SC 7TH GRADER RUNS 15:47!!!!

Eatpastarunfasta wrote:

He is reaching his current peak, but as he gets older you can count on his times to still drop. Everyones times do. Its just simple knowledge of as you get older, the more muscle you'll have and the more serious you'll be about competing.

Tell that to the Garritson clan. They could have run circles around this kid at that age and ended up doing nothing later. Heck, even the Garritson girls could have probably run low 16's at that age.

That's an astute comparison you've made with the Garritsons, but 80% of the people who post on here weren't even born when the Garritsons were tearing things up. And one Garritson girl did run some decent college races.

What's with the constant harrassment of Dyestat figures on this site?

Dyestat has been great for HS running and for the overall promotion of the sport at the HS level.

Most of the really pointed name-specific stuff by one person (old guy) who hates Steve and John because they kicked him off the msg boards a few years ago for harrassing kids. He's done this for about 3-4 years now and after a while you can pretty much tell his style.

Wow. I don't care how fast the course was, I couldn't run 15:47 on a 3% grade downhill! Hope he does well in the future.

I know none of the Garritson girls could run 15:47 - ever - although Carrie and Heather both lasted to college. I don't think James could run that in 7th grade either. I'm not sure if Jarrod(?) was having his best races at that age so I don't believe the above statement is true. None of the Garritsons could have run with this guy in their prime.

nothing is certain wrote:

Eatpastarunfasta wrote:

He is reaching his current peak, but as he gets older you can count on his times to still drop. Everyones times do. Its just simple knowledge of as you get older, the more muscle you'll have and the more serious you'll be about competing.

Tell that to the Garritson clan. They could have run circles around this kid at that age and ended up doing nothing later. Heck, even the Garritson girls could have probably run low 16's at that age.

Northwestern's McDaniel holds off Fort Mill's Blackmon

by John Olson -

john@scrunners.com

10/19/2006

Fort Mill seventh grader Mark Blackmon held off Northwestern senior Stuart McDaniel until the last 200-meters in the varsity boys race at the York County Championships.

McDaniel covered the course in 16:11. Blackmon covered the course in 16:18, helping Fort Mill win the team title.

Jenna Callahan led Fort Mill girls to the team title with a winning time of 19:14.9.

Seems like he is running just fine still. If there was any doubt about the performance...this would certainly substantiate it. If he doesn't get too crazy with racing and track sessions I am sure he can have a long and prosperous career.

hyena wrote:

Ryan Deak was tearing things up at the same age and his father moved the family around too. Some middle school phenoms do pan out (Jorge Torres) but many don't. Deak isn't exactly setting the world on fire these days and it's doubtful he ever will. If I were this SC kid, I'd back off on the training and enjoy my childhood before the message board pressure buries him. Because before you know it, Steve Underwood will be the kid's newest best friend and John Dye will be stopping over for dinner.

Hardly a scathing personal attack...

I have been around Illinois running for over 10 years. Last year we moved to South Carolina. My younger son has run in several races that Mark Blackmon has been in. I can honestly say I have never seen someone so young perform so well. I met Mark at the ACC's when he was watching his sister. A very polite, humble young man, not the cocky arrogant kid I expected with those fast times.

I watched Mark this past weekend at the South Carolina state meet. He placed third in the 4A race with a 15:49.

The race was held at Sandhills Research Park in Columbia, SC. (not on the McAlpine Course)

His time was 5th overall for the day. Here is a link on scrunners.com were you can follow his stats:

http://www.milesplit.com/athletes/69368

As far as the McAlpine Course, it is a true 5k. It just runs fast, that's it nothing more.

I wish this kid all the best. Fort Mill has an excellent running program, I am sure he will continue to succeed.

He ran the state meet with an untied shoe -

http://www.milesplit.com/photo.php?id=36328

i am a friend of the family and have been since they moved to SC. To start Mark is not serious about running yet. the only thing he is serious about is not losing. he is a competitor like most kids he just doesnt like to lose. his heart is not in cross-country at all. his love is the track. in fact he has national AAU records on the track. the kid is a tremdous talent much like his oldest sister. mark still has a lot to learn about racing and running. he is not running many miles at all. terrance herrington, 3:35 1500m runner and 92' olympian, his mentoring and teaching mark. as long as mark does not lose his desire to win then he will be fine. with his talent even a 75% effort can take him places...

Northern Transplant wrote:

He ran the state meet with an untied shoe -

http://www.milesplit.com/photo.php?id=36328

is he the black or white kid?

black sox, black gloves, black skin, orange lace untied

15:47? Dude I ran low 16's as a 12th grader which definitely kept the dust off my dick.

In the immortal words of DLR on Unchained: "He'll get some leg tonight for sure!"

As much as I want to see this kid go far, I'm not sure if it is possible for him too. Yeah he'll through down more impressive times and win some state championships, but I don't think his body can handle it. He's in 7th grade for crying out loud and he's doing stuff meant for kids several years older than him. The body at his age was not meant for this kind of work, it is still growning and I think he will hurt himself in the long run. I'm in no way putting him down, I've seen him race, I talked to him at the Wendys Invite, and he is a genually nice kid. But who knows, he can make be an exception and break everybody's doubts. Best of luck to him, though.

I don't even think he runs that's much for training.

But I saw him too at the SC state meet. I have to say I was surprised by the performance. Hell, if he had a kick, he could have won the whole damn thing. Best wishes to him, kick ass dude.

Turns out this kid is a little punk who thinks he is better than everyone else and he doesn't have to follow the rules.

http://www.milesplit.com/article/11728

ttyfk wrote:

Turns out this kid is a little punk who thinks he is better than everyone else and he doesn't have to follow the rules.

http://www.milesplit.com/article/11728

what! this kid has balls. Big black ballss that the last poster does not have. I think its great he shows up all the kids who are older than he is and competed in the 5k anyway. Don't be hate the kid just because he is faster than you and only in 7th grade.

Why does everyone presume it is bad for kids to run plenty of miles? What basis is there for this?

Surely it is intensity that burnt out all those young potential stars?

Lydiard used to say over-racing was the issue?

Didn't Renato talk about James Kwalia running 5M to school and 5M back from the age of 5? Then going home for lunch when he was older?

Higher mileage (if done easily) won't hurt young kids - too much track work shooting for age group titles/records will.

ttyfk wrote:

Turns out this kid is a little punk who thinks he is better than everyone else and he doesn't have to follow the rules.

http://www.milesplit.com/article/11728

I don't get it. Why don't 13-14 year olds get to compete to go to FLN? And, speaking of which, how did Jordan Hasay get to FLN last year? Wasn't she 13 or 14?