I used that example to show that there are huge talents who are and have walked among us without any of us knowing it. And there are huge talents who are walking among us right now, that no one has ever heard of. Because they've never even went out for xc or track.
As a parent of a daughter who ran at new balance I have to say this was the most inspiring experience for her. Katy’s enthusiasm was such a breath of fresh air. Imagine someone actually having fun and enjoying themselves.
Not number 2, Number 1 all-time indoors. She broke Cain's indoor 2 mile record.
Hedengren didn't run a 2 mile indoors her senior year, only a 3200 indoors in 9:37.50. So Zang is even faster than Hedengren was this time last year. That's crazy!
Jane ran that 9:37 at altitude. It would've been a 9:20 something if it was at sea level!
Is everyone somehow forgetting that Jane Hedengren ran that 9:37 3200m indoors at 4,500 feet of elevation?? Everyone is saying Zang is faster, but technically she isn't if you adjust for elevation.
You couldn't find anything to suggest that Katy Zang's performances the past 2 weeks were remotely possible because I already looked and there isn't anything to find. Her 9:42 3200 and her 9:37 2 mile came out of nowhere.
Cain - Made the finals of the World Championships as a 17 year old. Katy Zang is faster.
Leachman - Only girl to ever qualify for the Olympics Trials in the 5k. Katy Zang is faster.
Touhy - Only girl to ever win NXN 3 times. Katy Zang is faster.
Somehow a girl that many track fans didn't even know existed until last week just ran a faster indoor 2 mile than Hedengren, Cain, Leachman, and Touhy. It's unexplainable. That's not supposed to happen.
Jane Hedengren's 9:37 was at 4,500 feet of elevation! Why is everyone forgetting that?
Here’s the deal: we know this gal can currently run ~15 consecutive 35sec 200m laps without wavering, looking smooth and efficient. So how many of those 1hr sessions at 172bpm is she currently doing per week?
So suppose by her 3rd year of college, she has worked up to four 80min sessions at 172bpm per week. So consequently, by then, she might be able to run ~23 consecutive 70sec 400m laps, and be the first collegiate female to break 30min in the 10,000m! (If Jane doesn’t beat her to it.)
Here’s the deal: we know this gal can currently run ~15 consecutive 35sec 200m laps without wavering, looking smooth and efficient. So how many of those 1hr sessions at 172bpm is she currently doing per week?
So suppose by her 3rd year of college, she has worked up to four 80min sessions at 172bpm per week. So consequently, by then, she might be able to run ~23 consecutive 70sec 400m laps, and be the first collegiate female to break 30min in the 10,000m! (If Jane doesn’t beat her to it.)
Just planting an idea, 💡 yo.
In order to get close to a 30min 10k, one would typically need to be able to break 9min in the 2mile.
You couldn't find anything to suggest that Katy Zang's performances the past 2 weeks were remotely possible because I already looked and there isn't anything to find. Her 9:42 3200 and her 9:37 2 mile came out of nowhere.
Cain - Made the finals of the World Championships as a 17 year old. Katy Zang is faster.
Leachman - Only girl to ever qualify for the Olympics Trials in the 5k. Katy Zang is faster.
Touhy - Only girl to ever win NXN 3 times. Katy Zang is faster.
Somehow a girl that many track fans didn't even know existed until last week just ran a faster indoor 2 mile than Hedengren, Cain, Leachman, and Touhy. It's unexplainable. That's not supposed to happen.
Jane Hedengren's 9:37 was at 4,500 feet of elevation! Why is everyone forgetting that?
This is a bit silly. Hedengren's real best is the 9:17 she ran outdoors. Nothing is impossible and Zang still has room to improve, even in her race tactics.
Meanwhile, let's not pretend 9:37 indoors is better than 9:17 outdoors.
Here’s the deal: we know this gal can currently run ~15 consecutive 35sec 200m laps without wavering, looking smooth and efficient. So how many of those 1hr sessions at 172bpm is she currently doing per week?
So suppose by her 3rd year of college, she has worked up to four 80min sessions at 172bpm per week. So consequently, by then, she might be able to run ~23 consecutive 70sec 400m laps, and be the first collegiate female to break 30min in the 10,000m! (If Jane doesn’t beat her to it.)
Just planting an idea, 💡 yo.
In order to get close to a 30min 10k, one would typically need to be able to break 9min in the 2mile.
Monson had been training at altitude for several months before she got close.
This is a bit silly. Hedengren's real best is the 9:17 she ran outdoors. Nothing is impossible and Zang still has room to improve, even in her race tactics.
Meanwhile, let's not pretend 9:37 indoors is better than 9:17 outdoors.
Of course a 9:17 full two-mile is better than a 9:37 3200m??? Who is saying that???
All I'm saying is that it is odd that people are concluding "Zang ran faster than Jane", but she didn't if you adjust for elevation. Jane ran 9:37 at 4,550 feet which would convert to roughly a 9:26 full 2 mile. I'm rooting for Zang and I hope she continues to do amazingly well over the course of her outdoor season, but it is factually wrong to say that Zang's 9:37 is faster than Jane's converted 9:26 two mile.
This post was edited 11 minutes after it was posted.
Why are commenters worried about how one athlete's indoor record stacks up against another's outdoor record? You would think most people would be super excited to see a bunch of new faces on the high school scene doing so well, which gives us all more athletes to follow and cheer for. No?
In order to get close to a 30min 10k, one would typically need to be able to break 9min in the 2mile.
You realize only two women have actually broke 9 minutes for 2 miles, right?
Are you trying to be cute, or ignorant? How many of the 20 women that have broken 30min actually have run a 2mile? The 20th on the list, Meseret Defar (29:59 PB) is one of the few, running 8:58. You don’t think the others could have, as well? They just typically don’t run that distance.
I hesitate on commenting, because of the pushback from ED accusations that get bandied about. But in fairness to the athlete, I think if you do some research on her Instagram, you will see a transformation that seems to coincide with her drop in times. Continuing to push intense aerobic exercise on a machine at heart rate levels, for sustained periods of time that would simply not be possible if actually running, would likely do that. But how sustainable is that?
I hesitate on commenting, because of the pushback from ED accusations that get bandied about. But in fairness to the athlete, I think if you do some research on her Instagram, you will see a transformation that seems to coincide with her drop in times. Continuing to push intense aerobic exercise on a machine at heart rate levels, for sustained periods of time that would simply not be possible if actually running, would likely do that. But how sustainable is that?
But look at Beatrice Chebet, or Battocletti, for example, and maybe they too would be accused of having ED’s, because of their size.
Already explained by her injuries in my prior post.
10:37 3200m June 2025 - she was still recovering from IT band injury and not able to run at full speed. Had cross trained almost exclusively for 10 months at this point.
10:17 3200m Jan 2026 - she stated in the CITIUS MAG interview that she just ran this to get a qualifying time for the state meet. So it was not a PR attempt. Uninjured and fully trained at this point, though.
9:42 3200m Mar 2026 (Ohio state meet). Yes, this was a PR attempt.
9:35 2-mile Mar 2026 NBN. Yes, this was a PR attempt. Improved by 7 seconds.
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