What University would you go to if you really wanted to concentrate on competing in the steeplechase? I have run 6:11 in the steeple as a Junior.
What University would you go to if you really wanted to concentrate on competing in the steeplechase? I have run 6:11 in the steeple as a Junior.
Look into Arkansas, Tennessee, Ohio State, and Colorado
west virginia is going to have an awsome steeple group, several sub 9 guys and more comming in.[quote]Mr Fabulous wrote:
Guys, Princeton is going to have some nasty steeplers next year. They have had only one here or there in the past, but up and coming is looking good from my inside source.
I would go to Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. They are a DIII powerhouse and coached by Brian Diemer, 84 Oly bronze medalist. He is a class act and was one of the best tactical hurdlers (and coaches) around. The guy can flat out coach. Also, they run a DI caliber schedule in both Cross and Track. One catch though, no scholarships or free gear.
Jenner wrote:
What University would you go to if you really wanted to concentrate on competing in the steeplechase? I have run 6:11 in the steeple as a Junior.
Are you joking!!!!!!! Everyone knows weber state is the best steeple school in the country. Id look there if i were you
not so fast on Princeton, they have one solitary sub-9 dude (Colangelo). Baird is capable but has to this point run like trash in all of his big races.
and unless you are a superstar second coming of Henry Rono, I would look at your other factors like size, strength of interested academic departments, financial aid, location etc. over whether they can steeple or not.
Certainly at most talented track schools the coach will be able to hone your steeple skills. Coach Brady at Princeton knows what he's doing (I think). But the three best steeplers ever for the Ivies are from another school, Dartmouth. And if you go to Penn you will be coached by an Olympic Trial qualifier (Sean MacMillan) who won the open steeple at Penn Relays last year. All three would be fine choices, but are very different schools with very different team dynamics.
Certainly Weber State has been a traditional steeple school, but remember for Arkansas etc. you have to be pretty damn good to make the team.
Ohio State with Coach Robert Gary (if he is still there). Young guy, lots of energy, Olympian, and I think he still ran 8:25 or so this year.
Wisconsin- Schumacher has taken guys to fast times in a collegiate lifetime. They tend to have about 4 guys at any given time who could place in their conference, even if it's not their main event.
Speaking from my personal experience training with the Weber State as a steepler, Chick Hislop has an exceptional program that typically produces 2-5 sub-9 minute SCs annually. Although there are two approaches to running a fast steeple (a distance event with hurdles versus a hurdle event over a long distance), Chick believes in the latter and has been highly successful in developing SCers over three decades using that philosophy. Without giving away too many secrets, you will become a proficient hurdler leading with either leg (not an easy skill to master) as well as a very strong distance runner with the flexibility of a gymnast. Hurdling drills began during XC season, continued through winter and into spring. If you have talent, work hard and are coachable, you will definitely develop into an excellent SCer at Weber State.
I am wondering about the area of race coaching. I have watched as some of his(Hislop) best, Kurt Black to Jeremy Tolman, have not lived up to expectations at nationals. Black ran VERY fast in the regular season, and didn't produce, and Tolman(8:31) who despite having great hurdling form(Black also), barely made it out of the prelims, then tanked in the final.
Seems like approaching it as a hurdle event over long distance, leaves something lacking as opposed to Lincoln at Arkansas who trains for it as a distance race that just happens to have barriers. Personally, I think that the latter way works best because it makes you into a real animal, which is evident when you watch Lincoln run.
you also might want to check out Haverford college, especially if you are interested in DIII. They have a very strong middle and long distance program and their coach was a multiple time all-american in the steeple (and xc) from Villanova. They seem to always have deep steeple crew.
Where the heck is "Weber State"......heard of it but was windering where it was.
Weber State is north of Salt Lake City in Utah. I believe that it is located in or near the city of Ogden.
Weber State is in Ogden, Utah (about 30 minutes North of Salt Lake City).
I beleive Weber State is near the top of NCAA DI qualifiers in the steeple going 20 years back. Farley Gerber (NCAA Champ 1984) is one of the better known WSU steeplers. I have always been impressed with the 3k flat time Vs steeple time variance at WSU.
Mike
I don't quite remember what Chick used as a benchmark, but I think the differential could have been 20 seconds for their best steeplers. Most were closer to 30 seconds though.
Farley still holds the american collegiate record for the Steeple. I have to say that now becaue I beleive it will be broken next year.
Black- had a low 14:00 5k P.R. and ran 8:23 in the Steeple.
Tolman had a bad rac/day at nationals as a senior. Hey life happens. But he was 2nd the year before surprising everyone.
Weber gets O.k. runners and They become excellent Steeplechasers.
They do seem to qualify people every year in the steeple.
And they do have a good over all distance program. They have placed in the top 20 in the nation in cross 2 of the last three years.
They train at on the foothills of mountains at elevation.
Kemmerer,
I haven't heard from you in a long time... Other than when Chris went out and visited you. Nice to hear your alive and kicking.
Chris called me about 3 weeks ago from out of the blue on his visit to NYC and NJ. As indication he can't take the verbal abuse that he deserves, he called me the night before he flew out of town.
I am still alive and kicking although when I do kick I usually end up injuring my knee. Probably from all those freakin' hurdles drills....send me an email when you get the time.
I would have to vote for Weber State as well.../Chuck is a great coach and they always havae good steeplers...