Best Athletes to not run after high school?

Verzbicas had a brief stint at Oregon. I remember seeing him get crushed as a freshman at the adidas xc invite in the ahmed-darling-connor days at UW

Augie Escobar , ca. Ran sub 9 in the dismal 1990s

Obea Moore content. Wish this was better quality:

https://youtu.be/rhPKBnbWsR4

Jeff Nelson is the one I always wished I could have seen truly compete after high school. Yes, he was a Duck, but he never really was a member of the team, as I've heard it. Alberto didn't like him. You could say it was the first career that Salazar ruined.

BAhston wrote:

Later in life did they come back to the sport and qualify for Boston?

I am glad you know what really matters!

I thought there would be more. I know of a bunch of 1:54-4:18-9:20 type guys who never ran another step after high school but was hoping for some eye opener 1:50-4:04-9 minute guys who had enough.

The Truth Hurtz wrote:

I was going back at some old 800m high school performance lists, and found a very talented athlete I was surprised did not run after high school.

His name was Xavier Moss. He ran a 1:49.99 at the Texas State meet to finish 2nd to Hector Hernandez (who went on to have a good collegiate career), but disappeared off the grid and it seems only stuck with football. I don't even think Xavier was ever fully dedicated to track back in high school (although he certainly trained hard in season, of course).

What are some of the best runners you can think of gave up running (maybe for another sport?).

I remember this guy. I was the year ahead of him and I thought he was gonna become a beast at the collegiate level, but that happens to a lot of guys. I remember one guy in the year above or below me, who was a state champ in the old 4A, who got a girl pregnant and never ran after high school. Life happens. Injuries, loss of interest, life, etc.

westsouthrunner wrote:

Chelsey Sveinnson

mile/2 miles national champion, footlocker runner up went to stanford and quit the team.

She was a mess before finishing HS. Was coached by her mom, always turns out poorly. Not Stanfords fault, although they should have seen it coming.

messy mom wrote:

She was a mess before finishing HS. Was coached by her mom, always turns out poorly.

Although, in this case, you may be correct (I don't know), your statement linking a mother-as-coach to "turning out poorly" is an absolutely ridiculous generalization.

Another gross generalization wrote:

messy mom wrote:

She was a mess before finishing HS. Was coached by her mom, always turns out poorly.

Although, in this case, you may be correct (I don't know), your statement linking a mother-as-coach to "turning out poorly" is an absolutely ridiculous generalization.

Even worse, having your father as your coach.

I know it worked for Coe, but American parent/coaches are dicks.

Working well for the Hunter boys.

Dave Pottetti.

How about academic issues? I know that was in of Obea Moore’s problems.

Alan

Lynn Bjorkland, ran HSR for 3K in 1975 that lasted for 38 years but never ran in college.

The Truth Hurtz wrote:

I was going back at some old 800m high school performance lists, and found a very talented athlete I was surprised did not run after high school.

His name was Xavier Moss. He ran a 1:49.99 at the Texas State meet to finish 2nd to Hector Hernandez (who went on to have a good collegiate career), but disappeared off the grid and it seems only stuck with football. I don't even think Xavier was ever fully dedicated to track back in high school (although he certainly trained hard in season, of course).

What are some of the best runners you can think of gave up running (maybe for another sport?).

Carrie Garritson

I win!

Billy Harper - from Junction City, Oregon (just north of Eugene)

What a talent in HS; I believe he went to Lane for a year or two; but nothing after that I don't think.

nysouthrunner wrote:

Dave Pottetti.

He both cross country and track at Harvard (when he chose to run) and held the school steeplechase record for 26 years.

Pottetti was shot to death in 1972 Here is the article from the Harvard Crimson.

Track Star Found Dead Near Home

NO WRITER ATTRIBUTED

January 21, 1972

Former Harvard track star David P. Pottetti died of a gunshot wound yesterday on his family property in Pound Ridge, New York.

Pottetti starred on the cross-country team both in high school and at Harvard. He won the 3000 meter steeplechase in the Penn relays. While in high school he won the National Schoolboy Championship and held the state high school record in the two-mile run.

Actually.... there is a little more to the tragic Dave Pottetti story. We would all like to think that the training discipline we experience as distance runners also translates into resilience and durability in our personal lives. That we have toughened our minds and our bodies so when we may experience the tortures of life, we roll right past them. Well, that not always the case.

I have my own nominee for toughest distance running legend ever. But I'll reserve comment. I can tell you he competed with the best nationally and he was rapidly ascending despite the worst coach and worst Div 1 program ever.... totally no support in fact his Div 1 program consistently sought to simply drag him down and diminish him. But here's the secret. No one can beat you unless you let them. You will prevail and that is all it takes....The mental toughness will always defeat the physical ability particularly in distance running. To always compete with the best is always your best reward.

https://books.google.com/books?id=Zpj_DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA163&lpg=PA163&dq=david+pottetti+murdered&source=bl&ots=NLDsgidjsD&sig=ACfU3U1-m5pRt3uIRpnKBtk1FQkokAL6hA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiy2tvhi-ruAhWUZM0KHSH_D8IQ6AEwAXoECAoQAg#v=onepage&q=david%20pottetti%20murdered&f=false