Dunbar to Oregon

Who is there left to train with at UO that is a sub-4, 13:30 level runner? The wealth of names escape me...

I think Trevor going to the Ducks is definitely a good call. I still dont know what his specialties are as a runner though. He has run sub 29 for 10k in cross. Maybe he can eventually train himself into 27:15 shape on the track. I dont ever see him going sub 27. As far as 5k maybe 13:10 shape.

Elkaim looks to be a sub 14 freshman, Pickering will be close. Obviously Stinson will be in the 13's to train with. Noelle will likely go sub 4 this winter/spring after redshirting XC to get adjusted (he was ahead of Wisco's #7 in the Dellinger meet). Of course there is Wheating/Centro and other OTC guys that will be there this spring and maybe beyond.

I think Dunbar will have people to train with.

I think it is an unusual move and one that I really don't understand. However quite a bit of money unexpectedly came available in Eugene with the departure of LV and Centro. However, I don't see a compelling reason for Connor to release Dunbar except that he goes back forever with Dunbar's dad.

Will he actually release him and allow him to be eligible at UO? Will the AD go along if Connor does? I mean they would have to wonder about how this came down at this particular time.

Kind of like when Vin met w/ Macnamara at a coffee shop and convinced him to transfer out of UW.

The money is irrelevant, it is the slots that matter (12.6 for T&F/XC). Oregon has to parse those across a lot more disciplines than does Portland.

How does Grote feel about this?

Anthoy wrote:

Kind of like when Vin met w/ Macnamara at a coffee shop and convinced him to transfer out of UW.

I thought part of Mac's deal was academic, with the Lane CC stop and all.

Anyone have proof of this? Ie if you're a facebook friend show us a screenshot

Too bad wrote:

Who is there left to train with at UO that is a sub-4, 13:30 level runner? The wealth of names escape me...

UO still has a lot of young talent, I would expect them to have at least 3 sub-14 capable guys this year. And as alway, OU reloads each year.

Portland always appeared to me as a singlarly focused program, they get all-state distance runners and turn them into NCAA XC and track 10k qualifers, which perhaps a few all-Americans along the way. That's not a bad formula depending on what your expectations are, but what if your goal is to run on a DMR, compete for NCAA team championship and compete for individual glory and run with a bunch of athltes at your level or better?

With that said, I don't like seeing the rich get richer and would like to see Dunbar finish out at Portland.

Anthoy wrote:

Kind of like when Vin met w/ Macnamara at a coffee shop and convinced him to transfer out of UW.

Kind of like when Vin's "interests" met with Symmonds to TRY to convince him to transfer out of Willamette to Stanford.

There is nothing on Dunbar's facebook to suggest this.

No friendship required ;)

Evidence is circumstantial at best

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/6859/dunbar.jpg

Anthoy wrote:

Kind of like when Vin met w/ Macnamara at a coffee shop and convinced him to transfer out of UW.

What exactly are the rules on this kind of stuff? I'm assuming a university can't target another's university's athlete unless that athlete contacts them first?

The argument that Portland is only good at developing 9:10 - 9:25 guys isn't necessarily true. Anyone remember David Kinsella? He was running close to Rupp's level his senior year and I think finished 4th at NCAA XC Champs. Kipchumba and Osoro are also All-American level talent and are running just fine.

It's official:

http://www.flotrack.org/article/9380-Trevor-Dunbar-to-transfer-to-Oregon

There is no such thing as a positive eruption on Letsrun.com...only negative.

Shut up, Dunbar is nowhere near a sellout like Lukas was. Dunbar finished his commitment for the season, ran at nationals and helped his team earn a top 10 finish.

Put yourself in Dunbar’s shoes. Where has he gone (running wise) since being with Portland? He hasn’t done anything amazing besides a few All-Americans in xc. I don’t even believe he made it to nationals in track last season. Time is running out for him and he’s not improving that much. So why not go to a school where there are BETTER resources than where you are at now?

As bad as it sounds, what Dunbar is doing is nothing bad, he fulfilled his commitment this season and he’s leaving NOW rather than leave during track season. Hopefully there’s no “dirty laundry” going on between him and Portland that we all don’t know about. Portland should do the right thing and let the guy go.

Yes, Kinsella is an exception. I wouldn't call him close to Rupp but he was a darn good HS runner and college runner. Kinsella is also perhaps ONE of the single most talented American runner we've seen in the past decade. Too bad he couldn't ever stay healthy. You put that kid at Joe Smoe Community College and he was going to run fast.

I'd argue that Kipcumba hasn't really been developed much. He was pretty good when they got him.

And what has Osoro done?

No one is arguing that Portland's guys aren't or don't run well. All I'm saying is they don't develop many top end guys. Something Trevor should have thought about before hand maybe.