Doesn't rocky have the best depth in the state? i get they are losing a lot but i wouldn't necessarily say they lack freshman talent with two in the mid 17's and two in the mid 18's. Out of their top 7 they graduate Heemeyer, Richardson, and Jensan. So they would fill that with Goggins, Clark, and Beeler.
And that's not to mention track where they always have like half a dozen guys jump into the low tens and 4:40's.
Say what you want about other aspects of Rocky's training, but Jeff Howard is a wizard when it comes to transforming 17/18 minute 5k guys into solid runners. It's quite rare to see a rocky guy stagnate for a whole season.
Max Beeler, Reece Miller, Porter Carlson, Carson Reed.
Those are all guys that were mid-17's or faster guys that didn't make the jump this last year. I would argue that stagnating for a whole season is actually kind of what the Rocky guys do. It's during the off-season that they make big jumps.
There's also Cole Reed, who was the off-season darling of guys that were going to make the jump into the top group and make Rocky very solid.
When you have 80+ boys, there's going to be 10 boys that make huge gains by just getting older, more coordinated, etc.
And that's not to mention track where they always have like half a dozen guys jump into the low tens and 4:40's.
Say what you want about other aspects of Rocky's training, but Jeff Howard is a wizard when it comes to transforming 17/18 minute 5k guys into solid runners. It's quite rare to see a rocky guy stagnate for a whole season.
Max Beeler, Reece Miller, Porter Carlson, Carson Reed.
Those are all guys that were mid-17's or faster guys that didn't make the jump this last year. I would argue that stagnating for a whole season is actually kind of what the Rocky guys do. It's during the off-season that they make big jumps.
There's also Cole Reed, who was the off-season darling of guys that were going to make the jump into the top group and make Rocky very solid.
When you have 80+ boys, there's going to be 10 boys that make huge gains by just getting older, more coordinated, etc.
Porter Carlson - injured and missed most of track. Reece Miller - injured last xc season (and part of track?) Cole Reed - injured every single season he's been apart of
You can always find guys who will stagnate for one reason or another, and as to your point about them leveling up in the off season, that's when it's supposed to happen. That tells me that Rocky has great participation during the off season.
My whole point here is that people consistently act (at least the last couple years) that Rocky is not going to be anything special each year, yet every year they come back swinging.
Letsrun likes the tactic of downplaying everything good rocky related and making a big deal out of small bad things that happen to rocky.
But in years past there young guys have been much better. I just dont know if they will improve that much, do you think any of the freshman make varsity next year if there coach is apparently good at turning 17/18 guys to elite runners?
Rocky Freshman Bob Firman Races: (all the sub 19 guys)
2019: 17:28/17:30/17:45/17:53/18:19/18:59
2022: 16:56/17:51/17:59
2023: 17:32/17:44/18:36/18:52
I don't really see a lack of talent. I'll do the sophomores in a second.
They’ve got a few young kids that live in their boundaries but are currently attending private schools…maybe they’ll get those boys competing for Rocky next fall
Max Beeler, Reece Miller, Porter Carlson, Carson Reed.
Those are all guys that were mid-17's or faster guys that didn't make the jump this last year. I would argue that stagnating for a whole season is actually kind of what the Rocky guys do. It's during the off-season that they make big jumps.
There's also Cole Reed, who was the off-season darling of guys that were going to make the jump into the top group and make Rocky very solid.
When you have 80+ boys, there's going to be 10 boys that make huge gains by just getting older, more coordinated, etc.
Porter Carlson - injured and missed most of track. Reece Miller - injured last xc season (and part of track?) Cole Reed - injured every single season he's been apart of
You can always find guys who will stagnate for one reason or another, and as to your point about them leveling up in the off season, that's when it's supposed to happen. That tells me that Rocky has great participation during the off season.
My whole point here is that people consistently act (at least the last couple years) that Rocky is not going to be anything special each year, yet every year they come back swinging.
Letsrun likes the tactic of downplaying everything good rocky related and making a big deal out of small bad things that happen to rocky.
Injuries are 100% part of running. I highlighted 4 of the top 15 guys that who were in a similar position last year and didn't make huge gains. Part of my point is that forecasting every single boy that has a promising performance as making the same insane jumps that some guys make is just as faulty as saying that Rocky isn't going to be anything special. For whatever reason is out there, there are boys that just don't progress.
I think the more salient point would be, as I suspect the data will show, that from Caldwell onwards, you can realistically expect the Rocky boys to be on average ~3 points better on speed ratings from the start of the season to the end.
They’ve got a few young kids that live in their boundaries but are currently attending private schools…maybe they’ll get those boys competing for Rocky next fall
They’ve got a few young kids that live in their boundaries but are currently attending private schools…maybe they’ll get those boys competing for Rocky next fall
That's a cryptic way of saying that they are going to go recruit boys competing for other schools.
They’ve got a few young kids that live in their boundaries but are currently attending private schools…maybe they’ll get those boys competing for Rocky next fall
