Best High School Runner From each State All Time

Illegitimate wrote:

Maybe mascari on guy's side too. Plus bayer

Sorry meant to quote the Indiana guy

TrackCoach wrote:

The Dingo^3 wrote:

Pennsylvania

Paul Vandegrift

Kim Gallagher

Wow, that is an extremely easy one.

Are you really comparing arguably the greatest H.S. T&F athlete to someone who is barely in the top-10 in a state.

No. I'm saying Vandegrift for men and Gallagher for women.

Who beats Vandegrift for men? That's not rhetorical, I genuinely don't know. He ran 4:03 (h) which is still the state record, and 1:48.8 (h) which has only been bettered once. Am I missing someone obvious?

Also, I've assumed we're limiting this to distance, since that's what Letsrun always does.

The Dingo^3 wrote:

TrackCoach wrote:

Wow, that is an extremely easy one.

Are you really comparing arguably the greatest H.S. T&F athlete to someone who is barely in the top-10 in a state.

No. I'm saying Vandegrift for men and Gallagher for women.

Who beats Vandegrift for men? That's not rhetorical, I genuinely don't know. He ran 4:03 (h) which is still the state record, and 1:48.8 (h) which has only been bettered once. Am I missing someone obvious?

Also, I've assumed we're limiting this to distance, since that's what Letsrun always does.

Ok, that makes sense, I was thinking of athletes like Candy Young and LeRoy Burrell, etc.

Washington:

Gerry Lindgren

Georgia-

Boys-

Very tough between Girma, Ben Hubers, Kirubel Erassa, and Josh Brickell. Gonna go Hubers.

Girls-

Also tough with Amanda Winslow, Emily Reese and Borsare.

Giving Winslow the edge because of track.

mwilly wrote:

Instead of trying to figure out the "top 12 all time US high school distance gods" why not try to narrow it down to the best 50 kids, one per state.

An equally admirable undertaking might be to create the top HS state XC team (top 7 per state)

The Crimson Tide wrote:

Alabama

Boys-Matthews

Girls-Carmen Carlos.

Carlos ran something like 10:15, and won state titles in cross country at a young age as well as a footlocker qualifier. One of the very few people that ever qualify for footlocker nationals from Alabama. Matthews is the only male to win the 6A/now 7A state title as a freshman and went on to be the only AL male to win Footlocker south. He also set the Great American meet record when it was in Alabama. Carlos won the two mile at indoor nationals her senior year. She was definitely a special athlete, but hasn't developed well at Vanderbilt. This state runs pretty dry in terms of talent.

Mathews did his best running while at Baylor School in Tennessee.

I'd like to think Alabama lays claim to him.

Wisconsin

Chris Solinsky narrowly over Gabe Jennings

Molly Seidel narrowly over Suzy Favor

Though SFH excelled in other areas.

Hope I'm not neglecting someone from an earlier era.

My athletic director went to hs with Gabe Jennings. Said that he ran the 4x8 with him. This pissed me off a bit as I hate my AD but this forced me to respect him a little :(

Illinois:

Lukas Verzbicas

Chris Derrick

Craig Virgin

Girls:

The state record has been broken quite a few times in the past few years.... Any help?

By far easy the best Alabama runner of all-time is Steve Bolt of Grissom who ran in early to mid-70's. Matthews can't count for Alabama doing his main training in Tennessee while living there and attending school there. A case could be made for Mountain Brook's Madeline Morgan as best female. Won Nike XC Nats in 07 and had impressive track times. Like Carlos had a mixed bag college career at Duke though.

WV Best? wrote:

Another WV great for your consideration....

Jacob Burcham

HS PRs- 1:54.01, 4:01.32, 8:57.8, 14:58.04 (XC)

12 time State Champion, National Champion- Mile (as jr.), 7th place finish World Youth Championship

Fox's HS resume was very impressive as well with an 8:57 (2m), 14:21 (5K track) and 30:30 for 10k. But I would give the nod to Burcham based on his vicinity to a 4:00 mile and his State championships, national honors and place on the international level.

Must also consider Steve Taylor from St. Mary's. Fairly untouchable in cc, although he never ran faster than 4:18 in the mile if I recall. He was running 30 min 10k as a HS junior. Went on to run 2:13 in marathon.

Illinois - Kayla Beattie perhaps?

NJ:

Ed Ches

Marty

Andrews

Ajee Wilson

English Gardner

The three states I've lived the longest are also among the hardest to pick on the boys side.

Michigan: Wasn't there like a 10 page thread debating Ritz vs Fisher? I think Fisher's sub 4 and nearly two year stretch without tasting defeat put him at the top. And it's not easy to discount the many excellent 800 guys the state has produced including Brazier and Earl Jones.

Oregon: Rupp? Pre? McChesney?? Maton????

VA: Probably have to say Webb, but that may change in a few months. He's hurt by his lack of a footlocker title.

I've never even heard of Fisher. It would have to be Marshall Dill. I don't think anyone else is even close. I never heard of a high schooler making that impact before or since with the possible exception of Webb. Dill's high school career drew national if not international attention. Eddie Tolan and Rex Cawley should be considered also.

KY

Max Mudd

Secretariat

sebcoe7 wrote:

Cygne4tax wrote:

I had thought about Clary but 9:05 compared to 8:49. Hard to compare eras. The 5th at WJ XC is outstanding though.

Forgot to mention Doug Herron. 1:49.2.

Clary ran 8.55 in HS. The 9.05 was state meet. Never had the chance to compete in national meets like kids do today. Look at who he beat and finished behind at World XC.

1st Bobby Thomas United States 20:59.8

2nd José Luis González Spain 21:18

3rd John Treacy Ireland 21:23

4 Cándido Alario Spain 21:29

5 Don Clary United States 21:38

6 Mike Longthorn England 21:41

15 Ralph Serna United States 22:00 (ran 8:45.9 behind Eric Hulst that year)

When-where did Clary run the 8:55? He's not on this (now dated) list from Hoffman's HS "Distance Gods" While not perfect that list was based off of Track and Field News rankings.