Elite Runner Who Just Walked Away Before Their Potential Was Realized - ?

I would have liked to see what Ryan Wilson of Arkansas could have accomplished in the late 90s had he not hung it up. Ex-prep 2-mile record holder Jeff Nelson shut down just a few years into his college career.

It would be interesting to see how many sub-14, 29-low Collegians stop any serious involvement in the sport within two years of graduating. (Kind of like Walmsley if he didn't start with the ultra thing.)

In a related topic- I wonder how many potential greats "walk away" because of the lack of money.

If a runner the level of a Double-A baseball player can make 40K-50K a year for a couple years to reach his potential, we might have more at the elite level.

If a 1:47 800 runner had a few years to develop we might have more sub 1:45 guys.

I'm sure there are a lot of sub 30 10kers who just can't get by financially to pursue the sport.

Sub 30 10k didn’t even make it to regionals last year. There were about 150 D1 guys who hit that time. The questions pertained to elite runners. 30 minutes might be elite for D3 but doesn’t make top 7 at a respectable D1 school.

Predictor wrote:

Sub 30 10k didn’t even make it to regionals last year. There were about 150 D1 guys who hit that time. The questions pertained to elite runners. 30 minutes might be elite for D3 but doesn’t make top 7 at a respectable D1 school.

There are a lot of 30 min college 10K runners who don't get close to running at their potential. Take Wejo for example.

Randy Smith comes to mind. Won USA National Championships in '76 in Steeplechase then inexplicable did not qualify for OT finals. Hung them up after that season. All kinds of talent.

Yes but it doesn’t answer the question by listing thousands of 10k runners who walked away because it would be overwhelming and we don’t know if any would have become elite. The question was which elite runner walked away. If there was a 28 minute 10k guy who hung it up, he would be worth mentioning.

What ever happened to Eli Krahn who ran 4:09 and 8:59 as a HS frosh? He is at Princeton but has never competed.

Who was the girl who won Footlocker XC then did not run in college. Might have played volleyball.

Just Another LRC Idiot wrote:

Lisa Uhl.

IIRC she went to Veterinary school. Seems a wiser choice than to scrape by as a professional runner.

well..... wrote:

Just Another LRC Idiot wrote:

Lisa Uhl.

IIRC she went to Veterinary school. Seems a wiser choice than to scrape by as a professional runner.

Yep. Should have checked...

Brad Hauser reminds me of Trautmann. Made the Olympics and that was it. Anyone know what they are up to? Maybe Ill have Jonathan Gault catch up with him.

I remember thinking Lukezic was stupid for leaving. How wrong I was. How much money did he make with Airbnb?

Cas Loxsom. If he could get in a good headspace, I believe he could run 1:41/1:42. I think the Oregon Project would have been a great place for him. Alberto would whip his ass into shape and keep him accountable.

He could honestly still comeback. Take a little break, run some late 2019 races, but mostly gear up for 2020/2021.

Sarah Baxter

Can’t be anyone bigger than Allison Roe. Won Boston and New York in 1981 . Basically walked away in 1982. Another comes to mind Rodger Rop . Won both in 2002 , disappeared came back in 2007 . Walked away again.

Peter Snell.

Sure, he won 3 Olympic Gold medals and broke the mile and 800m world records, but he walked away from the sport when he was only 26 to pursue a career in marketing (at a cigarette company!)

It would have been interesting to see how he would have responded to others breaking his records. Or if he actually ran an 800m world record attempt on a faster track. His 1:44 world record was set on grass...just crazy.

That 800m runner who decided to go to dental school. Can't remember the name.

Walt Kowalski wrote:

Obea Moore

Seneca Lassiter

Yong-Sung Leal

Michael Granville

Casey Combest

Eric Mastalir

Roy Martin

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I think most of these are California High School stars.

I would add Ali Barrientos.

She was the California 1600 champion around 1999-2000. She beat Sara Bei (Hall) in that race. She was 20 meters down at 300 and won by 10 meters. She was rumored to have run the last 400 in 62 seconds!

She won the Penn Relays High School runner of the meet anchoring San Lorenzo Valley to a National DMR record.

I saw her matching Maggie Vessey (Soquel High School 200-400 star) stride for stride on the anchor leg of the CCS Championship 1600 relay.

She had the most beautiful running form I've ever seen. Maggie wasn't bad either.

Another: Amber Trotter (Ukiah)

Predictor wrote:

Sub 30 10k didn’t even make it to regionals last year. There were about 150 D1 guys who hit that time. The questions pertained to elite runners. 30 minutes might be elite for D3 but doesn’t make top 7 at a respectable D1 school.

How many A and AA baseball players are there? More tan 150 I bet.

Do you get my point now?

Mike Morin.