Uk athletes invading USA Colleges in Aug 08.

Thre are no guarantees that Cragg will continue to improve at the same rate, very few curves of improvement are a straightline, he might knock 5 seconds off his 5k time, and that would be progress. people have these guys running times of 14.00 before they have even broken 14.20, it might take him 5 years to go sub 14.30, the easy bit is getting down to times in the region he is now in, the hard part is improving on that. Arguably thre are hundreds of guys who have done what he has done, a clubmate of mine went from being a 16 stone lay about to a 14.30 guy in just over 3 years ahving never run competitively before.

A lot of people accept he is not the best athlete (including himself) but what people like about him is his hardwork, dedication, commitment and most of all . . .BANTER!

He's shown great progression over the years and hopefully this will continue, whether he stays at home or goes to the states.

I think athletics needs more characters who have a bit of charisma, as there's only Mottram out there!

as long as someone introduces them to a bar of soap, i don't really give a damn (yankee)

Great American wrote:

13 posts and no one has mentioned all these foreigners taking scholarships from our hard working American kids. Must be because they're our British brothers.

This is the first time i've replied to a thread on letsrun,dont usually get involved with things like this but when someone's telling me i'm injury prone and wont fit in with a programme,or I wont run very quick,it just annoys me.As I said before I'm not here to say I will run huge times or nothing,but i'll give it a good shot.

I didn't say I've only had one injury,I said I've only had one injury that has been running related,my other injuries came from playing football with friends and things like sledging,as I said,silly things.

As for my intelligence,you can insult that as much as you want,i've done pretty well over here for myself.

And whats the grief your giving Cragg all about??You shouldn't really judge someone before you even know them,whats to say he wont go over to the states and rip it up??

Lee Carey wrote:

whats to say he wont go over to the states and rip it up??

Common sense!!

Anyone else always get sucked in to playing darts.

Give the guy a break, well actually give them all a break. They aren't saying they are going to do these times..people on message boards are. It is good to read and quite netretaining but don't go overboard in your haterd for them. And to be fair i don't expect them to give a shit what you think Jaxons, your comments are ridiculous and reak of jeolousy, you are some has been 35min 5k runner who can't be bothered to put in the hard work like these lads, so will never acheive what they will in their running careers. but are quite happy to comment and bad mouth on here behind some fake name.

in other new, Butler have got a very very strong team coming out to join Baker and Davies..a lot of very talented brits who are spread across all events. Will be interesting to see how much damage they can do next cross country and the following track season. Could arguably be the strongest Butler teamm there has ever been and could challeneg at NCAAs if they pack well and improve to the standrtad Baker has gone to in no time!!

Lee,

As you are probably discovering it’s best not to respond to criticism of yourself on message boards, I’ve been a victim on message boards before (not this one, a site in the UK) and someone gave an example of me not being as good when I came back from studying in America as before I went out. I explained myself and got a bit of abuse (as you are now) but I found out who this person was who was criticising me and it turned out that they had never spoken to me but were portraying themselves as someone who knew me. I never responded to anything said about me again as it’s just not worth it as all you’re going to do is get abuse.

Good luck in America, I know I had a great time.

To all you pricks talking trash how about instead of hiding behind fake names you come and speak to me face to face, oh wait you dont have the bollocks as your just some pussy who probably couldnt break 16 mins for 5k.

Ive been running seriously for 2.5 years and have taken big chunks of my pbs season after season and that WILL continue whether you like it or not regardless of if I am in the UK or the states.

"If I wanted an 18mins 5kers opinion on the state of things, id ask my wife" - Brian Sell

I hope that wasn't aimed at me, I was just recommending you don't respond to things.

The best thing you can do is not respond to this tread and keep taking chunks off your time.

No not aimed at you at all. Was in reference to earlier posters being twats.

Thanks for the advice, that is my intention.

is that really you Cragg, it just doesn't seem like the kind of thing Luke would respond to, espeacially not in those terms!!??

Cragg - dont even bother biting the bait. The fact is they are right in some respect. Nothing you can do about people shouting you up, and its not going to be general athletics people as you arent quick enough (In PR terms) to be talked up. So it only boils down to one thing - yourself or friends talking yourself up. Just let your running do the talking, and then the haters should take there word bacl. Also just because some people maybe 18 minute 5k runners - it doesnt meant hey dont have the right to have an opinion. And im not in this category.

An 18 min 5k runner is entitled to an opinion... unless its an opinion on a runner the best part of 4 minutes better than them! They would be better served focussing their energies on becomming a better athlete themselves.

You got to back up the big man talk with big man running. It's not too hard with the limited talent pool that's coming though here at the moment. Run a 14.30 5k and you're the next Moorcroft, gimme a break.

Less 'Banter' more running.

An 18 min 5k runner is entitled to an opinion, who’s to say the 18 min 5k runner isn’t a fantastic coach who knows more than you well ever know about T&F.

Only a fool would think that just because they are quick they don’t have anything to learn.

Luke, since you are "lurking" here, can you give us an update on your status re US colleges?

Thanks.

All this Cragg hating is embarrising to read, he is a very good runner and i'm sure his continuation and possible increase over the 2 years of 100mpw consistantly to the 110-120mpw mark are likely to see him progress very very well at Iona!! I don't think you realise how hard this guy trains and his level of commitment to the sport, trust me he is not going out there for further education...it is to improve and improve dramatically!I guarantee we will be discussing him in 8-10 months time when he has started smashing times etc and saying how good he could be!!Same for Carey, anyone who under estimates him is seriously delude and clearly knows nothing about distance running in the UK!!!

silly old fossil wrote:

Luke, since you are "lurking" here, can you give us an update on your status re US colleges?

Thanks.

Cragg's 21, and has a PR of 14:36...

Don't get me wrong, 14:36 is good. But compared to what kids are running in the states at 17-18, it seems a bit crazy to be riding his jock especially if he truly is running 100+ mpw. That's a lot of work.

Look how many US college kids under 21 have run 14:36 or quicker, I think you'd find the number to be staggering.