I think a more interesting question is whether he could beat the current male high school student who possesses an Olympic gold medal in his specialty event? I seriously wonder how that would go. I could imagine Quincy bossing Cooper every single time. But I could also imagine it being about dead even, and could even imagine Cooper having a slight edge. That’s a crazy thought really, and is a race I’d love to see.
I think a more interesting question is whether he could beat the current male high school student who possesses an Olympic gold medal in his specialty event? I seriously wonder how that would go. I could imagine Quincy bossing Cooper every single time. But I could also imagine it being about dead even, and could even imagine Cooper having a slight edge. That’s a crazy thought really, and is a race I’d love to see.
To be world class over the 400 he would have to drop 2 seconds off what he has so far run. That is a huge reduction. At the same age Ovett ran 47.5. There was no chance he could have been a 45.5 runner. He simply wasn't fast enough. For CL to take a couple of seconds off his 400 pr he would have to be capable of at least 20.7 over 200m. That is Juantorena speed. He doesn't have that.
This post was edited 10 minutes after it was posted.
If he were to run a 3:59:xx mile, or hell, even a 3:54 mile, it would be wildly impressive yet at the same time not even competitive really. I mean Gary Martin has run 6 full seconds faster than that, and all respect to Gary Martin but the two of them are not even approximately the same caliber of athlete. I think a more interesting question is whether he could beat the current male high school student who possesses an Olympic gold medal in his specialty event? I seriously wonder how that would go. I could imagine Quincy bossing Cooper every single time. But I could also imagine it being about dead even, and could even imagine Cooper having a slight edge. That’s a crazy thought really, and is a race I’d love to see.
Qunicy has a relay gold. Not an individual in his speciality. Cooper would have to concentrate on the 400 (which he isn’t going to do) for us to ever see his ultimate potential over one lap. Let them explore their potential in their best events, and drive Armstronglivs and others even farther to the edge.
If he were to run a 3:59:xx mile, or hell, even a 3:54 mile, it would be wildly impressive yet at the same time not even competitive really. I mean Gary Martin has run 6 full seconds faster than that, and all respect to Gary Martin but the two of them are not even approximately the same caliber of athlete. I think a more interesting question is whether he could beat the current male high school student who possesses an Olympic gold medal in his specialty event? I seriously wonder how that would go. I could imagine Quincy bossing Cooper every single time. But I could also imagine it being about dead even, and could even imagine Cooper having a slight edge. That’s a crazy thought really, and is a race I’d love to see.
Qunicy has a relay gold. Not an individual in his speciality. Cooper would have to concentrate on the 400 (which he isn’t going to do) for us to ever see his ultimate potential over one lap. Let them explore their potential in their best events, and drive Armstronglivs and others even farther to the edge.
Quincy is already 2 full seconds faster than CL over the 400. Lutkenhaus will never be comparable over the shorter distance unless he miraculously discovers 20.7 speed over 200. He hasn't run below 22 secs.
I agree for the most part, he should stick with what is working and what he enjoys.
But no harm in hopping in other races here or there…200, 400, 15/mile, or even a 3k if he feels like it.
Staying healthy should always be #1 priority, only make significant training changes if he ends up plateauing for a couple years
You really think a pro runner would ever run a 200m and a 3000m in the same career? Like why? He's a pro, not a high school runner.
No, I don’t really think they would, which is unfortunate.
That’s one of the cool/interesting things about high school running, being able to see talented kids compete in a broad range of events.
Lutkenhaus was doing precisely that: competing in events from 200-2 mile, which got him down to 1:42.2 summer after sophomore year. You think just because he’s a pro now he should stop having fun? And stop doing what has led him to where he is now?
To be world class over the 400 he would have to drop 2 seconds off what he has so far run. That is a huge reduction. At the same age Ovett ran 47.5. There was no chance he could have been a 45.5 runner. He simply wasn't fast enough. For CL to take a couple of seconds off his 400 pr he would have to be capable of at least 20.7 over 200m. That is Juantorena speed. He doesn't have that.
You might be right, but it’s a little early to definitively say he “doesn’t have Juantorena speed” when his 200 pb is 22.1 from TWO YEARS AGO in NINTH GRADE, when his pb’s were 47.6 and 1:47.5
1) Lets not do another Athing Mu, if Cooper likes the training, don't change it - not everyone likes milage, keep blasting 200m works for him.
2) Cooper is a speed 800m runner, I think 1500m would burn him out
3) I would like to see him run a 400m since he won't need to change his training. I would pick a 44 mid from him
Respectfully disagree with you.
Juantorena was a speed 800 guy. Lutkenhaus is more similar to Hoey. 800/1000 type
Juantorena actually won an Olympic Gold in the 400m. His WA points for his PRs in the 400m and 800m are virtually identical. He wasn’t just a speed 800m guy.
To be world class over the 400 he would have to drop 2 seconds off what he has so far run. That is a huge reduction. At the same age Ovett ran 47.5. There was no chance he could have been a 45.5 runner. He simply wasn't fast enough. For CL to take a couple of seconds off his 400 pr he would have to be capable of at least 20.7 over 200m. That is Juantorena speed. He doesn't have that.
You might be right, but it’s a little early to definitively say he “doesn’t have Juantorena speed” when his 200 pb is 22.1 from TWO YEARS AGO in NINTH GRADE, when his pb’s were 47.6 and 1:47.5
That he hasn't reduced his sprint pr in nearly two years suggest he may not have much room for improvement over the distance. It appears he is better in the endurance rather than the speed department. I don't think there is any chance he will metamorphose from a 22.1 runner to a 20.7 runner. The latter is a true sprinter. He isn't. He's a strength guy.
