I don't think anyone that runs a 3:57 in the spring is washed up. He is no ELG, but he is a solid miler.
I don't think anyone that runs a 3:57 in the spring is washed up. He is no ELG, but he is a solid miler.
Since a decade ago, the number of milers who run sub 4, sub 3:57 has what - tripled? quadrupled? AJ is a talent, no question about it. He is a great runner who I hope will do well at USAs. Let's face it though - we have what seems like an army of guys who can run sub 3:57. For AJ to make the Olympic team (and I think he has the talent to do so) - he will have to be on his A+ game that day, as will anyone else who makes it. I can't wait to watch the 1500m trial races and the final for that very reason. There's going to be some awesome racing, especially in the last 500m or so.
sonny douglas wrote:
AJ is one of those solid sub 4 milers that finish in the top ten at the trials. At the national level he is always in the hunt. Heck, I have been told he has run a 3:53 mile. If that is true he is among the 20 fastest US milers ever. He still has a faster mile than Webb this year. A decade ago he would after Krummenacker be America's top miler. Lunn, Jennings, and Stember never ran a 3:53 mile. Somebody with that mile speed can cause other runners a lot of problems in important races.
He remains me of a Rob Myers type of runner, who has almost an identical PR to AJ.
I'm in 14:19 shape!
poor aj wrote:
uhh. everything he has done is the past is good. but in todays 1500 there are a ton of guys that i would pick over him. hell i would even take a freshman austin mudd over him. now yes if you are comparing him to a average runner. of course he has had great sucess. however if we compare him to the elite level. which is what catorgory he puts himself in. he is at the bottom of the list. i don't care if one day back whenever he ran a 3:53 mile or not.. the fact is that i could name prolly 15-20 guys in college that can beat or put up a good race against aj. let alone in the whole u.s.. he wouldn't even be a top guy in college today
Um...where are you taking these runners exactly?
Aj is a really big douch
I don't know the guy and although anecdotal reports are that he is a douche, that's not relevant to the topic.
He ran 3:40, right? Wheating has run 3:44, Webb 3:43, Fernandez 3:43, Ulrey 3:45...
Let's wait until the real season before we decide which of the above guys is washed up (hopefully none of the above).
Before someone else corrects me, Webb ran 3:38. My point stands, however.
The fact that Nike wanted nothing to do with a 3:53 miler coming out of Oregon of all places tells me all I need to know about this guy. A model of inconsistency.
Kanye Eays wrote:
The fact that Nike wanted nothing to do with a 3:53 miler coming out of Oregon of all places tells me all I need to know about this guy. A model of inconsistency.
EXACTLY. Any of the local Nike running groups, OTC, Schumacker, Salazar would seem like a logical fit for an Oregon graduate of Acosta's range and ability in mid/distance running. His inconsistency among other stuff is probably his downfall. Best of luck to him throughout the spring and summer
No, he's not washed up. He's in a transition year after turning pro. It's way too early to write him off.
However, I don't think there is as much sponsorship money floating around as at some times in the past, so if you don't look like a safe bet it's probably harder to get a contract.
If he can afford to train and keep at it for a few years, then it will be time to decide if he's washed up, not less than a year after going pro.
Alert!
Alert!
Danger, Danger Will Robison!!
AJ is faster than Webb right now.
Warning...it does not compute....Webb is not faster than AJ right now.
stick with eharmony wrote:
Hank Moody wrote:Dyestat kids out for the summer - great.
The truth of the matter is that AJ was a winner in high school, a winner in college, and will be a winner as a post collegiate. Not in medals or probably in US titles, but whether you think he's a tool or not, the dude is a racer and I respect that in a runner.
You sound like one of those Dyestat kids. Did AJ talk do you on the forums? Did that arrogant narcist toolbag real you in because he responded to some post of how great he was. Did he make you feel good about yourself because somebody who was known acknowleged you?
Great I'm glad he did that for you, now take off the AJ goggles and look at reality.
Welcome to letsrun.
Looks like someone's got an axe to grind...
On the subject of AJ, no I don't really like him, but he has run 3:53 and that is worthy of respect. His personality has nothing to do with his running, and however obnoxious he may be he appears to be a hard worker with a strong desire to make it at the next level. Always a good thing to see Americans running fast; I for one hope he can make the jump.
Everyone here who is giving Acosta hell is ignorant. He's a post-collegiate. This is turn means that the top college runners are going to be faster than him right now, because they have conference, regionals , and NCAA nationals. All he has to worry about is being ready for the trials and holding it out til after the Olympics. Anybody ever heard of Lasse Viren? Oh wait, what about Bekele? Yeah that's right, they aren't in top form 'til it counts. Does this mean he's gonna make the Olympic team? Not necessarily, but it's a very smart way of doing things and probably is going to supply him with the best opportunity.
he opened his outdoor campaign in 3:57 and just ran 3:40. he has run 3:53 in the past. he'll likely get an A qualifier, be there in the last 200 at nationals (finishing top six or seven probably) and run 3:32/3 this year or next.
Bad year to be going pro. Oly sponsors aren't going to be adding anyone just for fun. I'm no smart person, but it doesn't make sense that inconsistent or abrasive people are getting contracts during a time when the chaff is getting sorted.
Kybaws wrote:
Kanye Eays wrote:The fact that Nike wanted nothing to do with a 3:53 miler coming out of Oregon of all places tells me all I need to know about this guy. A model of inconsistency.
EXACTLY. Any of the local Nike running groups, OTC, Schumacker, Salazar would seem like a logical fit for an Oregon graduate of Acosta's range and ability in mid/distance running. His inconsistency among other stuff is probably his downfall. Best of luck to him throughout the spring and summer
Inconsistent. How do you figure?
2006 -- 3:45
2007 -- 3:42
2008 -- 3:43
2009 -- hurt
2010 -- 3:36
2011 -- 3:38
Unless you're Wheating or Centrowitz Nike's going to lowball you like crazy. That seems like a more realistic explanation especially considering they dont mind paying guys like Merit and Gatlin, not really great PR machines.
Take a look at AJs twitter feed:
Twitter.com/omgchocotaco
Might have something to do with not landing a sponsorship deal.
Employers check social media.
wonderbuns wrote:
Take a look at AJs twitter feed:
Twitter.com/omgchocotaco
Might have something to do with not landing a sponsorship deal.
Employers check social media.
Not that I disagree with you but don't forget that the dude successfully used social media (before the real Facebook era) to amass a nation of followers. Sponsors may look at that as a positive and not a negative...he was an accidental genius of self-marketing, in other words.
Not sure what was going on at the Jamaica meet that AJ was listed in the Steeple, but he did not run it. Or he was invisible when he ran it, to everyone and everything but the finishing camera.
hfkhsdkjfhs wrote:
[quote]wonderbuns wrote:
Take a look at AJs twitter feed:
Twitter.com/omgchocotaco
Might have something to do with not landing a sponsorship deal.
Employers check social media.
quote]
And his facebook as well...He's seems like a great guy, great runner, but just an interesting partylike lifestyle. Maybe if you are trying to go PRO, perhaps living with a bunch of college buddies is not the best idea to keep yourself focused on the bigger picture.