big potentials/short careers

Gee, you aren't from Texas, are you? These guys were no world beaters in HS, nor in college. Barely worth mentioning.

What ever happened to Angel martinez?

Jason Casiano, Louie Q's contemporary with maybe a little more talent and a lot less drive. The guy could drink and run the next day better than anyone ever if that counts for anything.

Actually, I know much more about Michigan running than Texas, but Texas does seem to have a penchant of having a few decent HSers that don't do much later.

As far as Gomez, you are right, he was no world beater. He did run 9:07 I believe a few years before the Hauser bros were running similar times. Gomez (who reportedly ran 35m/week) followed up his 9:07 with ... nothing. The Hausers did a little better (understatement for effect).

Thanks for catching my Sheppard error... my mistake. I had intended to mention Eric Henry (not Sheppard) who ran in Houston I believe an 8:51. I believe he still runs, and if I am not mistaken, ran a 19:30 5K a coupla months ago.

Last I heard from Angel was that he was competing for Azuza Pacific in the mid-90s. I do believe he improved marginally from his HS times, but I threw him in anyway.

In my opinion, if everyone knows who these guys are (Brantly, etc.) and they have been running a number of years, then I am not sure I can say they are the right fit for "Big Potential / Short Career" topic. HSers though who run pretty fast, but then don't follow it up seem to fit the description to me... Big Potential / Short Career.

Major props to Louis for coming on here and giving us the dope. Ya got cajones.

Tony Waldrop...

I believe one of the most gifted milers ever. Stopped running and wasn't interested in the Olympics. I believe he's still the indoor NCAA mile record holder @ 3:55.0.

I'm not certain if this is true, but I was told quite a few years ago the Greg was involved in some sort of accident during a summer job in Hamilton in between terms at university -- it involved a railway tie falling onto his foot.

Terrible shame -- he was a great athlete and a humble, approachable guy as well.

I'm trying to remember if he ran at Dartmouth or not -- anyone know?

Martin

Anderson went to Dartmouth. I think his 8 min 3k is still the NA HS record

I competed against Gomez in High school and college. He did only run about 40 miles a week in high school. His Freshman year at TCU he made it NCAA in cross and then also ran 29:51 at Texas Relays. Not a bad time for 10k as a frosh. He then had some problems with his heart and had a surgery to fix whatever it was, but I never got the scoop on what exactly was wrong. He did have some potential...that is for sure.

James Murphy was hugely talented Indiana HS-er in early 80's, easily beat Terry Brahm in state meet, then ran at IU with Jim Spivey, Brahm et al. Ran OK at IU, I think a sub-4 indoor mile, but not near what some--Spivey included--thought he would do. Hear he's doing very well in home and work life now, though. Which is what matters, right?

Not an exercise physiologist - he's he real deal.

When Athletics West was being formed in 1977, Waldrop was one of the first to be courted by Nike. In spite of being arguably the best talent in the world at 1500 he had little interest in continuing his running. Rumors have it that he continued working out alone on the track at a level that would put him well under four minutes, in spite of the fact that he never raced and was only doing it "for fitness". Scary.

http://tarheelblue.ocsn.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/062801aaa.html

http://www.med.unc.edu/wrkunits/2depts/physiolo/pages/waldrop.htm

You obviously have no clue how talented Shannon Butler was at 21, 22 y/o, even while on the sauce 24-7. He used to wait on the tops of hills for Adam Goucher to catch up on long runs not long after he moved to Boulder. I stand by my assertion Butler could have broken 27 minutes for 10K if he had played his cards right.

Another name who fell off the charts. Rick Robirds, a 9-time Adams State All-American and 28:22 10,000-meter runner. He stopped running right after college.

**You obviously have no clue how talented Shannon Butler was at 21, 22 y/o, even while on the sauce 24-7.**

How can you argue with logic like this?

No human born outside the continent of Africa has run under 27mins yet you've scouted out the one who shoulda/woulda.

Gomez was your typical Texas guy. not that great but good. Never won state in track (never even came close) and went to TCU and the story ended there. I heard he got a big fat chick in college.

As for Henry, he only ran 3:55 in college. Not bad, and he was Penn Relays Champ, 4th indoors in the NCAA Mile one year and many time All American. he did ok. He now weighs about 300 pounds.

Chris Strait: you were from Tx, right? You never did too much either, did you?

What state would claim to have the best collegians, post collegians, etc.

California, then Texas, Florida, Wiscousin would have to follow...

he's working as a CPA in Portland.

Homey,

I think I know you... you're sounding a little proud of your accomplishments... maybe a little too much (smile)...

Homey da Clown wrote:

"As for Henry, he only ran 3:55 in college. Not bad, and he was Penn Relays Champ, 4th indoors in the NCAA Mile one year and many time All American. he did ok."

"Chris Strait: you were from Tx, right? You never did too much either, did you?"

As for States turning out the best... I think Mich, Ohio, Minn, and NY are going to break up your top three. Texas??? What are you talking about? Also, given Cali's population, I think they have a bit of advantage.

I promise you this---nobody on this list would know who the hell I am!!

I think Texas has some great ones:

Reina and Hauser and Culpepper(olympians)

other Hauser

Lunn

Eric Henry

Daily

Bonn

Gargiulo

Todd Harbour (3:50 miler)

Jeremy Stallings (I don't know how many times this guy was All American in college!)

Sisson

Brian Klein

Shoot, I am talking out of my ass. I am not even from Tx originally. I just have always thought of Cali, Florida and Texas as having the best HS athletes. Can you name a lot of athletes from those states you named?

Minnesota can boast some good ones in recent years, but all time. Texas has had some good collegiate level runners too (Lengefeld, Wood, Jonathan Johnson, McCambridge, etc.) in recent years.

Graves ran 13:50 as a freshman in college, then was in a motorcycle accident. Like Webb, he was very mature for his age (and also a former swimmer), while Spivey developed at a less rapid rate, but had a much higher peak. Spivey finally finished in front of Graves at the 1978 NCAA XC in Madison, won by Salazar.

This topic is interesting in bringing up old names and memories but it's getting pretty redundant. Basically anyone who makes it to the world class scene has to come from a serious youth background. You don't see guys at the top of the heap that were't high school all-american types. Not anymore. Therefore, obviously not everyone makes it (by choice or not) so naturally you can come up with a zillion examples of people who didn't fulfill their potential. In other words, not every 9:00 two miler in high school runs 13:20. But if you're going to run 13:20 you have to have 9:00 type talent. And not every 13:30 college runner runs 27:40, but..you get the idea.

I would say the best conditions would be try to time a breakthrough your senior year or first year out of college. Many of these guys who popped it big when they were young hit a plateau and couldn't handle the year or two right out of college when they were doing nothing all day except laying around between workouts and were'nt on a constant improvement mode. The enthusiasm and confidence level has to be better for the guys who breakthrough after college. I see a tendency for those guys to have the longer careers, even more so then the national champion types in college.

Tony Waldrop ran 3:53.2 his senior year - then stopped competing to concentrate on Med School. Just like that. Had sub 3:50 potential for sure. When he ran 3:53, he blew Wilson Waigwa off the track at the Penn relays. This with a 4:18 PR in HS. He kept improving every year.

Don Paige could even make this list. His fragile feet kept him from truly realizing his potential.

Earl Jones, never the same after a car accident.

Einars Tuperitis. Came on strong in 96 with 1:43 performances, then was injured ...