Well since Robinson gets his workouts from Johnny Gray directly Robinson knows what it exactly takes to run 142- Ronbinson may come close to the US record and maybe break it.
A lot of credit has to be given to Johnny Gray for passing his workouts and confidence to Robinson much like MJ does for Wariner. It's great for US Track and Field.
I know Davis has caught much flak over the years because of his straight -up non-poser status, but when I met Marc at Milrose with my Footlocker finalist getting set for the schoolboy mile and later at Vulcan in Birmingham, he was anything but cocky: soft-spoken, cheerful, and encouraging. His pics with my HS team's drawn tattoos next to his real ones was a classic that I keep on my classroom wall. It is wonderful to see an athlete of this caliber (former deuce aR record holder) give his voice back to the sport. Hell, hire Marc to take Carol fat-ass Lewis's place on TV !!!!!!
1994 Goodwill Games wrote:
Sorry-
It was the 1994 Goodwill Games: If memory serves me correctly, and as noted I thought he ran his time at the '86 GW games, so I will wait for Doc's comments to see if this is correct: Marc waved to the crowd on the last last lap, dove into the steeplechase pit on purpose on the last lap, and still ran 8:14.
Here is the results from '94:
3000m steeplechase
Marc Davis (USA) 8:14.30 (GR)
Mark Croghan (USA) 8:21.85
Joesph Keter (KEN) 8:23.13
Graeme Fell (CAN) 8:26.25
You can ask Doc what uniform he wore in the 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart - the only distance runner above 800 meters that wore this suit.
jspivey
js
But, many people will say that this is just another example of Marc Davis being his typical ass-holeish self and it cost him an AR.
I competed around the same time and I can say that Davis and AJ Acosta seem to get the same beef. They seemed to revel in the attention they got and were free spirits and weren't influenced by older stogies that frowned upon anything other than winning and moving on to the next race.
I met Marc one time and I will say he is one of the most friendly, personable guys, and fun guys you would want to hang around with. Maybe if he was kicking your ass in a race and he did some attention grabbing stunt you might have been pissed becuause that's not expected among introverted distance runners. But the man is a good guy, he's still positively contributing to the sport.
I have to think when looking back that I wonder if Marc's actions in races were solely spontaneous self-expressions, or actually premeditated attempts to do what he could do to not just bring attention to just himself, but to "modernize the sport" in the lines that the media seems to feed on. For better or for worse. He might have been trying to sell "track distance running" rather than "MArc Davis". THink back on some of those Gabe Jennings post-race interviews a few years back. Didn't it give those TV commentators something to talk about?
I dont see Ethiopias NR on the Steeple list ....... interesting. We all know how well kenya can run the steeple.....Ethiopia must not have the depth and/or interest in the event as they do the non-hurdle distances...
Eshetu Tura 8:13.57 1980, it's been discussed here before, seems some think it's because as a race they are short?
I never post on these boards and read them only for entertainment, but I feel like I need to put my two cents in:
I was in need of a place to stay the night before Pre about 10 years ago. Davis gladly offered an air mattress at his house. In fact, he and his girlfriend at the time, myself, and another buddy all went out for a beer at some local Eugene watering hole. I have cheered for him ever since. Really nice and down to Earth guy.
I think Marc caught quite a bit of flak here a few years ago because he was posting a lot and putting a link to his coaching services at the bottom of every post. People began to think that he was posting only as an advertisement for his site, nothing more. So they really ripped him for it. I don't think he was doing that but that's how I remember it.
I don't blame him for avoiding this place like the plague. It's a cesspool. And yet, somehow, I cannot stay away...
Actually Marc irritated some people a lot longer before he advertised his coaching. Guys pushing 40 remember this.
He was a little more "demonstrative" than your usual distance runner. He wasn't the status quo for what traditionally you expect.
He built that reputation and people came to expect his act. I knew a guy who never watched a track meet, and saw his self-glorifying, attention-grabbing display after winning a televised indoor race it was sour to him as well.
But I'll have to say he is a good guy, he's enthusiastic, and he's not all about himself in a sport that requires selfishness.
The guy made sure one OLY trials after I was pretty liquored up that I made it back to the hotel safe and sound. Most of my friends, and myself, would have said, "good luck-see ya, you're on your own, hope you make it."
MarathonMind wrote:
Eshetu Tura 8:13.57 1980, it's been discussed here before, seems some think it's because as a race they are short?
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=928509
good work MM
Back in the day, at the 96 OT, I had just graduated from high school and went to Bob Kennedy's and Todd Williams' A Step Ahead camp for high schoolers. Marc took more time to talk with me and the other HSers at the camp than just about either other elite so I definitely have to give him credit for that.
People think Davis is a tool because he:
a) was perhaps the biggest talent in the history of US distance running but pissed it away. Yeah, it was his choice to jack around and play golf instead of training but it just shows his immaturity.
b) is extremely selfish, it's always about The Davis - or should we say "The Dizzle"? Even though his career is over the shameless self-promotion and antics keep coming. Notice how he manages to insinuate himself into every situation he has even the slightest connection to. Example 1 - Foot Locker Nationals: "Yeah! AJ's my boy! San Diego baby! I've been tight with this guy for at least a month!" Example 2 - Lincoln sets the AR in the steeple. Here comes Davis, out of the woodwork: "Since I could've crushed the AR but didn't because I'm such a f***off and was never the best steepler in the country because Croghan kicked my ass all over the place I hereby bestow honor and glory upon a guy who has half my talent but is twice the athlete."
c) after begging Chapa for a job he now lurks at HS meets and video tapes 16 year old girls' in bunhuggers.
d) the guy gave himself his own nickname for crying out loud.
If he doesn't have a problem with himself, then what's it to you?
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