According to Sean Brosnan, Lex and Leo Young are in 13:20 5k shape.

Not true. The Jesuit roster is about half the size it was 3 years ago when the team finished 5th at the state meet. A smaller roster size allows for more individualized coaching. This was the Newbury Park model as well

It also allows more close-knitness of the team as well

Has he heard of
Mary Cain

13:20. Is that faster than what Ritz did in HS?

The speed is slower, the trip time the same.

It just happened to be the case that he got the two most talented families in the entire country, and that all five of them to this point developed to almost exactly the same level? Even if that were all improbably true, it wouldn't account for the 8:44/8:52, etc. which would be the pride of any other coach in high school history.

You do know that was run at the beginning of the pandemic when the state meet and pretty much everything else were cancelled, right?

So? You do know that many of the NP runners PR in February and fizzle later in the year.

He was working out during the pandemic with no distractions such as school, able to focus on training. It was completely ideal.

Posts like these make me wonder if these guys have ever watched an actual interview with Brosnan, as opposed to a couple short clips + whatever people on LR say. I've seen him many times credit athletes, not himself, with their success. He credited a 9:20 guy with being a huge part of the reason they have success now, because that 9:20 guy was the first one to buy into his training and start building the culture they have now. He credits Nico with showing the younger guys what's possible. He's even said that every person on the team is an integral part of it, even JV guys who are trying to break 20 minutes, because they hold each other accountable and keep morale up by working hard.

Does he talk about himself in interviews? YES! When people are interviewing him, the coach, asking him how to build a program like that, he talks about how he built the program like that. Saying "The kids I have are talented, that's why they're so fast" is literally the worst answer you could give to that question. Everyone knows that 8:40 guys are talented, but they don't know about the rope stretching before every run, the weight exercises, removing mental barriers, the emphasis on running the right paces, the building of a strong culture, etc that get talented kids to that point, and Brosnan is THE reason for all of those things. The kids seem to understand this, because when they're asked about it, they always bring up how important Brosnan is to their success.

I've asked before and never gotten a link, but I'd love if someone could link me a video where Brosnan sounds like he's saying NP's success is about him instead of the brothers, rather than him and the brothers.

Did you read what you just wrote? He gave the 9:20 kid credit because he was the first one to buy into HIS program.

I think I’ve listened to every one of his interviews. I can’t think of one where he said, I’ve just been fortunate enough to be put in a situation where I have inherited unbelievable talent.

Why don’t you send a link where he credits kids for their talent and doesn’t somehow bring the conversation back to his plan or his coaching?

i

It's a ridiculous statement by Brosnan. If he is correct it means that unless they run at least 1310 in the spring they totally did not come close to their potential this year and blew it by peaking way too early. That's what it means.

?????? You realize the Sahlmans were PRing well into the postseason, right? Colin from 3:58i to 3:56 in trash conditions, and 1:50i to 1:48.07. Aaron did even better from a 4:03 1600 to a 4:01 mile, and going from 1:53i to 1:48. Lex improved too, from 4:08.9 to 4:01, and ran 13:43 in May. Leo ran 4:00 at the end of may then shut it down due to sickness.

Maybe you were referring to when they did poorly at Arcadia because they ran 8:34/8:35/8:48/8:52/9:02, and neglected to look at any races after that, because I have no clue how you would think they fizzled after Febuary.

One his athletes from two ago is running 13:10 now. I’m sure they still communicate. And coincidentally, that guy is Lex’s brother.

I’m in no way saying the twins are in 1320 shape. But to say Brosnan, or the twins themselves, have no concept of what 13:20 shape is amateur hour at best.

These are Newbury Park’s performances after subtracting all Young’s and Sahlmans.

Last 3 years - 3200m:

8:44 Jace
8:52 Appleford
9:02 Doshi
9:05 Goldstein
9:09 Martinez
9:19 Cantu

Not 3200m time - injured:
14:44 5000 Simone

I think he's referring to the rest of the team that struggled after. As everyone points out, the Youngs and Sahlmans are outliers.

Here's your link. Very first interview I clicked on.

Summary

- I told them the plan

- Keys are - I’m meticulous in tapering, keep the process going and believe, they will do whatever I say, do what they are told.
- How to keep things going forward, I change things a lot and my talks are motivating
- They do in practice whatever I ask them to do
- Trust the peaking and they do
- I’m fortunate that my background is pro running and have big time coaches as friends
- Told them to trust me

Not a single mention of anyone being talented. How do you listen to that interview and not think this guy is a narcissist? Every single question was brought back to himself.

How many NCAA runners have gone sub 13:20?

It’s something you would say on the way out... ‘I’ve done my job, I’m leaving you in good shape’.

No one is breaking 14:00 at Woodward Park. But German’s record doesn’t have much time left.

I'm gonna be honest, I don't know if there are any interviews out there where he doesn't talk about his coaching. I don't think it's because Brosnan is full of himself, I think it's because every interviewer asks Sean what he does/what his role is in making such a good team

Plus, I notice you weren't able to link an interview where Brosnan sounds like he's saying NP's success is about him instead of the brothers, as opposed to him and the brothers. I'm pretty sure that's because you can't actually back up your opinion, but don't worry, because I can back up mine:

After being asked about his reaction to Colin breaking 4, he said he thought Colin could do it, then said "He played it out like a pro. He waited, was patient, and I knew he could close in a 56 if he had to, it was awesome". Then, unprompted, mentions how well Lex and Aaron did in the 3k, and says "I'm proud of these guys, they sacrifice a lot, they listen to me and my crazy antics, but I'm so proud of them it's awesome." Maybe you see it differently, but in my mind, I see him praising Colin, then making sure the other 2 incredible performances by his athletes don't go unnoticed, praising them, and then making a little self deprecating joke. Maybe you could try to spin that as him always bringing it back to his coaching, but I think that completely misses the point/context of everything he was saying.