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…
This is a great example, Webb is a generational talent, as he was the fastest runner of his generation at both high school and pro levels.
Touhy did break that HS outdoor mile record, but she was actually not the fastest runner among her contemporaries.
Cain, Efraimson, Cranny, Murphy, Aragon, Rainsberger, Donahue and now Wiley, Zealand and Engelhardt were all equal to Touhy or faster, they just did not meet the standard for 'National Federation High School mile ran outdoors in a high school only race'.
Webb's records had nothing to do with any technicality, and he was the fastest runner at every conceivable distance from 1500 to 1 mile, indoor or outdoor.
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?
To give you respect; however, yes.
If someone in their country broke a national record, particularly if it was from a GENERATION ago, I would consider them a generational talent.
I almost consider that a “DUH?”…
This post was edited 1 minute after it was posted.
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?
To give you respect; however, yes.
If someone in their country broke a national record, particularly if it was from a GENERATION ago, I would consider them a generational talent.
I almost consider that a “DUH?”…
According to wiki, a generation is ALL of the people born and living about the same time, collectively. I never realized generations were confined by national boundaries.
Can you see the entire headline? I’m inviting LetsRun to set this up:LetsRun.com: I challenge ANYONE of the Posters to a MIC-OFF Debate Regarding Katelyn Tuohy Being A Generational Talent.This is something (to my knowledge),...
Tuohy is indeed a generational talent. She first emerged in the public eye nearly ten years ago in seventh grade when she immediately started breaking national age group records. Coming up in the powerful NY State scene she became the dominant runner in her region as a sophomore. She completely dominated national cross country in 2017, '18 and '19, winning NXN all three years. KT is without argument the greatest girl cross runner of all time. During the same time on the track her only competitor in the record books was Mary Cain. Her transition to college was rough, running her first freshman race in the postponed 2020 NCAA champs where she was 25th and first freshman in. She was 9th in '21, individual champion in '22 and 5th in '23, leading the Pack to three consecutive NCAA D1 champs. During this period she set all time collegiate records in the indoor 15, 3000 and 5000 and the outdoor 5000, all of which still stand. By the way, when Parker dragged herself across the line in the NCAA indoor 3000 in 8:41, the second fastest collegiate indoor 3000 ever, she was still six seconds short of Katelyn's record. In 2023 she won the ACC 10000 title in her only attempt at that distance. Her 5th in the 2023 XC was still a huge factor in the Pack taking the team title for the three-peat. Now she is embarking on another difficult transition, to the pros. Katelyn has always held the long view, even though staying firmly focused on her short term goals. Her first Olympic year, in my opinion is 2028 when she will be 26. She is an extremely tough, disciplined, and motivated person who is expanding her brand into healthy products like specialty granola and Olipop, a unique and interesting probiotic soda. The LAST thing she would do is get mixed up in doping. She also has over 110,000 Instagram followers, many of whom have been fans since they were tweenies. I have heard interviews with Natalie, Leachman, Englehardt and others who cite her as a great inspiration. Now tell me, name some other cross and track athlete in the last 20 years who has accomplished as much from middle school to post-grad. Katelyn is the definition of the Generational Runner.
A couple of corrections: She was 15th in '21, individual champion in '22 and 5th in '23, leading the Pack to three consecutive NCAA D1 champs. During this period she set all time in season collegiate records in the indoor 15/mile, and 3000 and the outdoor 5000, all of which still stand.
(she did not get the indoor 5000 record and there have been faster outdoor 5000s out of season)
You're right. Thanks for the edits. I cooked that up from memory and that's usually not a good idea for me.
Is Tuohy just hanging out with Bare? She is likely putting on more muscle. Maybe she will start crossfit. More likely we see her on ninja warrior than in a track meet. No testing required for the show.
I am leaning toward her not competing again. It has been a while and she isn't posting constantly about rehab and training. I think something is going on with her post college pro running.
I know this is not a popular opinion, but I said this first last year, and I still have the same thoughts. I think Tuohy being coached by the mother of one of her competitors is a huge conflict of interest. My observations:
-Tuohy has been descibed repeatedly by multiple people as "highly coachable". While no doubtedly meant as a compliment, another way to think of that is that she does what she is told without question, and that would make it easy to instill an ideology with her.
-The last great race that Katelyn Tuohy had was Millrose 2023, where she beat Elly Henes. She has not been the same since. After many years of consistent top performances, Tuohy has been "down" for some reason since beating Elly. This is suspicious timing.
-Both of Elly and Katelyn have been outspoken about trying for the 2024 Olympic team. There are 3 spots in each event. There could be opportunity cost for Elly Henes if her mother coaches her competitor to outrun her at the US Trials.
