doubt him. He negative split a 1:47 in high school and ran a 1:48 with 56-52 splits off like 30 miles a week.
Then he lowered his mileage and ran 1:43 to win NCAAs as a freshman. The runs 1:42 to win worlds a couple years later, all before bicarb and super shoes. Never having run more than 7 miles in a row in his life.
He never needed a lot of training. If he could run, he would run fast. He may not be quite as talented as Lutkenhaus, however, he’s easily the second most talented 800m guy in the world and could’ve run low 1:41 if healthy in his physical prime.
He didn’t negative split his 1:47 and you intentionally reversed his splits for that 1:48, which was still a great solo effort. No need to lie. Three years off is a long time. Five months training, if that’s true, raises eyebrows among those who are trying to be realistic. It may be something made up to try and paych opponents. In the end, hopefully Lutkenhaus continues to improve and ends the circus side show as he takes over the top spot in the US.
Jonathan Gault - This is a great piece. Thanks for putting the story together so well.
During Brazier's 2025 comeback, I couldn't stop thinking of the 2015 thread that introduced us all to Donavan. One of the craziest claims someone could make at the time. As amazing as Fisher's career has been so far, and despite different disciplines, I'd argue it's still true:
This is the eternal question of the last decade of track and field: who is the most talented member of the MI 2015 graduating class? And it's crazy how much it has swung back and forth.
Out of high school most would probably say Fisher with his sub 4 and two Footlocker titles (both sound kind of dated now but I swear those were big deals!). Then in 2016 Brazier goes crazy at A&M and it seems like no contest. But early pro Brazier had some struggles, while Fisher started to come into his own at Stanford and won his own NCAA title in 2017. Then Fisher had his struggles (Stanford engineering plus being the best distance runner in the NCAA isn't a walk in the park) while Brazier settled more as a pro. Then 2019 was the year the debate looked like it might have ended: Fisher loses out on NCAA titles to Morgan McDonald and some dorky kid from Notre Dame (wonder what happened to that guy?) while Brazier becomes world champ and American Record holder.
Then, Fisher levels up during the pandemic and really starts responding to the Bowerman training. 2021 and poor Brazier has to limp home on an injured foot. So suddenly Fisher's an Olympian, then gets a few American records of his own, and then nabs those elusive Olympic medals. All while Brazier isn't racing a step. And then you have last year, where Fisher gets a couple world records and comes in looking so strong. Only for Brazier to complete the crazy comeback to win USAs, while Fisher doesn't retain his US titles. I'm sure both would've wanted more from Tokyo but that journey is just crazy! For two of the most talented US runners of their era, they've only been on two US teams together: last year, obviously, and then Eugene 2022 where Brazier only got on because of his 2019 win.
He didn’t negative split his 1:47 and you intentionally reversed his splits for that 1:48, which was still a great solo effort. No need to lie. Three years off is a long time. Five months training, if that’s true, raises eyebrows among those who are trying to be realistic. It may be something made up to try and paych opponents. In the end, hopefully Lutkenhaus continues to improve and ends the circus side show as he takes over the top spot in the US.
What “circus side show”?
I see the guy’s point. Between all the accusations tossed at Hoey, Hoey’s firing of coaches, Brazier’s impossibly fast rise from the couch to a PR after a three year layoff, it it sure seems like a circus side show. I too hope Cooper just starts blasting them all off the track in the next year or two. Hoppel and Miller will end up being nice guys who are collateral damage, but Hoey unfortunately alienates too many people and Brazier’s ‘miracle’ super-speedy comeback is quite frankly sus as hell.
I’d be very curious to know braziers training in detail.
6x200 in 32
100s in 12-14 seconds….
This is another aspect of the article I found really interesting: we finally got a glimpse into Donovan's fabled 35 mile weeks! I've been hearing about his low mileage since his 2019 season but have never gotten details beyond the weekly totals and a few interview anecdotes about how he's never run more than like 7 miles. But Jon finally gave, to my knowledge, the first broad structural outline of his training: short speed on Mondays, 1500 pace work on Tuesdays, hills on Thursdays, 800-specific work on Fridays.
