Why did Willis DNF in the 3k?

I would say that the foreign athletes competing against our collegians may help some of our athletes reach the next level.

jama wrote:

I would say that the foreign athletes competing against our collegians may help some of our athletes reach the next level.

Thank you! I'm so sick of hearing these passe comments about foreign athletes!!! Nowhere else in the world does a country have such a hang up about foreign athletes competing on their turf.

Nick letting everyone down? He won the mile! That was his first NCAA title and he was EXPECTED to win two! That is a hell of alot of pressure - don't argue that he's been to Europe and the Olympics because sure there is alot of pressure there but all eyes were on him in Arkansas. Pussititis? I bet none of you have raced in a race anywhere near that magnitude, he made no excuses - pussies make excuses, Nick came out and said it exactly how it was.

I believe that there is a good mix and that the rules are in place that makes it fair for everyone. The UTEP situation got a bit out of control (many rule infractions, etc.) but it is very healthy now. I have heard many athletes talk about the benefits of training with, getting to know, and future friendships with many of the foreign athletes. The competition is awesome for our athletes. I wish that many were not so closed minded about the foreign athletes. It is not a piece of cake for them to be thousands of miles away from home, etc.

I told everyone that Willis would not win the 3K and everyone said I was on some whacky ass crack. Iknew it would be a tough, tough double and it was.

Peace Man wrote:

I told everyone that Willis would not win the 3K and everyone said I was on some whacky ass crack. Iknew it would be a tough, tough double and it was.

Thank you budda - the enlightened one.

Get over yourself.

ttc wrote:@%$ my 2nd mistake this morning.

First being not believing Arkansas had won their fortieth, eh? You've been reallllllllllllll quiet.

ttc wrote:@%$ my 2nd mistake this morning.

First being not believing Arkansas had won their fortieth, eh? You've been reallllllllllllll quiet.

Jama, I don’t agree with your idea of a sub conscious precedent when it comes to an athlete of Willis’s caliber. It’s not likely the 3000m will affect his mental ability in future races at all. I’m sure Nick was quoted as saying he wasn’t feeling pressured prior to NCAA’s and I believe him. He raced with the big boys in Athens and I'm sure everyone would agree that involved a little more pressure than NCAA’s. This was a very rear occurrence, and Willis addressed the problem straight away, no excuses. He won’t let this affect him, and anyone that knows Willis personally would be aware there are few athletes with his type of mind set regarding training and competition. I didn’t intend to make it sound like Willis was going to hurt himself if he finished the 3000m, rather it’s not worth running extra races that are not going to count for points (as would likely have happened if Nick had finished) when there is outdoor right around the corner, especially when coming back from such a major injury as Nick has.

I can’t believe people criticize Willis’s kick or the way he runs races, last time I checked racing was about winning and not only does Willis win 99% of the time but he also posts times untouched by other collegiate runners. If you were in his situation (one of the best finishes IN THE WORLD) what would you do? Lead, using more energy than you need to, reducing your finish and risk being out kicked or use your best asset? Complaining that out-sprinting someone is ‘rude’ (as a lot of posters have done) belongs with the weekend-warrior leisure runners not in high level racing.

Last thing I don’t believe Brannen is necessarily less aerobically strong than Willis, in fact I would argue he is likely stronger than Willis as demonstrated in XC. If Nick’s team or fans are disappointed that he pulled out maybe they should think about what he did win?!

He is still learning.

I'm sure Nick checks here regularly and will appreciate the empathy, love and second-guessing in this thread. He'll come out w/fire outdoors after he assimilates the criticism and insight found here! On his behalf, he thanks you front-row coaches.

if willis has pussy-itis, as someone here said, i sure hope i catch it.

you know you've made it when the letsrun idiots start going after you.

He's a big sissy. How many people drop out of your local crappy road race. Almost none. You got to finish. Quitting can't be an option because then it is always an option.You have to erase this option from your brain. You have to go in thinking I don't care if I come DFL, I'm finishing. Didn’t Ritz do that at the Olympics?

He entered, and dropped in order to take an opportunity away from another athlete who would have for sure finished.

I go with Malmo. And anyway who gives a damn.

The man won the mile. As a Kiwi, thats what I care about. We have another Miler making the Athletic World sit up and look.

Kia Kaha Nick !!

As for the foreign athlete deal. We have been coming to the USA in droves since the 50's. It is a "problem" that won't go away while existing policies stay.

So Team you are going to have to live with it.

fgfg wrote:

He's a big sissy. How many people drop out of your local crappy road race. Almost none. You got to finish. Quitting can't be an option because then it is always an option.You have to erase this option from your brain. You have to go in thinking I don't care if I come DFL, I'm finishing. Didn’t Ritz do that at the Olympics?

Friend, bad, bad example. Ritz was a DNF in the Games.

Willis can drill 99.9% of every collegian at any track distance he selects. He's a big sissy? I'd say the effort and emotion it took to win the mile depleted him enough to explain his stepping off the track. Beyond that, the athletes don't run the races to seek approval from the 'fans.' He probably feels worse about it than any abuse you want to lay on him.

John Walker dropped out of the 1977 World Cup 1500m (won by Ovett in 3:34.5). Was he a sissy too?

Sometimes people for whatever reason don't finish races, it's not the end of the world.

[quote]scotth wrote:

[quote]fgfg wrote:

I'd say the effort and emotion it took to win the mile depleted him enough to explain his stepping off the track.

fgfg wrote:

He's a big sissy. How many people drop out of your local crappy road race. Almost none. You got to finish. Quitting can't be an option because then it is always an option.You have to erase this option from your brain. You have to go in thinking I don't care if I come DFL, I'm finishing.

It is so heroic to not drop out, you're so tough, we're all so impressed that you'd be to willingly to risk damaging/ending your (assuredly awesome) running career to drag yourself across the line in last place even in a crappy road race, really. I'm sure a stud like yourself will be beating sissy DNFers like Willis, Ritz, and Webb at the 2008 Olympics, truely.

You go ahead and teach your kids its ok to quit.Its just like courses in school you have to keep going. Quitting gets you nothing. In school I had a principle that even if it seems impossible I have to stick it out. Even if I get the lowest mark in the class. By doing this I have learned that you can do things that you were convinced were impossible. Doesn’t matter how good he is [undisputed]. John Walker and Willis can quit if they want; me and my type only achieve anything [maybe nothing] by not quitting.A guy on another thread used the term "absolute task focus." He said that kids who did well were not nessarily the gifted ones but those who absolutly refused to quit.If Willis wants to be better he needs "absolute task focus." No quitting!