When Alan Webb, on May 27, 2001, broke Jim Ryan’s THIRTY-SIX year old record for the boys high school mile, when he ran 3:53.43. Would you not call Alan Webb a generational talent?
Oh shoot, the mic dropped to the floor again…
So we will be able to say that whoever breaks Melody Fairchild's Balboa record (if and when) will be a generational talent, just by definition. I guess that applies to breaking any long-standing HS record - it requires a generational talent.
When Alan Webb, on May 27, 2001, broke Jim Ryan’s THIRTY-SIX year old record for the boys high school mile, when he ran 3:53.43. Would you not call Alan Webb a generational talent?
Oh shoot, the mic dropped to the floor again…
So we will be able to say that whoever breaks Melody Fairchild's Balboa record (if and when) will be a generational talent, just by definition. I guess that applies to breaking any long-standing HS record - it requires a generational talent.
When Alan Webb, on May 27, 2001, broke Jim Ryan’s THIRTY-SIX year old record for the boys high school mile, when he ran 3:53.43. Would you not call Alan Webb a generational talent?
Oh shoot, the mic dropped to the floor again…
So we will be able to say that whoever breaks Melody Fairchild's Balboa record (if and when) will be a generational talent, just by definition. I guess that applies to breaking any long-standing HS record - it requires a generational talent.
Oh I would absolutely say yes, definitely.
That record is maybe the most impressive distance record for HS girls. Would love to see Leachman take a shot at it.
To be a "generational talent" you need to be the undisputed best of your generation. Tuohy is a great runner, but she wasn't better than Cain, who is only a few years older, or Wiley, or Valby. I would say she was a generational XC talent, but certainly not on the track.
I can see, and understand your point. And thank you for saying that about her XC prowess and what she accomplished.
HOWEVER, I will say again (how can you dispute this?):
I’ll say it again…
An American high school record stood for 36 years. THIRTY-SIX years. Tuohy broke that record.
Generational.
Mic drop.
It's impressive, but slightly less impressive since Cain could have easily broken it a few years before, and two girls have already broken it a few years after.
Mary Slaney's American Record in the 2000m has lasted for 40 years. Right now, there are probably close to 10 women who could beat it. Are they all "generational talents?"
Setting a record that lasts for 36 years may be generational. Breaking that record and having two other runners break it by the time you graduate college is not. Besides, high school records are meaningless. All that matters is what someone does on the world stage at the pro level. Amy Skieresz won seven NCAA titles and broke several NCAA records and hardly anybody, even runners, know who she is. Molly huddle won zero NCAA titles and everybody knows who she is.
When Alan Webb, on May 27, 2001, broke Jim Ryan’s THIRTY-SIX year old record for the boys high school mile, when he ran 3:53.43. Would you not call Alan Webb a generational talent?
Oh shoot, the mic dropped to the floor again…
Terrible example. Alan Webb breaking the record did not make him a generational talent. Ryun setting a record that held for 36 years made HIM generational talent. The fact that Webb's record itself held for 21 years, along with him setting the American record in the mile that lasted for 16 years, made him a generational talent.
Mary Slaney's American Record in the 2000m has lasted for 40 years. Right now, there are probably close to 10 women who could beat it. Are they all "generational talents?"
Setting a record that lasts for 36 years may be generational. Breaking that record and having two other runners break it by the time you graduate college is not. Besides, high school records are meaningless. All that matters is what someone does on the world stage at the pro level. Amy Skieresz won seven NCAA titles and broke several NCAA records and hardly anybody, even runners, know who she is. Molly huddle won zero NCAA titles and everybody knows who she is.
Thank you for acknowledging her high school generational achievements.
The fact that others broke Tuohys’ records simply means that OTHERS saw what was possible. They went on and broke HER records. She ended up being an inspiration. But, it doesn’t change:
An American high school record stood for 36 years. THIRTY-SIX years. Tuohy broke that record.
Generational. (Literally, how is this misinterpreted?). Generational!!!
Mary Slaney's American Record in the 2000m has lasted for 40 years. Right now, there are probably close to 10 women who could beat it. Are they all "generational talents?"
Setting a record that lasts for 36 years may be generational. Breaking that record and having two other runners break it by the time you graduate college is not. Besides, high school records are meaningless. All that matters is what someone does on the world stage at the pro level. Amy Skieresz won seven NCAA titles and broke several NCAA records and hardly anybody, even runners, know who she is. Molly huddle won zero NCAA titles and everybody knows who she is.
Thank you for acknowledging her high school generational achievements.
The fact that others broke Tuohys’ records simply means that OTHERS saw what was possible. They went on and broke HER records. She ended up being an inspiration. But, it doesn’t change:
An American high school record stood for 36 years. THIRTY-SIX years. Tuohy broke that record.
Generational. (Literally, how is this misinterpreted?). Generational!!!
Mic drop.
I get the impression that most Tuohy fans (yourself, astro) only started paying attention to track because of Tuohy....she was certainly a very good runner, but if she no longer has any high school records left before she even leaves college then by definition that makes her not "generational".
Thank you for acknowledging her high school generational achievements.
The fact that others broke Tuohys’ records simply means that OTHERS saw what was possible. They went on and broke HER records. She ended up being an inspiration. But, it doesn’t change:
An American high school record stood for 36 years. THIRTY-SIX years. Tuohy broke that record.
Generational. (Literally, how is this misinterpreted?). Generational!!!
Mic drop.
I get the impression that most Tuohy fans (yourself, astro) only started paying attention to track because of Tuohy....she was certainly a very good runner, but if she no longer has any high school records left before she even leaves college then by definition that makes her not "generational".
You are incorrect. I’ve been a fan since the 1970’s.
I get the impression that most Tuohy fans (yourself, astro) only started paying attention to track because of Tuohy....she was certainly a very good runner, but if she no longer has any high school records left before she even leaves college then by definition that makes her not "generational".
You are incorrect. I’ve been a fan since the 1970’s.
The flaw with that rationale is you are limiting it to one country. If someone in Ecuador breaks a national record that stood for 40 years does that make them a generational talent? Of course not. So why are you limiting generational talent to the US?
For example, I think Sydney is a generational talent in her event. Yes, she broke records but more pertinently, when she runs to her capability she is simply unbeatable, by anyone in the world. The same could be said for Bolt, or Bekele in his prime, or even Ryun for a few years.
The year Fairchild set the Balboa record she finished 3rd in the world XC junior race. I think that was one of the best ever performances by a junior American distance runner in an international event. But what about the 2 Kenyan women that beat her? If Melody was a generational talent what does it make them? How many generational talents can there be in a single generation?
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