-I am not saying that Coach Henes is a bad person or a bad coach. The Olympics are only every 4 years. It is the opportunity of a lifetime. It would be a test for anyone's integrity to honestly coach someone to beat your child out of that kind of opportunity. I think Henes continuing to coach Tuohy is a major conflict of interest.
-Tuohy remaining in Raleigh to train as a pro seems like an odd choice. No new, objective coach. No altitude. I had thought for sure she would go to Mike Smith, but no. That is where Elly is, and I wonder if she was advised against it. Flagstaff and Mike Smith seemed like such a great choice for her.
-The only thing I have heard is how great and maternal Coach Henes is. Being maternal would make it easy to steer someone who has been raised to obey. Call me a cynic, but I don't believe anyone on this earth is unimpeachable. We are all capable of breaches in integrity. Nothing brings out the worst in people than feeling compelled to protect their kid's interest.
This has been a hunch of mine that has only continued to grow. The one fact that I will note is that Katelyn Tuohy was a fierce fast runner for years, and she has not been on top of her game since she beat Elly Henes at Millrose in 2023. I was so disappointed that KT didn't make a break when she turned pro. How gullible can you be to think that the mother of one of your competitor's for a spot on the Olympic team is going to honestly coach you to beat her.
I am leaning toward her not competing again. It has been a while and she isn't posting constantly about rehab and training. I think something is going on with her post college pro running.
I know this is not a popular opinion, but I said this first last year, and I still have the same thoughts. I think Tuohy being coached by the mother of one of her competitors is a huge conflict of interest. My observations:
-Tuohy has been descibed repeatedly by multiple people as "highly coachable". While no doubtedly meant as a compliment, another way to think of that is that she does what she is told without question, and that would make it easy to instill an ideology with her.
-The last great race that Katelyn Tuohy had was Millrose 2023, where she beat Elly Henes. She has not been the same since. After many years of consistent top performances, Tuohy has been "down" for some reason since beating Elly. This is suspicious timing.
-Both of Elly and Katelyn have been outspoken about trying for the 2024 Olympic team. There are 3 spots in each event. There could be opportunity cost for Elly Henes if her mother coaches her competitor to outrun her at the US Trials.
-I am not saying that Coach Henes is a bad person or a bad coach. The Olympics are only every 4 years. It is the opportunity of a lifetime. It would be a test for anyone's integrity to honestly coach someone to beat your child out of that kind of opportunity. I think Henes continuing to coach Tuohy is a major conflict of interest.
-Tuohy remaining in Raleigh to train as a pro seems like an odd choice. No new, objective coach. No altitude. I had thought for sure she would go to Mike Smith, but no. That is where Elly is, and I wonder if she was advised against it. Flagstaff and Mike Smith seemed like such a great choice for her.
-The only thing I have heard is how great and maternal Coach Henes is. Being maternal would make it easy to steer someone who has been raised to obey. Call me a cynic, but I don't believe anyone on this earth is unimpeachable. We are all capable of breaches in integrity. Nothing brings out the worst in people than feeling compelled to protect their kid's interest.
This has been a hunch of mine that has only continued to grow. The one fact that I will note is that Katelyn Tuohy was a fierce fast runner for years, and she has not been on top of her game since she beat Elly Henes at Millrose in 2023. I was so disappointed that KT didn't make a break when she turned pro. How gullible can you be to think that the mother of one of your competitor's for a spot on the Olympic team is going to honestly coach you to beat her.
Interesting that Rojo didn't recognize Nick Bare. Shows how out of touch they are. The guy is massive but is able to run fast times. Everyone knows why. The site allows endless accusations against Wiley and Valby while Tuohy is the obvious one and they seem totally oblivious to this oddly suspicious partnership.
Interesting that Rojo didn't recognize Nick Bare. Shows how out of touch they are. The guy is massive but is able to run fast times. Everyone knows why. The site allows endless accusations against Wiley and Valby while Tuohy is the obvious one and they seem totally oblivious to this oddly suspicious partnership.
It's all three that are suspicious. And the unfortunate thing is that they are the 3 best American female runners in their early 20s. It's really depressing.
I don't quite classify Athing Mu as a distance runner, while ESP is 29, Schweizer is 28, Monson is 26, and Kelati is 27. All of those women are in their late 20s and are probably all at their peak in their prime years.
The early 20s (20-24) runners are the next generation up and have yet to reach their potential, so they are the ones we all hope can be become world class someday. Again, the depressing thing is that the 3 best American female distance runners in their early 20s are Katelyn Tuohy, Parker Valby, and Addy Wiley. Valby is the only one without dubious connections, but she is not without her own red flags. This is something that is very depressing as an American track fan. There is no Emma Coburn or Molly Huddle in this group that are easy to root for.
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