Elite Runners who were Mediocre in High School

fitman128925 wrote:

Mo trafeh

You are just ruining the thread for the few people who are really interested in contributing. Trafeh was a two-time Footlocker finalist and ran 1:53 [800m], 3:49 [1500m], and 14:26 [5,000m].

We've all become inured to the trolling and general negativity present in these pages. It's so great to see a national class athlete take a few minutes to offer some well considered advice and encouragement to a high school kid who is a bit discouraged. Well done, sir.

Emma Coburn- 5:08, 11:30.

There's a kid from Michigan, Dathan Crackhome, who did not win FL as a freshman or sophomore in high school. Never cracked 4 minutes for the mile. People often questioned his leg speed velocity, probably couldn't break 53 for 400. Mediocre accomplishments.

He later went on to be an accomplished alter-G runner.

So OP, it's definitely possible you could be a later bloomer like this guy.

Matt Elliott's an inspiration to mere mortals:

http://www.runnersworld.com/high-school-profiles/throwback-thursday-matthew-elliott

His HS 5K XC PR was 16:59! Now he's a sub 3:55 miler. His performance this weekend was something to behold--came from nowhere to win and run a 3:57 indoor.

I'd also look at

http://www.loyolaramblers.com/sports/c-xc/mtt/sam_penzenstadler_771393.html

. He was 15:28 for the 5K in HS. Now, he's a sub 4:00 miler.

If you're a jr running 15:40s, you have a lot of potential, especially if you've only been running since a Freshman.

My advice? Work hard right now and post the best times you can in Outdoor. Coaches will be looking at your track times very closely. If you're 15:40s, you should get below 9:30, ideally below 9:20. If so, you'll get some sniffs.

Don't get discouraged. Most of the sub 4:10 HS milers don't improve much in college. If you work hard, you catch, then pass those guys.

oneoff wrote:

I'm a high school junior who has run 15:40's in cross country and I'm starting to lose motivation seeing that all of the elite runners were running in the 14's as juniors. Can anyone think of some of today's elites who were mediocre in high school (high 15's low 16's) and got fast once they were in college.

One of the best young collegiate runners is Sean McGorty (AA XC; sub 4 as a non-RS soph; qualified for 3K indoors Nats this weekend). He barely broke 15 as a jr on a very fast course (FL South in NC). He came in second to Ches as a sr in FL Nats.

So, 15:40's, especially if the course is legit, is not bad, son. You're basically 30 - 45 secs behind the national elites.

But, if that's your attitude--what's the point?--you might as well quit now, because you'll never run with the big dogs if your mind ain't right.

Buuurrrn wrote:

Emma Coburn- 5:08, 11:30.

HIGH SCHOOL: Coburn was an all-state performer for four years for the Titans, including two fourth place finishes at the state cross country meet in 2006 and 2007. She placed 29th at the 2007 Foot Locker Midwest Championship. On the track, Coburn was an eight-time 2A state champion. She owns five CBHS records: 400m (1:02), 800m (2:16), 1,600m (5:11), 3,200m (11:32), the 4x800-meter relay and in the high jump (5 feet, 1 inch). She ran the 2,000-meter steeplechase at Nike Outdoor Nationals and placed second in 2008 and was fourth in 2007, earning a pair of All-American honors. Her time in 2008 was the fifth fastest time in high school history. Coburn was also a member of the basketball and volleyball in high school.

Would you really consider McGorty to be mediocre? Isn't more like "below average" rather than average? I mean he didn't break 4:10 and 9:10 until he was a junior? And he was only an All-America as a senior. I am not even sure he could be considered below-average with PRs of 4:04 and 8:46? He only ran 4:17 as a sophomore, I mean what is that? I am surprised he even ran in college?

1600 Meters

2010 Indoor 9 4:41.29a

2010 Outdoor 9 4:33.91a

2011 Outdoor 10 4:17.96a

2012 Indoor 11 4:15.29a

2012 Outdoor 11 4:09.19a

2013 Indoor 12 4:11.56a

2013 Outdoor 12 4:13.56a

1 Mile

2010 Outdoor 9 4:36.17a

2012 Outdoor 11 4:13.78a

2013 Outdoor 12 4:04.47a

3200 Meters

2010 Outdoor 9 9:48.00a

2011 Outdoor 10 9:12.03a

2012 Outdoor 11 9:05.51a

2013 Outdoor 12 8:46.07a

anyone wrote:

I'd also look at

http://www.loyolaramblers.com/sports/c-xc/mtt/sam_penzenstadler_771393.html

. He was 15:28 for the 5K in HS. Now, he's a sub 4:00 miler.

If you're a jr running 15:40s, you have a lot of potential, especially if you've only been running since a Freshman.

