Sprintgeezer wrote:
I don’t know Plasencia personally, but it has seemed to me that at least for sprints and throws, recently they haven’t seemed to “develop” any athletes.
I remember way back when Sidney was doing sprints and jumps and Lynn was doing throws, some athletes used to really develop, not just over a season but over the years. Idk if their school records still stand, but guys like Tyrone and Keita and some other guys I trained with really had it going, even the discus guy with the headband.
A bit later in the 400 they had 2 very good guys, and more recently Kabia in the short sprints, esp the 60. But development? Doesn’t seem like it, idk why, just my impression.
Of course I have had less contact with the athletes over the years, so maybe my impression is worthless. Today I know none of them. Plasencia gently refused to let me train on the track, and my sense was that everything had gone “official”. Once that happens the organic quality is gone, and the whole edifice becomes a merely administrative exercise. No love.
To me, men’s UMN track died already 5 years ago.