You might be right, but it’s a little early to definitively say he “doesn’t have Juantorena speed” when his 200 pb is 22.1 from TWO YEARS AGO in NINTH GRADE, when his pb’s were 47.6 and 1:47.5
That he hasn't reduced his sprint pr in nearly two years suggest he may not have much room for improvement over the distance. It appears he is better in the endurance rather than the speed department. I don't think there is any chance he will metamorphose from a 22.1 runner to a 20.7 runner. The latter is a true sprinter. He isn't. He's a strength guy.
He hasn’t run 200m in 2 years. He’ll probably never run one again.
To be world class over the 400 he would have to drop 2 seconds off what he has so far run. That is a huge reduction. At the same age Ovett ran 47.5. There was no chance he could have been a 45.5 runner. He simply wasn't fast enough. For CL to take a couple of seconds off his 400 pr he would have to be capable of at least 20.7 over 200m. That is Juantorena speed. He doesn't have that.
So no he didn't run it at the same age, nor stage of development. Since Cooper is a markedly better runner at 800 since he ran that 400 (4+ seconds in time, World Indoor Champion etc.), you are being naive if you think that is some "huge leap" to think that he can improve a lot at 400. He likely already has. This isn't to say he will break 45, let alone 44. It seems a pretty sure thing he will run much faster soon, though if he gets into a competitive race. Team USA is stacked at 800 and 1500 to the level that doubling itself is pretty unlikely unless Cooper becomes so good that he's getting regular byes in the 800.
That he hasn't reduced his sprint pr in nearly two years suggest he may not have much room for improvement over the distance. It appears he is better in the endurance rather than the speed department. I don't think there is any chance he will metamorphose from a 22.1 runner to a 20.7 runner. The latter is a true sprinter. He isn't. He's a strength guy.
You have no evidence for this. He trains speed and was running 46.3 open, and 45 relay splits when he was running 1:47 and up. His best event is the 800, and he has been training up his aerobic side but his coach even mentioned a major improvement in his speed workouts of late. So, really you don't have to be pigeonholing him just because it doesn't fit your worldview.
You might be right, but it’s a little early to definitively say he “doesn’t have Juantorena speed” when his 200 pb is 22.1 from TWO YEARS AGO in NINTH GRADE, when his pb’s were 47.6 and 1:47.5
That he hasn't reduced his sprint pr in nearly two years suggest he may not have much room for improvement over the distance. It appears he is better in the endurance rather than the speed department. I don't think there is any chance he will metamorphose from a 22.1 runner to a 20.7 runner. The latter is a true sprinter. He isn't. He's a strength guy.
Why do you keep making these strange declarations like you have all the answers?
Have you even looked at his stats? He hasn’t run the 200 since 9th grade, so the fact “that he hasn’t reduced his sprint pr in nearly two years” definitely does not suggest that he may not have much room for improvement over the distance.
You don’t need to compete in a sprint event to possess an improvement in sprinting speed. Have you ever heard of a human being on earth who reached their peak sprinting ability at the age of 15?
You really think a pro runner would ever run a 200m and a 3000m in the same career? Like why? He's a pro, not a high school runner.
No, I don’t really think they would, which is unfortunate.
That’s one of the cool/interesting things about high school running, being able to see talented kids compete in a broad range of events.
Lutkenhaus was doing precisely that: competing in events from 200-2 mile, which got him down to 1:42.2 summer after sophomore year. You think just because he’s a pro now he should stop having fun? And stop doing what has led him to where he is now?
His dabbling in other distances had absolutely nothing to do with running 1:42.
No, I don’t really think they would, which is unfortunate.
That’s one of the cool/interesting things about high school running, being able to see talented kids compete in a broad range of events.
Lutkenhaus was doing precisely that: competing in events from 200-2 mile, which got him down to 1:42.2 summer after sophomore year. You think just because he’s a pro now he should stop having fun? And stop doing what has led him to where he is now?
His dabbling in other distances had absolutely nothing to do with running 1:42.
Yeah, of course it probably had zero physiological impact, that’s obvious.
But there’s a significant mental component, especially in professional running. The monotony of training and racing at a single distance can cause issues, whereas the flexibility of a high school/college season, combined with the team atmosphere alleviates a lot of the mental pressure and isolation that some athletes experience.
Conservatively guessing at mid 45 and low 3:30s. But wouldn't be a bit surprised if he ran considerably faster by the end of his career (something like 44.5, 1:40, 3:25). If anyone breaks 1:40 in the next 5 or 6 years, it's going to be Cooper.
You might be right, but it’s a little early to definitively say he “doesn’t have Juantorena speed” when his 200 pb is 22.1 from TWO YEARS AGO in NINTH GRADE, when his pb’s were 47.6 and 1:47.5
That he hasn't reduced his sprint pr in nearly two years suggest he may not have much room for improvement over the distance. It appears he is better in the endurance rather than the speed department. I don't think there is any chance he will metamorphose from a 22.1 runner to a 20.7 runner. The latter is a true sprinter. He isn't. He's a strength guy.
He hasn’t raced a 200 in over two years you arrogant dolt. The “PR” race from 9th grade is the last time he ran an actual 200m race.