Here is what one of my training partners pointed out when we were talking about this:
UW recruits only the best runners. I don't think Powell is developing guys who ran 4:30 in high school and turning them into sub-4 runners. More like, he's taking 4:00 to 4:10 HS runners and helping them progress.
Another factor to consider is that a lot of these guys are transfers. Ronan McMahon-Staggs ran a 3:54 mile for UCLA in 2023. Rhys Hammond ran a 3:58 mile for Cornell in 2023. Acer Iverson ran a 3:58 mile for Harvard in 2023. They came to Washington as basically fully-formed elite runners. So getting back to what I was saying, it's relatively easy to field a bunch of sub-4 milers if you have guys joining your team who have already run sub-4.
But that's not to take anything away from Powell's coaching. Presumably a major part of the reason these runners are showing up at UW is because of his reputation as a mile coach.
Here is what one of my training partners pointed out when we were talking about this:
UW recruits only the best runners. I don't think Powell is developing guys who ran 4:30 in high school and turning them into sub-4 runners. More like, he's taking 4:00 to 4:10 HS runners and helping them progress.
Another factor to consider is that a lot of these guys are transfers. Ronan McMahon-Staggs ran a 3:54 mile for UCLA in 2023. Rhys Hammond ran a 3:58 mile for Cornell in 2023. Acer Iverson ran a 3:58 mile for Harvard in 2023. They came to Washington as basically fully-formed elite runners. So getting back to what I was saying, it's relatively easy to field a bunch of sub-4 milers if you have guys joining your team who have already run sub-4.
But that's not to take anything away from Powell's coaching. Presumably a major part of the reason these runners are showing up at UW is because of his reputation as a mile coach.
Yes, but how many other schools and coaches get similar elite-level HS recruits (or talented transfers), and then totally fail to develop them?
It's not insane that the Powells are turning 4:00 guys into 3:55 guys, it's insane that they are turning EVERY 4:00 guy into a 3:55 guy.
Here is what one of my training partners pointed out when we were talking about this:
UW recruits only the best runners. I don't think Powell is developing guys who ran 4:30 in high school and turning them into sub-4 runners. More like, he's taking 4:00 to 4:10 HS runners and helping them progress.
Another factor to consider is that a lot of these guys are transfers. Ronan McMahon-Staggs ran a 3:54 mile for UCLA in 2023. Rhys Hammond ran a 3:58 mile for Cornell in 2023. Acer Iverson ran a 3:58 mile for Harvard in 2023. They came to Washington as basically fully-formed elite runners. So getting back to what I was saying, it's relatively easy to field a bunch of sub-4 milers if you have guys joining your team who have already run sub-4.
But that's not to take anything away from Powell's coaching. Presumably a major part of the reason these runners are showing up at UW is because of his reputation as a mile coach.
Green was the no. 1 recruit out of high school. It’s not a surprise he’s doing so well, but kudos to UW that it’s working out.
C’mon, Idaho does hit way above its weight class. Just because so few people live there having even 3 good runners is overachieving per capita doesn’t make it not the case.
C’mon, Idaho does hit way above its weight class. Just because so few people live there having even 3 good runners is overachieving per capita doesn’t make it not the case.
Wel there is only one true stud there and that guy graduated HS like 24 years ago. The others may turn out to be studs but to me the jury is still out.
I think it means Oregon runner Birnbaum is looking "over the border" to Washington because the mile crew up there is so much better than down in Eugene.
The Ducks got Simeon Birnbaum and Connor Burns (the best runners from their class) but rival Washington has the much better/deeper team.
Kind of feel bad for Waskom, any other era he's consistently making world teams, he could get locked out from worlds the rest of his career because of how competitive the 1500m is. Name of the game is health though, if he can stay top 5 in the US, it's still a solid career now because the competition is so high.
Kind of feel bad for Waskom, any other era he's consistently making world teams, he could get locked out from worlds the rest of his career because of how competitive the 1500m is. Name of the game is health though, if he can stay top 5 in the US, it's still a solid career now because the competition is so high.
Agreed. He might have to focus on the steeple if it looks like he can't make the 1500 for the 2028 Olympics
On the Washington women's side I noticed that Amina Maatoug had her first good result in a long time, winning an indoor mile in a personal best 4:28
Maatoug had a considerable drop off in cross country results after transferring from Duke to Washington. There wasn't any word toward an explanation. She did have a foot injury early last spring and missed the remainder of outdoor season.
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