So will verzbicas surpass fernandez's times in high school?

lukas vs fernandez wrote:

It seems like Lukas is the real deal. Will he run sub 4 and sub 8:34 3200 meter? If he runs in college, will he surpass fernandez or even derrick? I would say at this point, we are looking at the greatest American runner of all time.

We could possibly looking at the greatest HS runner of all time but he'll be 19 when he's a senior. So would he be as great as Ryun and Fernandez at 17/18 as seniors, no he never will be that. He is nowhere near them at 17 years old so the question is skewed a bit if you consider when LV graduates. Even if he broke all the records it would always be pointed out that he was 19 when he was a senior. He will never run 4:00 1600 and 8:34 3200 within 3 hours of each other like German in a high school only meet. I don't even think Ryun or Webb could have pulled that off. Will he run an 8:34 2 mile in a high school only race? I seriously doubt it. When German did it for years it was thought a HS runner could only break it in a college or pro race. As for winning an NCAA 1500 meter title like German did when he was a freshman. That's so not gonna happen. He will never run 3:55 indoors at 18 years old either and set a world junior record. That's just my raw opinion though, I could be wrong.

...let's get a bit more obsessed with what kids can run in high school and then watch them flame out before they ever hit "prime time"...

..it's fun,...it's the american system, it's the Webb way to obscurity!!

I really do sincerely hope that Verzbicas does eventually break both of German’s records. It can only mean good things for the sport overall and will help to continue to drive times downward for ever larger numbers of talented athletes. As far as the “Record Books” go though, there will forever be a discrepancy between what he has already and still may achieve and what his age and grade level are. Neither his training nor his pathway to the top, have been traditionally sequential - He is quite unique! Hopefully soon, he will make a full recovery from these obnoxious injuries and get himself back in top form.

b.bullet wrote:

...let's get a bit more obsessed with what kids can run in high school and then watch them flame out before they ever hit "prime time"...

..it's fun,...it's the american system, it's the Webb way to obscurity!!

The emerging East African studs aren't 24 year-olds. They're 18-19 year-olds. They're not 'flaming out' before they ever hit prime-time. They're in prime-time at 19.

Verzbicas will be a very strong, aerobically fit athlete.

Craig Mottram was a tri-athlete before focusing on running, and all of that cross training really helped to make him strong and aerobically fit without having to do as many miles on his legs.

Verzbicas may not achieve some of the things Fernandez did in high school, but I also don't see Verzbicas sidelining himself for any season due to injuries like Fernandez.

I think what Verzbicas is doing right now is wide. Build up your strength, miles, aerobic system, and then start training specifically once he gets to the professional level.

Also, Verzbicas ran 14:18(national record) on the track as a freshman/sophomore(age). Fernandez ran 14:25(state record/woodward park course record) on a cross country course as a junior.

irun wrote:

Also, Verzbicas ran 14:18(national record) on the track as a freshman/sophomore(age). Fernandez ran 14:25(state record/woodward park course record) on a cross country course as a junior.

Yes, because track and x-c times are always comparable.

R U on crack?

(more trivia for you: LV was 16 y.o. when he ran that time on the track. I believe GF was still only 16 when he ran his state meet x-c record. He was sr, and about to turn 17, but I believe he was still only 16, or at most, just turned 17)

Coach Dunbar wrote:

Im curious how Ryun would have did in the 2 mile event? "V" is a great runner, but hes not going to break 4 min. in the mile or 8:35 in the 2 mile. At least not while hes in high school

Ryun did run 2 miles several times in high school, specifically set up for time and did not break 9 minutes.

He was 17 when he first broke 4:06 and 4 minutes for the mile.

but didn't ryun run 8:25 2 mile at 19 (Verzbicas's age as a senior)?

When the cross country time is slower than the track time, then yes, they are comparable. And the original thread wasn't concerned with age at time of achievement, it was concerned with high school marks. because when it comes down to it, coaches still look at the same stuff when they decide who's going to run for them in college. I doubt college coaches are seriously concerned about such minor things as how much older or younger someone was when they ran some high school record. The point is they ran it, or they wont it, or they came close. Not age. As long as the athlete meets ncaa regulations.

R U on crack? wrote:

irun wrote:

Also, Verzbicas ran 14:18(national record) on the track as a freshman/sophomore(age). Fernandez ran 14:25(state record/woodward park course record) on a cross country course as a junior.

Yes, because track and x-c times are always comparable.

R U on crack?

(more trivia for you: LV was 16 y.o. when he ran that time on the track. I believe GF was still only 16 when he ran his state meet x-c record. He was sr, and about to turn 17, but I believe he was still only 16, or at most, just turned 17)

Anyone else think Rupp's 5k is a lot tougher than Germans record? Count the number of guys in college than run sub 8 in the 3k and the number sub 13:40 for the 5k.

In my mind the records (800+) in order of difficulty

1) Webbs mile

2) Rupps 5k

3) Granvilles 800m

4) Germans 2 mile

Whats Letsrun's fascination with fantasy's?

Lukas didn't race German in highschool so they're incomparable until they do race if ever.

Wellllll....

Verzbicas only has one more year to try to break any other high school records. He will graduate a year early, so next year, 2011, and then enter college. All the over age talk can probably stop now. (Who am I kidding, it will never stop. This is letsrun. It should though.)