I'm pretty sure the workouts mentioned specifically were just testers for the comeback. 6x 200 in 32 is like a workout I'd do when I was in high school trying to break 2:10, so I think Smith was just trying to see if Donovan's body could handle any kid of pace beyond jogging after his years off. The training outline also raises a lot of questions because it seems like a lot of back to back workout days for an injury prone guy unless he is just cruising in these workouts.
I see the guy’s point. Between all the accusations tossed at Hoey, Hoey’s firing of coaches, Brazier’s impossibly fast rise from the couch to a PR after a three year layoff, it it sure seems like a circus side show. I too hope Cooper just starts blasting them all off the track in the next year or two. Hoppel and Miller will end up being nice guys who are collateral damage, but Hoey unfortunately alienates too many people and Brazier’s ‘miracle’ super-speedy comeback is quite frankly sus as hell.
Wait the “circus side show” he wants ended is Brazier?
I see the guy’s point. Between all the accusations tossed at Hoey, Hoey’s firing of coaches, Brazier’s impossibly fast rise from the couch to a PR after a three year layoff, it it sure seems like a circus side show. I too hope Cooper just starts blasting them all off the track in the next year or two. Hoppel and Miller will end up being nice guys who are collateral damage, but Hoey unfortunately alienates too many people and Brazier’s ‘miracle’ super-speedy comeback is quite frankly sus as hell.
Wait the “circus side show” he wants ended is Brazier?
Looks more like he wants anyone questionable knocked aside, and he seems to feel Brazier’s comeback is at least as questionable as anything Hoey is doing. I have to adnit I agree and it would be great if Coop just cleaned house so fully the old guys would decide to move on.
Wait the “circus side show” he wants ended is Brazier?
Looks more like he wants anyone questionable knocked aside, and he seems to feel Brazier’s comeback is at least as questionable as anything Hoey is doing. I have to adnit I agree and it would be great if Coop just cleaned house so fully the old guys would decide to move on.
Of course you agree, this is the third different username you’ve posted under.
Looks more like he wants anyone questionable knocked aside, and he seems to feel Brazier’s comeback is at least as questionable as anything Hoey is doing. I have to adnit I agree and it would be great if Coop just cleaned house so fully the old guys would decide to move on.
Of course you agree, this is the third different username you’ve posted under.
They hit too close to the truth for you and the reat of the brigade? The Donnie fan boys can try any defense, but in the end: Brazier went to the needle after seeing Hoppel take down his AR. Obvious AF. 🤡
Of course you agree, this is the third different username you’ve posted under.
They hit too close to the truth for you and the reat of the brigade? The Donnie fan boys can try any defense, but in the end: Brazier went to the needle after seeing Hoppel take down his AR. Obvious AF. 🤡
JJ does a lot of virtue signaling. Many of us found the return somewhat jarring at least. As for Brazier it’s easy to picture him freaking out after seeing Bryce run 1:41 at the Olympics. I would assume some of the attacks on Hoey and others are to take attention off Donovan’s eyebrow raising super fast return. This season will be interesting, and remember Lutkenhaus is only an 11th grader. By 2028, Brazier, Hoppel, Harris and most of the other cureent top two lappers in the US will all be gone anyway.
They hit too close to the truth for you and the reat of the brigade? The Donnie fan boys can try any defense, but in the end: Brazier went to the needle after seeing Hoppel take down his AR. Obvious AF. 🤡
JJ does a lot of virtue signaling. Many of us found the return somewhat jarring at least. As for Brazier it’s easy to picture him freaking out after seeing Bryce run 1:41 at the Olympics. I would assume some of the attacks on Hoey and others are to take attention off Donovan’s eyebrow raising super fast return. This season will be interesting, and remember Lutkenhaus is only an 11th grader. By 2028, Brazier, Hoppel, Harris and most of the other cureent top two lappers in the US will all be gone anyway.
Ignore the Donnie nut-hugger trolls. Lutkenhaus just opened up with an indoor 1:45.23. As an 11th grader. Cooper will lead a new generation of 800 guys past all of the old guard in the next 24 months.