HS sensation Will Sumner 1:48.14 (#2 US indoor HS all-time) at NBIGP!!

Kobbs Hessler wrote:

willsdad wrote:

Just wanted to chime in before the thread get's a little too far off the rails.

As stated previously, Will's birthday is late October 2003. Probably a little underdeveloped but mature enough to start handling more serious training.

His focus this season is on the 400 and the 800 training is mainly to push the 400 time down. Overall miles/wk are low in the 12-14 range, so he trains a bit like a 400m runner who can handle mid-d training.

His mother is one of the high school coaches but there is no indoor season in GA so prep for indoors was started well in advance of the regular track season. The 600 was a goal from the start with given his 47.01/1:51.67 from the spring. It seemed like a realistic goal in a fun low-key event and the 500 happened to work perfectly into the schedule. Can't say we were expecting 1:15 until after the VA Showcase and probably would have run 1:14 with the Woodward genes. I think the Sumner genes slowed him down a little :-)

I'm not going to name drop but there are a number of coaches who have been very influential from sprints to distance so he has had plenty of support to get where he is today.

Oddly enough, he wears the nike zoom 400 for races longer than 400m and zoom super fly for 400 down. Didn't want the 'super' spikes this season.

Honestly, there are no plans to chase 800 times this season. He was looking for one more 800 indoors and the opportunity to run the NB Indoor Grand Prix was hard to turn down. I know many were wanting him to go after the record but that wasn't the intent. With a 1:51 pr it was about getting into a race to see where he is with the event given his 600 time. Sure, he probably left some time out there and ran a little too cautious but we’re very proud of the effort. I think it proves he can transition to the 800 if/when he is ready.

I know this is a distance biased forum everyone wants him to run the 1500. Sure, he's built like a 1500m runner and that's his destiny. But over on LetsRunFaster.com, the sprint fans are claiming he's built like Jeremy Wariner and can run 43 for the 400. Seriously, whatever event he ends up in needs to be something he wants to pursue and not something we (or this forum) can decide for him.

Next up is the 400 at Kentucky.

This makes perfect sense and is the right strategy. Explains why he might struggle a touch (for now) at a full 800 against high level pro competition. At his age, keep focusing on the 400 speed. The endurance work can come later. The kid has amazing potential. Best of luck!

TrackCoach wrote:

rojo wrote:

How impressive was that?

When he went out in last, I was thinking what is this sprint-based guy doing? Doesn't he need to get out hard? But then I remembered how even he ran his 600.

We couldn't quite see him on tv on the last lap as it was so fast but he just kept running almost dead even. That kid has a bright future!!!

27.02-26.88 (53.89)-27.30 (1:21.18) - 26.96(1:48.14)

Good but not great!

Obviously this kid is an incredible athlete, but I am not super impressed with the race, the splits or the time. With his speed he should have gotten out a little faster; he is too good to have immediately went to the back of the pack. With that said, the 800 HSR is certainty more legit than the 500/600. I knew getting the 800 record was going to be difficult and the outdoor version is equally as solid. Btw, Michael Grandville is perhaps the most underrated H.S. track athlete.

Kentonwood wrote:

TrackCoach wrote:

Good but not great!

Obviously this kid is an incredible athlete, but I am not super impressed with the race, the splits or the time. With his speed he should have gotten out a little faster; he is too good to have immediately went to the back of the pack. With that said, the 800 HSR is certainty more legit than the 500/600. I knew getting the 800 record was going to be difficult and the outdoor version is equally as solid. Btw, Michael Grandville is perhaps the most underrated H.S. track athlete.

You posted "Good but not great!"

I can't believe this is a running forum, an actual running forum? I ran 1:53 Plus in high school. I never once thought I was great, ever---but at least good.

If this guy is not Great, then I wasn't even good. Some of you so called coaches are absolutely nuts and clearly shouldn't be coaching. Your own athletes must be called average by you, or sub par at best.

What has happened to this site?

Kentonwood wrote:

TrackCoach wrote:

Good but not great!

Obviously this kid is an incredible athlete, but I am not super impressed with the race, the splits or the time. With his speed he should have gotten out a little faster; he is too good to have immediately went to the back of the pack. With that said, the 800 HSR is certainty more legit than the 500/600. I knew getting the 800 record was going to be difficult and the outdoor version is equally as solid. Btw, Michael Grandville is perhaps the most underrated H.S. track athlete.

You posted "Good but not great!"

I can't believe this is a running forum, an actual running forum? I ran 1:53 Plus in high school. I never once thought I was great, ever---but at least good.

If this guy is not Great, then I wasn't even good. Some of you so called coaches are absolutely nuts and clearly shouldn't be coaching. Your own athletes must be called average by you, or sub par at best.

What has happened to this site?

willsdad wrote:

Just wanted to chime in before the thread get's a little too far off the rails.

As stated previously, Will's birthday is late October 2003. Probably a little underdeveloped but mature enough to start handling more serious training.

His focus this season is on the 400 and the 800 training is mainly to push the 400 time down. Overall miles/wk are low in the 12-14 range, so he trains a bit like a 400m runner who can handle mid-d training.

His mother is one of the high school coaches but there is no indoor season in GA so prep for indoors was started well in advance of the regular track season. The 600 was a goal from the start with given his 47.01/1:51.67 from the spring. It seemed like a realistic goal in a fun low-key event and the 500 happened to work perfectly into the schedule. Can't say we were expecting 1:15 until after the VA Showcase and probably would have run 1:14 with the Woodward genes. I think the Sumner genes slowed him down a little :-)

I'm not going to name drop but there are a number of coaches who have been very influential from sprints to distance so he has had plenty of support to get where he is today.

Oddly enough, he wears the nike zoom 400 for races longer than 400m and zoom super fly for 400 down. Didn't want the 'super' spikes this season.

Honestly, there are no plans to chase 800 times this season. He was looking for one more 800 indoors and the opportunity to run the NB Indoor Grand Prix was hard to turn down. I know many were wanting him to go after the record but that wasn't the intent. With a 1:51 pr it was about getting into a race to see where he is with the event given his 600 time. Sure, he probably left some time out there and ran a little too cautious but we’re very proud of the effort. I think it proves he can transition to the 800 if/when he is ready.

I know this is a distance biased forum everyone wants him to run the 1500. Sure, he's built like a 1500m runner and that's his destiny. But over on LetsRunFaster.com, the sprint fans are claiming he's built like Jeremy Wariner and can run 43 for the 400. Seriously, whatever event he ends up in needs to be something he wants to pursue and not something we (or this forum) can decide for him.

Next up is the 400 at Kentucky.