Anyone besides me getting less impressed by Kessler's 3:34, two guys who can't even make it to NCAAs just ran 3:37

In the 60s there were 4 consecutive years where high schoolers went sub 4. Ryun for 2 and then Danielson and Liquori. If they could do it 60 years ago on concrete and dirt tracks, it's not crazy to think that more high schoolers would do it nowadays with better tracks and training methods than before, without even getting to the shoes. Between 2011 and 2017, 6 high schoolers ran sub 4 and that's before these super spikes came out.

With training methods being much more available for high school coaches, Americans medaling on the world stage, causing more young people to run seriously, it seems like the most likely course would be that there's going to be a much better chance that a talented kid starts running and gets a coach who has a decent enough grasp on training to get them fast.

If you look at the top 10 lists for HS, there's plenty of times from the 60s and 70s on there. It's not like it's been completely rewritten this year. Sure, the 1500 record got obliterated, but what else? There's still only 1 guy who's gone sub 4, maybe he's just another Jim Ryun level of talent guy, it has been 60 years (20 if you count Webb) since we had one.

Also for the record, not "everyone" is running 3:37. Also to note the difference between running a 3:37 and a 3:34 is huge and Kessler is a good 2 -3 years younger than the athletes you mentioned.

worst thread in LR history, please delete this

The dude is training with pros. Noother way to spin that. It doesn’t matter what age you are if youre doing pro workouts you better be producing pro results. Feels kinda “meh” for me too

Old guys defending their PRs: it's the shoes

Young guys getting new PRs: it's not the shoes

Simple.

I wish you liked track, it would be nicer.

No. He ran faster than anyone ran during the college season. He ran his time during that season also. He didn't run his time during the summer so it is not compared to their times from the summer. He can run faster this summer also. This is l ike somebody running a track meet in December and we are told that they have run the fastest time ever during December but you point out that somebody had run faster in May. I agree with other posters that I am unhappy with how you have downplayed the fastest time ever run by a high schooler.

Does Rojo not realize this kid ran 4:13/8:53 time trialing a year ago in crappy adidas spikes and was ripping off 52-53" finishes in adidas spikes as well?

Kessler's time is VERY impressive. My curiosity extends to how well he fairs in the "rounds" of the 1500. I've seen too many times fast PRa do not always translate to fast and/or qualifying round times. We shall see. As for the shoes debate...screw it, I'll leave that nonsense alone.

Ummm.....

The training?

The track surfaces?

Not everything is about the shoes, guys. In the 1500, the difference between Air Zoom Vics/Dragonflys and “regular” spikes is between half a second and 1.5 seconds. Training philosophies are better then they’ve ever been, and track surfaces are improving across the board. It’s not *just* the shoes — stop obsessing over that. Additionally, why are we being cranky about this anyways? If we crush the new shoes, then what’s the point of scientific innovation?

Stupid post. James Randon of Yale and Chris Hatler of Penn ran 3:37 and 3:39 at Swarthmore after failing to advance. Also see Kyle Merber...

Fast PRs don't translate? So the slow guys are better off in heats? I don't follow backward logic at all. Please provide a few examples of where the faster runners do worse in heats. You may find a few exceptions but 90% of the qualifiers are the faster runners so the rule is the rule with exceptions.

Good point

Kessler just anchored in 1:47.7 or .9 depending. Ron had him in 1:47.7

king999 wrote:

Kessler just anchored in 1:47.7 or .9 depending. Ron had him in 1:47.7

A friend who coaches in MI and is at the meet for his athletes just texted me about that! Wow! Testing his limits and does not seem to know there are any.

It sounds great.

Needs to keep purging himself on the track.

king999 wrote:

Kessler just anchored in 1:47.7 or .9 depending. Ron had him in 1:47.7

Incredible. He would stand an excellent shot at the high school 800m record, 1:46.45, Michael Granville, 1996, in a pro race. A 3:34 runner can run 1:45-46.

xczvzxcv wrote:

king999 wrote:

Kessler just anchored in 1:47.7 or .9 depending. Ron had him in 1:47.7

Incredible. He would stand an excellent shot at the high school 800m record, 1:46.45, Michael Granville, 1996, in a pro race. A 3:34 runner can run 1:45-46.

Nah, super shoes don’t work as well over 800m. High 1:47 is probably all we’re going to see.

Maybe kessler's 3.34 is worth about a 3.40 without the spooky shoes.Still impressive.