What happened to Michael Granville? 1:46.45 in HS and still holds the 800m National Record!!

gordanshumway wrote:

Les wrote:

Guys like that are a big reason why you should not get too excited about high school phenoms. Granville entered UCLA as the national record holder and left it as a mediocre 400 runner. He never improved on his high school time.

Pretty much this. I even beat him in a few 400s in college. Nice enough guy, but struggled to improve much from his hs times. That being said he was an absolute phenom in high school and would have smoked me then.

I think the biggest problem with Granville was, while clearly physically talented, he ran to please his father, not himself.

Pretty impressive. 8 min. 3k equates to 8:37 2M according to the IAAF scoring tables. Whatever happened to this guy after high school?

Random guy that has no dog in the fight wrote:

I used to be that douche that said "yeah but they burned out and did nothing later on" but then I apparently grew up or just finally got my head out of butt and realized, who cares. No one can take away from these young phenoms that disappear, what they accomplished. Just cause their time came early, at least they had a time. As long as they are ok with it, then more power to them.

I agree a lot.

Tomorrow is never certain.

I'd rather have a spectacular shining HS career than no shine at all.

Les wrote:

gordanshumway wrote:

Pretty much this. I even beat him in a few 400s in college. Nice enough guy, but struggled to improve much from his hs times. That being said he was an absolute phenom in high school and would have smoked me then.

I think the biggest problem with Granville was, while clearly physically talented, he ran to please his father, not himself.

this....at least Granville didn't turn to drugs and filth like this guy

Andersen was in grade 13 in 1987, yes.

But Brendan Matthias was in grade 12 at the time.

A year before at the 1986 OFSAA championships, Andersen ran 8:10 as a grade 12 student.

Results are here:

http://ofsaa-track.yolasite.com/

Brendan Matthias Ran at the 1992 Olympics in the 5000m.

Random guy that has no dog in the fight wrote:

I used to be that douche that said "yeah but they burned out and did nothing later on" but then I apparently grew up or just finally got my head out of butt and realized, who cares. No one can take away from these young phenoms that disappear, what they accomplished. Just cause their time came early, at least they had a time. As long as they are ok with it, then more power to them.

I don't see it as "who cares". I'm a big fan of sports and want people to reach their potential. I was a freshman when Virgin was a senior and was a big fan of his. It was cool to see him continue to improve over the next 8 years, rather than disappear after HS. It's a shame when talented runners are brought down by injuries.

Greg Andersen went to Dartmouth, ran triathlons and now lives in Missouri. He works for Mississippi Lime. He is the Canadian high school 3000m G.O.A.T --> Grade 10 - 8:30, Grade 11 - 8:24, Grade 12 - 8:10, Grade 13 - 8:00.

Nobody else in Canadian high school history has even ran faster than 8:10.

Listen to his interview carefully:

https://youtu.be/xYWU1yo2LgA

In it he says that when he reach the 700 (seven hundred) meter mark, his father yelled out a spit of 1:30.

Not get out a calculator and figure out what the translate to for the full 800m.

Yes, it is 1:43.

So it gives you an idea of how tired his legs were and how difficult the last 100m were for him. Since he ended up running 1:46.

I noticed in the short interview there were video clips from the 1:46. Is there a full surviving video of that prelim somewhere online?

If I was Granville, I'd be tired of answering the same question for the past 25 years. There's a documentary on youtube produced recently that answers this. He looked burned out from the prodding. Leave the man alone or come up with new material.

I couldn't agree more! Very well-said.

I enjoyed the interview. I had the opportunity watch Michael run several times in high school, including the showdown with Obea Moore in the 800 meters at Arcadia. It was one of the most exciting races I've ever seen. Both were amazing runners.

Another aspect about Greg Anderson's time of 8:00 time was (correct me if I am wrong) the big negative splits: 4:05, then a solo 3:55.

