Lukas Verbizcas and German Fernandez come to mind. Laura Hollander on the women's side.
I think it’s unfair to include GF. He did his 4 years in college then tried to be a pro until 2016 or so.
Verzbicas does not belong in this thread. He’s still the HS 2-mile record holder, but suffered a horrific cycling accident that ended his running career. If that had not happened, he would have returned to Oregon or refocused on running. He had the potential to be one of the GOATs of American distance running and belongs in a “What if…” thread.
I don’t recall Fernandez ever suffering a significant injury and he ran for 10 years after college. For whatever reason, he mostly plateaued during that time.
I am one myself. Was top 15 in the country as a senior, with a very very high ceiling due to my continued improvement as well. Had a lot of people supporting me as well, cheering for me, buying me plane tickets to big races, etc
In college, my ego was out of control. Teammates older than me and slower than me? Beneath me. Not leading every workout? Beneath me. I was a tool.
I had some setbacks out of my control and started to spiral from there. Had to get a job to cover my living expenses. Struggled to keep a job, train, have a social life, and keep up with schoolwork. Coaches tried an intervention and it didn't work. Ended up deciding i could train better on my own anyways, who needs schoolwork and a dumb team....
As soon as i left the team, my career was over. Welcome to 60 hour work weeks to pay rent with no college degree. One of the biggest mistakes of my life. I've since then found things that are much more meaningful than running anyways, but i just tell my younger friends still on the team, freaking enjoy it. Make friends and just have fun through it all. College running is so freaking special.
During his freshman cross country season at Oregon he got injured. But to keep him competing with the injury and finish the season, the Oregon staff had him taking Phenylbutazone. He started the track season running an 8:41 indoor 2mile on a stress fracture that ended his season. (Note: Phenylbutazone is not approved for use in humans due to risks of serious, lethal adverse effects, and is forbidden for use in food-producing animals.) He did go to a JC in California the next season but was injured early in the track season.
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BYU is full of top 30 hs guys in the country who got cut and stay for the school/religion. Easton Allred, Stetson Moss, Carson Belnap, Grant Gardner, etc. Ethan Shuley was a guy like this who decided to train again and just ran 2:07... The talent walking in those halls not running is insane!
Too many to list. Many great HS runners are either burntout, lose interest or get in a big college program and realize they are no longer the big dog. And, rather than work at it to be on top again, they walk away.
Melody Fairchild has run Club XC and US nationals in the masters division several times and has place well. Also coaches a lot of runners in the Boulder community. Very much a presence there and quite involved with running.
During his freshman cross country season at Oregon he got injured. But to keep him competing with the injury and finish the season, the Oregon staff had him taking Phenylbutazone. He started the track season running an 8:41 indoor 2mile on a stress fracture that ended his season. (Note: Phenylbutazone is not approved for use in humans due to risks of serious, lethal adverse effects, and is forbidden for use in food-producing animals.) He did go to a JC in California the next season but was injured early in the track season.
I think it’s unfair to include GF. He did his 4 years in college then tried to be a pro until 2016 or so.
Verzbicas does not belong in this thread. He’s still the HS 2-mile record holder, but suffered a horrific cycling accident that ended his running career. If that had not happened, he would have returned to Oregon or refocused on running. He had the potential to be one of the GOATs of American distance running and belongs in a “What if…” thread.
I don’t recall Fernandez ever suffering a significant injury and he ran for 10 years after college. For whatever reason, he mostly plateaued during that time.
You forget German tearing his Achilles at NCAA’s as a frosh? Then came back and set a world jr mile record indoors a few months later
Mathias Powell who won IL State xc several years back went on to a lackluster NCAA career at Villanova, then started a tech company and sold it for many millions in just under 2 years.
There are many of them and it has been discussed many times. Just start with most of the girls that won FL or NXN. Sarah Baxter, Brie Oakley, Claudia Lane Irene Riggs, etc.
Bumping for Brie Oakley and Claudia Lane. Injuries suck man. Their race at the Arcadia 2 mile in 2017 was a classic- they were never separated by more than a meter or two and both ran 9:57 breaking Hasay's meet record. I hope they're both doing well.