20yr Old New Zealander Sam Tanner Runs 3:36.4 1500m

He ran 3:38 in 2019 as an 18yo. While an impressive performance, I doubt he will ever reach 3:30 at that rate of improvement.

my two pennies wrote:

He ran 3:38 in 2019 as an 18yo. While an impressive performance, I doubt he will ever reach 3:30 at that rate of improvement.

Well, 2020 was a washout, with very little competition - maybe it's not fair to judge without a few more races under his belt. I'd be very interested to see what he can do this year. It's good to see another young one come through.

NZ/Australia are looking pretty strong right now.

Nothing to add, really. Just wanted to say I took a class with Tanner last year when we were both freshmen, and he's one of the coolest guys ever. He talked about longboarding wayyy before he even mentioned running

I agree tj! It will be really interesting to see how he goes when pushed in an elite field. Hopefully he will qualify for the Olympics this year and get that chance.

A. Moran wrote:

GreatDane wrote:

He's also a highly talented surfer. In that 1500m he ran the last 500m completely solo. Nick Willis commented that his time would be worth a 3:33 in a European meet with some real competition

But he ran 3:36, not 3:33.

500m to make up 3 seconds?? Classic Letsrun hype. Let the guy develop and don't throw YOUR expectations on him. I remember Ryan Gregson threads where he was going to set the 1500m world record inside of 3 years after his 3:31.

No it's not Letsrun hype - it's called sensible application of the context in which he ran 3.36 to strong Euro meet. Quick question have you ever run in New Zealand or a top European meet? If you haven't then you have no place commenting on the feasibility of that statement. I'm going to guess you haven't so your opinion means sweet f$#k all pal.

Does a solo 3.36 in New Zealand translate to the ability to run 3.33 in a competitive European meet? Yes, end of story. Great work Sammy.

How many cucumbers should one consume before attempting an 800m PB...

He won NZ nationals as a 13 year old, he’s always been running

if you dip them in tuna oil then maybe 2-3. eeehhh

The Lizard JS wrote:

Coach CK wrote:

I’m coaching him while he’s here in NZ. He’ll likely head back to Washington at some point in the next 1-2mths.

hehe you funny man ))) He trains with majiq CANCAN system! 20x400 rest to 120 bpm in 3:24 shape

Nah it's 20x400 rest is laying on a rock in the sun to recover. That's also how he warms up and cools down. It's the magic lizard system.

He just won the national 3000m title for a PB of 7:54.16.

A blistering final lap by Sam Tanner meanwhile earned the rising middle-distance talent the national 3000m title to provide a rousing finale to a compelling day of athletics in Hastings.

Tanner, who earlier this month set a 1500m PB of 3:36.44 in Tauranga, assumed the lead for the first 1km before local Hawkes Bay hero Eric Speakman took up the pace.

With two laps remaining, Tanner’s training partner and national 5000m champion Hayden Wilde swept to the front but at the bell Tanner returned to the head of affairs with George Beamish and Speakman in close order with seven men still firmly in medal contention.

On the final lap, Tanner kicked clear of the field and although Speakman – a hugely impressive 5000m winner at the Night of 5s last month – loomed on his shoulder, the 2019 national 1500m champion had too much speed down the home stretch to stop the clock in a PB of 7:54.16.

Speakman (7:54.69) maintained his rich vein of form to claim silver with the fast-finishing Beamish of Athletics Wanganui earning bronze 0.40 further back.

“I’m pretty stoked with it,” said Tanner, who next week plans to run the mile at the Cooks Classic.

“We all worked together to push hard and the first few laps set us on a nice path to running a quick time. I didn’t really have a plan for the last 400m, I just thought I would run the first four laps and see how I felt. I was stoked with how it turned out.”

Rumour has it Sam Tanner has signed with Puma .. does this mean there will be a pro team in N.Z lead by the NCAA 1500 indoor record holder and Hayden Wilde ( olympic bronze medalist) ?

Rumor?

Done deal. Announced last week.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CY-P3HMvZFW/

On a side note, when he got his Olympic qualifying standard last year in his first race back in the States at Staten Island, there was a feeling that 2021 was going to be his last season at UW, no matter what.

Awesome news !! seems to thrive at home with what looks like a great support network . Based at home just like Sir John Walker was during his long and illustrious career .