Zat0pek wrote:
I've watched the video of Wheating's 3:38 four times now. I'm not sure this kid knows how good he is right now. He laid 25+ meters off the leaders, maybe more, most of the race. But like last week when he walked down Christain Smith and Hicks, he ran to win. One of the things I really like about this kid is that he seems to be a racer, not a runner.
What I'm eager see is how he fares in a race when he has to run 3:35 or faster to win. In watching that race, I have little doubt that he had 3:35 in him the night he ran 3:38.
Consider this:
-- The all-time list of American milers who could close in 26.0+/- in a 3:38 race is a fairly short one; maybe 15-20 guys or so? Quite a few have 3:38 or faster (don't have the exact number) but those who could run 3:38 closing that fast are in the minority.
-- The all-time list of guys who could close in 26.0+/- in a 3:38 race as a college sophomore is much shorter, probably less than ten and possibly less than five.
-- The all-time list of guys who could close in 26.0 +/- in a 3:38 race as a college sophomore after only running for about three years is probably one: Wheating.
With those closing wheels, I think Wheating is custom made to give a lot of people fits in the non-rabbited heats and final at the Oly Trials. This kid is a Grade A, dyed-in-the-wool Real Deal.
excellent points.