Added perspective wrote:
are you now ready to declare that Derrick will run 13:09?
Were Derrick running 3:55 based on the same training that he's doing, then he'd be having a go at sub 13 for the 5k.
Added perspective wrote:
are you now ready to declare that Derrick will run 13:09?
Were Derrick running 3:55 based on the same training that he's doing, then he'd be having a go at sub 13 for the 5k.
For reasons we are all aware of there were very few sub 14:00 freshman in the 1980's and 1990's. Goucher was one. Marc Davis ran 13:32 as a 19 year-old SOPHOMOMORE (actually a redshirt freshman).
After though I draw a blank for that time period on anyone else. 14:10 was actually considered a great time for a college freshman in the 5000 and this is what the best recruits in the nation usually ran (Reina, Kennedy, Guisto, etc.)
Yes, there were far fewer time trial races in perfect conditions with deep fields. But mainly kids were either making a huge jump in training their freshman year and having a hard time adjusting, or they were moving up to 70 miles a week for the first time.
These freshman this year seem unbelievable. Maybe a fluke year, or maybe we'll see a kid go sub 13:20 in the next few years.
So I'm a big fan of the "Big 3," but have found myself really rooting for German over the other 2. It might be because I'm in California and have that whole local pride thing going on, but I really think what it comes down to is speed.
It's fun to root for someone who can consistently win and put up amazing times, but it's also 'rewarding' to root for a guy that can potentially be awesome as a pro. Webb was fun to root for because the dude had some serious wheels. German is a 3:55 miler, which puts him in a similar category. If only Webb wasn't such a horrible interview and stupid personality...
My point is that I would love to be a bigger supporter of Derrick but he just doesn't have the speed. It's not as exciting. However, watching the 5k video on Runnerspace changed my perception a bit because the dude has huge balls. I like balls. I am now on the Chris Derrick bandwagon.
Now if only Puskedra didn't look like a troll I'd like his balls too.
Wait, what?
Mr. Obvious wrote:
I believe his high school program was PAAVO based? At least that's what I remember from these boards.
I was also under that impression.
In fact, I was about to inquire if anyone knew whether Colby had difficulty adjusting from PAAVO to whatever Oklahoma does.