Chris Derrick: The Greatest Runner never to win an NCAA Championship

Nah Doubt It wrote:

I don't think he does, there are 27:30ish guys now whose names I can't be bothered to remember because of how high Rupp/Ritz have raised the bar. So I don't expect Derrick to get 3rd at the Trials when he only got 3rd in 28 something at NCAAs.

Well, I would agree that both Rupp and Ritzenhein have raised the bar in the 10000m during their careers, but, one has to remember, Ritz has yet to run the "A" standard this year in the 10k. Although Ritz has a more successful history on the track, he has yet to produce any outstanding results thus far this season. Therefore, I have no doubts that Rupp will beat Derrick at the Trials, but I can easily see Derrick beating Ritz for a spot considering Derrick has run a 3:41 1500/ 13:37 5000/ and a 27:31 10000m already this season, and has shown he has a good kick if he's in the race with 2 laps to go. I still think Ritz will be in the race, but my pick for top 3 are Rupp, Teg, and Derrick.

I really do think the socks deserve more discussion. What was up with them? Crap like that makes my ankles swell.

One other person to consider for greatest runner to never win an NCAA championship would be Henry Marsh. For someone who later went on to be World #1 three times, it is amazing to remember that not only did he not win an NCAA title but also did not even win an NCAA conference title.

Another Derrick. wrote:

Poor Chris? As a fan of Chris Derrick, I do not feel sorry for him at all, not everyone gets a fairytale ending. He had an incredible NCAA career, and is one of the best collegians ever, with or without a title (3rd fastest all time at Terra Haute). Hopefully the lack of an NCAA title adds fuel to his fire...the best of Chris Derrick is yet to come.

This is how I feel. Sometimes, it's just not a person's day and they're not meant to win. If Derrick is truly a great runner he will be successful when he goes pro.

Like a lot of people, I first noticed Derrick when he ran that fast 5000 at Arcadia in h.s. He then ran an 8:48 3200 and possibly doubled with a 1600, and turned out he was already suffering from mono. It was disappointing, as he would have loved to have been in that race where Fernandez got the 2 mile record.

But all that was forgotten the next fall when he had clearly risen to a whole new level in XC and the following seasons. So his history shows he handles disappointment well and simply intensifies his focus. He's not quite ready to be considered a factor in the Olympics, though he certainly has a chance to qualify, but by next year he should be quickly catching up with our other top U.S. runners.

Running South wrote:

"Did Alberto Salazar win any NCAA titles?"

Answer: Yes, Salazar was the 1978 NCAA Cross Country Champion

BTW, I think I'd have to agree that Yobes Ondieki might have been the best NCAA runner never to have won an NCAA title. But Chris Derrick might be the best American born runner to never have won an NCAA title.

Bill Mcchesney

Being a native of Illinois, I noticed Derrick in XC his junior year, when he finished 3rd to Evan Jager. You didn't notice him when he finished 2nd at Footlocker his senior year? Won NTN with his team and he as well took home the individual title?He would've gotten low 8:30s fresh I feel. If he had doubled and ran the mile pre-lim the day before, probably somewhere in the high 8:30s low 8:40s, because by the time that 2 mile roles around, it is 90F+. Racing in the heat the day before doesn't help either.

Fastnbulbous wrote:

Like a lot of people, I first noticed Derrick when he ran that fast 5000 at Arcadia in h.s. He then ran an 8:48 3200 and possibly doubled with a 1600, and turned out he was already suffering from mono. It was disappointing, as he would have loved to have been in that race where Fernandez got the 2 mile record.

But all that was forgotten the next fall when he had clearly risen to a whole new level in XC and the following seasons. So his history shows he handles disappointment well and simply intensifies his focus. He's not quite ready to be considered a factor in the Olympics, though he certainly has a chance to qualify, but by next year he should be quickly catching up with our other top U.S. runners.

Charles Jock or Ryan Martin (both could easily break the old NCAA record this weekend and one will never win a championship)

You got it wrote:

Has Derrick ever peaked correctly under Dunn? For that matter, has the entire Stanford team every peaked correctly? Agree that this is a coaching thing, but it could also be that he's just not a winner. There are some great runners out there that lack that extra something it takes to actually win big races.

You're an idiot. Derrick is probably one of the most consistent on-time peakers.

Lukas Verzbicas: The Greatest American High School Runner (not American though) to never have completed an NCAA season.

Derrick didn't run States or nationals as a senior due to Mono, but he did run 8:48 with mono.

rooster wrote:

if he has never won an NCAA championship, then why is he so great??

Because he white

I'd throw Molly Huddle's name into the mix. Had injuries wipe out a few seasons. She's done pretty well for herself the last few years.

fgfg wrote:

Chris Derrick slowed by C.1968 gym socks he was wearing ?

Maybe someone has already brought this up in another post and I missed it, but I'm pretty sure he was/is at least a little bit injured. It would explain the gym socks and the race. If so then I'm an even bigger fan than I already was. It's not real hard to imagine that he was hurt and was just too classy to even bring it up after finishing third. Here's an interview from after reigonals where talks about it in regards to his decision to just run the 10k.

your mom is done wrote:

Lukas Verzbicas: The Greatest American High School Runner (not American though) to never have completed an NCAA season.

Dear God...biggest loser ever, glad he's out of the NCAA.

Another Derrick. wrote:

derrick phan wrote:

That was just depressing. Losing 10 seconds to Cam that last 300 meters. I hope Levins gets fried in the 5k. Poor Chris. Hopefully he rebounds in two weeks and has a great race at the trials.

Poor Chris? As a fan of Chris Derrick, I do not feel sorry for him at all, not everyone gets a fairytale ending. He had an incredible NCAA career, and is one of the best collegians ever, with or without a title (3rd fastest all time at Terra Haute). Hopefully the lack of an NCAA title adds fuel to his fire...the best of Chris Derrick is yet to come.

Seriously, I doubt Chris would take your pity. They guy seems pretty grounded and humble. A cost-effective education from Stanford with 4 years of high level competition which will most likely yield him a pro contract in running plus countless memories...Just because he is a good guy and a great runner doesn't mean he-or anyone-is entitled to win. That's a hard truth of competition. If his only purpose in running was to win an NCAA title, then I pity him for different reasons.

fgfg wrote:

Chris Derrick slowed by C.1968 gym socks he was wearing ?

The kid in yellow is Derrick's little brother, this is at the IL State Meet. He has the socks on as well. Funny that both of them got 3rd in the longest event, while not competing in any other events.

Chris has many years to pursue a professional running career and I expect that we will see some more great things from him in the future. He has already achieved some historic times at the HS & Collegiate level.

His combination of intelligence, accessibility, grit and credibility as a national class runner will become increasingly important later if he wishes to pursue a career as a leader in the development of distance runners in the US.

Who would have thought that a waffle iron was important to distance running?

Big fan of C.D.