Makes you wonder what he could have run if he went out in say 3:58ish...

NeverAWMDRF2020 wrote:

Greg Andersen went to Dartmouth, ran triathlons and now lives in Missouri. He works for Mississippi Lime. He is the Canadian high school 3000m G.O.A.T --> Grade 10 - 8:30, Grade 11 - 8:24, Grade 12 - 8:10, Grade 13 - 8:00.

Nobody else in Canadian high school history has even ran faster than 8:10.

Ian Clark was in grade 12 and ran 8:04, although indoors. That would have been in February 1979 I believe. Mathias also ran 3:39 as a junior, not in a high school meet either though.

Anderson was amazing for sure. I used to have university varsity XC roomates who would watch the Anderson 8:00 to get psyched for races!

Les wrote:

gordanshumway wrote:

Pretty much this. I even beat him in a few 400s in college. Nice enough guy, but struggled to improve much from his hs times. That being said he was an absolute phenom in high school and would have smoked me then.

I think the biggest problem with Granville was, while clearly physically talented, he ran to please his father, not himself.

A parent can point a kid in the "right" direction, but ultimately if the kid doesn't have the drive it won't happen.

There a hundreds of talented kids who never cared enough to keep it going. I know its hard for some of you guys who are less talented, and want to blame burn out, to parents or some such thing. An arrow to the knee. But the reality is some don't like the contest. They are more afraid of losing than they care about winning.

If you don't want it, it doesn't matter how talented you are.

That was awsome

sillyman wrote:

Les wrote:

I think the biggest problem with Granville was, while clearly physically talented, he ran to please his father, not himself.

A parent can point a kid in the "right" direction, but ultimately if the kid doesn't have the drive it won't happen.

There a hundreds of talented kids who never cared enough to keep it going. I know its hard for some of you guys who are less talented, and want to blame burn out, to parents or some such thing. An arrow to the knee. But the reality is some don't like the contest. They are more afraid of losing than they care about winning.

If you don't want it, it doesn't matter how talented you are.

Reminds me of Herb Elliot with the scared of losing part you mentioned

PresidentTrump wrote:

NeverAWMDRF2020 wrote:

Greg Andersen went to Dartmouth, ran triathlons and now lives in Missouri. He works for Mississippi Lime. He is the Canadian high school 3000m G.O.A.T --> Grade 10 - 8:30, Grade 11 - 8:24, Grade 12 - 8:10, Grade 13 - 8:00.

Nobody else in Canadian high school history has even ran faster than 8:10.

Ian Clark was in grade 12 and ran 8:04, although indoors. That would have been in February 1979 I believe. Mathias also ran 3:39 as a junior, not in a high school meet either though.

Anderson was amazing for sure. I used to have university varsity XC roomates who would watch the Anderson 8:00 to get psyched for races!

In 1987 Andersen and Matthias were buried at WJCC. Matthias was ahead of him there. Quite a few other names of note back in the field too. Marc Davis, Todd Williams, Fermin Cacho. Amazing the number of ultimate no names were in those fields and way ahead of guys spoken of in hushed tones.

NeverAWMDRF2020 wrote:

The same question gets asked about Greg Andersen of Ontario, Canada.

He ran 8:00 for 3000m in 1987 as a high school student.

But I know where he is!

It is still the Canadian high school record.

The closest anyone has come since 1987 is BRANDON ALLEN | General Amherst | 8:14.33 | 2013

Here is Greg Andersen's historic race:

https://youtu.be/7_2V_ovqGYU

Such an amazing race. A few more notes.

*the kick with 800m to go is badass - rumour has it he looked up and saw 6:00 min and went for a sub 2 last 800m

*this was in Jason Bunston's hometown and definitely motivation for guys like him and Graham Hood

*The guy who leads the second is Sean Cleary - coach at West Virginia

*Nick Tsioros and Guy Schultz (both in the pack of 4) ran at the World Cross Country Champs