Weini Kelati Signs goes pro, signs with Under Armour

Agree with Joe Dirt here, in the time since I’ve followed the NCAA system he’s been very successful with very talented athletes (Kerr, Kurgat, Weini etc) but if you actually look at their roster he has failed to develop good talents from the state of New Mexico and other good (but not Kerr level) talents from the UK and Europe. From what I’ve been told about his training is that he simply throws eggs against a wall and what we see sticks and what we don’t see breaks. Also people like Kerr would be successful in just about any program IMO

Ran Foot Locker at 19 years old. Why no screaming about age? The mob would have started a bunch of threads if she'd been at BYU!https://www.letsrun.com/news/2015/12/2015-foot-locker-finals-girls-preview-19-year-old-eritrean-weini-kelati-virginia-favorite-shell-tested-undefeated-taylor-wernet-annie-hill/

Trackfan55 wrote:

Agree with Joe Dirt here, in the time since I’ve followed the NCAA system he’s been very successful with very talented athletes (Kerr, Kurgat, Weini etc) but if you actually look at their roster he has failed to develop good talents from the state of New Mexico and other good (but not Kerr level) talents from the UK and Europe. From what I’ve been told about his training is that he simply throws eggs against a wall and what we see sticks and what we don’t see breaks. Also people like Kerr would be successful in just about any program IMO

In the mold of Mick Byrne and somewhat derivative of Ray Treacy and John McDonnell, though of course the latter two have certainly guided (developed or produced, arguably) US talents alongside legions of foreigners filling their rosters. Somewhat in Franklin's defense, as a rule NM high schools are the opposite of a hotbed. And he's just not going to lure CO kids away from CU, CSU, Adams, Western, or Mines.

bridgetown wrote:

How long until she moves up to the marathon? She was a stud in HS but never had the speed for the shorter distances. However she always thrived the longer the event and some of her longer training efforts were super impressive. I'm willing to bet 10k-marathon is her future and it is just a question of how long she stays on the track before moving fully to the roads.

agree-I could see her doing well as a pro in the 1/2 marathon , marathon distances since she has great strength but doesn't have the big kick for top shelf 5000m racing....

It's pretty ridiculous that some are bashing an NCCA champ and 15:14 performer. She's a collegiate athlete. You expect someone in the NCCA to be running 14:40 when the collegiate record is only 7 seconds faster than her PB? For comparisons sake Schweizer had run 15:17 and now she's sub 14:30. Will Kelati run that fast I have no idea but y'all are taking the numbers as if it's the end all be all. I'd say working as a pro and only having to train she should at least be in the realm of sub 15 within the next few years if she stays healthy.

The problem I have with this signing is that UA makes terrible shoes(great apparel though). I don't buy that UA and On are able to come anywhere near what the bigger shoe companies can give for sponsorships even with no competitions coming. This is a time when those companies should be investing in the sport, they're making a ton of cash and can afford to spend. I'm sure what would be a lowball in pre covid times would still be more than UA offers now but I'm not an insider and perhaps UA is making a big push rather than just being opportunistic. I've got nothing against Hass either, seems like a good dude and I don't know enough about his training philosophy/program to pass judgement.

Schweizer and Kelati are the same age. Schweizer can practically lap her in a 5k. Those are all facts, not complements or insults.

Haas snaking an NCAA athlete with remaining eligibility....

Just closed the door on Joe ever taking his call again.

Just like Ray Flynn... Just like (insert shady agent here)

Don't forget, Haas has the connection to banned agent Mark Block. Same company (Global Sports.) Not all athletes make the mistake of signing on to Alberto Salazar. A lot of sleaze out there you can join too.

Poor kids.

Be careful out there

interest of the athletes wrote:

Haas snaking an NCAA athlete with remaining eligibility....

Just closed the door on Joe ever taking his call again.

Just like Ray Flynn... Just like (insert shady agent here)

Don't forget, Haas has the connection to banned agent Mark Block. Same company (Global Sports.) Not all athletes make the mistake of signing on to Alberto Salazar. A lot of sleaze out there you can join too.

Poor kids.

Be careful out there

So let’s say she wins another NCAA title or two this spring & lowers her PR’s by about 10s for 5k & 20s for 10k. With a truncated season & less competition due to Covid - which is a big fat asterisk by the result. That’s best case scenario. In that scenario, she signs for zero more than she already could have. Because she’s not any more valuable to a shoe company than she already was.

Now, let’s say she instead gets a major injury or has a down season & doesn’t win any NCAA titles. She signs for a lot less money. Because that’s how it works. And that’s even if there is a season.

Tell me again what is in her best interest?