Wow ... 15:28 and he runs in college? 15:28 would only have been fast enough to win the Michigan State Meet for about 70 of the last 85 years. Not fast enough now that they have moved to a super-fast course at The Speedway, but it was all those other years.

I am surprised he stuck it out through all those years and persisted enough to break 4:00. If I was so mediocre that I had only run 15:28 I would have quit in 11th grade.

How did the coaches even know where to look for him if he was just at 15:28?

oneoff wrote:

I'm a high school junior who has run 15:40's in cross country and I'm starting to lose motivation seeing that all of the elite runners were running in the 14's as juniors. Can anyone think of some of today's elites who were mediocre in high school (high 15's low 16's) and got fast once they were in college.

You will find elites with mediocre times. When you do a little research, you will learn that they either took up the sport senior year and only ran 4:20/9:30 or they were training like 30 mpw and taking the summers and winters off.

anyone wrote:

Matt Elliott's an inspiration to mere mortals:

http://www.runnersworld.com/high-school-profiles/throwback-thursday-matthew-elliott

His HS 5K XC PR was 16:59! Now he's a sub 3:55 miler. His performance this weekend was something to behold--came from nowhere to win and run a 3:57 indoor.

WOW, I read the interview all the way through and am amazed that he had such below average times when he is clearly a smart and driven person, but in addition HIS MOM AND DAD were his coaches!!

Additionally he was State Champion (for small schools) with a 4:47. Now I know that SC is a weak state for distance, but I am still surprised that every state meet doesn't have at least one person better than 4:30.

It sounds like he ran a triple or quadruple in every meet, and I am surprised with all that racing that he didn't discover his ability earlier.

A lot of things are weird about him: He didn't run the 1500m until his senior year in college. He put on spikes, ran his first indoor meet, and first ran 50 mpw in his fifth year in college. Things most of us do by 10th grade. Remember, he graduated HS in 2003 not 1965.

He did run 3:43 in 2009 (first year out of college) once he actually started training like a human. And he broke 14:00 which shows he had talent all along, he just was not making anything of it.

But yeah, he was a legit mediocre HS runner. I can't ever imagine a guy who ran all 4 years of HS and ran 2:05 / 4:42 being able to ever run 3:36 ... that boggles my mind.

The other thing that is weird is that he likes Ludacris, T. Pain, Slim Thug, and Drake.

agc5k wrote:

Cam Levins

Eric Jenkins[b/]

Brian Sell

Desi Davila

Frank Shorter

Bill Rodgers

just the ones that come to mind, the list probably is much longer.

Again, Eric was not mediocre in high school. He was a state champion in track & XC, and he broke the course record in cross. All on 30 miles per week or less.

He was not a Ritz / Rupp / Verzbicas type in high school, but he was far from mediocre.

New Hampshire Native wrote:

Again, Eric was not mediocre in high school. He was a state champion in track & XC, and he broke the course record in cross. All on 30 miles per week or less.

He was not a Ritz / Rupp / Verzbicas type in high school, but he was far from mediocre.

Titles aren't times. What TIMES did he run?

kdkd wrote:

New Hampshire Native wrote:

Again, Eric was not mediocre in high school. He was a state champion in track & XC, and he broke the course record in cross. All on 30 miles per week or less.

He was not a Ritz / Rupp / Verzbicas type in high school, but he was far from mediocre.

Titles aren't times. What TIMES did he run?

A TIME faster than anyone had ever run at the state meet in XC, which includes a footlocker champion, and Russell Brown.

Your argument is terrible. A state champion who sets course records is not mediocre.

Ron Hill didn't start training seriously until he was 19.

New Hampshire Native wrote:

kdkd wrote:

Titles aren't times. What TIMES did he run?

A TIME faster than anyone had ever run at the state meet in XC, which includes a footlocker champion, and Russell Brown.

Your argument is terrible. A state champion who sets course records is not mediocre.

No, what TIME did he run. Don't provide a title or a feat. Provide a NUMBER.

No, my argument isn't terrible. Your reading comprehension is terrible. I never said he was mediocre.

Someone earlier mentioned a state champion that only ran 4:45 for the mile. So yes it is clearly possible to be mediocre and be a state champion who sets course records.

Emma was unique in High School. I think 16 varsity letters. She really ran because her older brother and sister did. She really didn't take it seriously and had no intention of running in college. I think her focus on other sports and outdoor activities like skiing, biking, kayaking kept her fresh for college running. No burn out or pressure.

Ben Bruce is a great example of a mediocre HS runner who developed into a solid runner after college. He was a #4/#5 guy in HS and after attending Cal Poly SLO, he became one of the top steeple chasers in the US.

Emma was unique in High School. I think 16 varsity letters. She really ran because her older brother and sister did. She really didn't take it seriously and had no intention of running in college. I think her focus on other sports and outdoor activities like skiing, biking, kayaking kept her fresh for college running. No burn out or pressure.