Simeon MF Birnbaum Runs Sub 4! 5th HS runner this year. Most shocking one ever (4:07 pb)?

SDSMT Runner wrote:

I recently have raced against Birnbaum in a 3k and beaten him. Birnbaum is exceptionally talented and because of that he is in some capacity being taken under the wings of the Black Hills State University team/coach. In indoor, everyone told me that he was getting trained by them and that he was really fast. Black Hills has som decent milers for D2 and honestly I’m not even remotely surprised to see him break 4, just surprised it was this year. Some of the others on this thread mentioned training in Rapid City. I’m a collegiate distance runner training and living in Rapid, and during the winter it is incredibly harsh. My institution does not yet have an indoor track, so all workouts are done staring at a cinder wall on a treadmill. Easy runs and long runs are out in the elements (no matter how extreme). On problem with this type of training is that you never really seem to know where you are fitness wise. Another reason why it seems Birnbaum came out of nowhere is that South Dakota highschool competition is not the greatest. I personally didn’t run in south dakota for highschool but seeing how low the competition level is, its hard to imagine this kid trying to solo sub 4:10’s in outdoor, seeing as the winter lasts through march and into april. I’m guessing he found out something about himself at arcadia, and when he found people around him in the Brooks PR meet, he had a realization that he had what it took to hold on to the group. The sub 4 was earned over Bergen in the last 100 when it appeared that Birnbaum just wanted it more. He got that from the blue collar grinding he did all winter.

This to consider wrote:

SDSMT Runner wrote:

I recently have raced against Birnbaum in a 3k and beaten him. Birnbaum is exceptionally talented and because of that he is in some capacity being taken under the wings of the Black Hills State University team/coach. In indoor, everyone told me that he was getting trained by them and that he was really fast. Black Hills has som decent milers for D2 and honestly I’m not even remotely surprised to see him break 4, just surprised it was this year. Some of the others on this thread mentioned training in Rapid City. I’m a collegiate distance runner training and living in Rapid, and during the winter it is incredibly harsh. My institution does not yet have an indoor track, so all workouts are done staring at a cinder wall on a treadmill. Easy runs and long runs are out in the elements (no matter how extreme). On problem with this type of training is that you never really seem to know where you are fitness wise. Another reason why it seems Birnbaum came out of nowhere is that South Dakota highschool competition is not the greatest. I personally didn’t run in south dakota for highschool but seeing how low the competition level is, its hard to imagine this kid trying to solo sub 4:10’s in outdoor, seeing as the winter lasts through march and into april. I’m guessing he found out something about himself at arcadia, and when he found people around him in the Brooks PR meet, he had a realization that he had what it took to hold on to the group. The sub 4 was earned over Bergen in the last 100 when it appeared that Birnbaum just wanted it more. He got that from the blue collar grinding he did all winter.

^^^this

Cali boys aren’t able to fathom what this kid did in getting here. I consequently give him the best odds of a decent pro career, out of all this year’s HS sub-4 milers.

(To show up on the day and do it sunglasses was off-the-charts.)

Sixty plus years ago ... wrote:

asdfghj1 wrote:

I don't think there's much evidence for this assertion.

You do not believe MOST GUYS (I did not state all) in Olympic &/or W.C. 1500m semi-finals are in 47.00 to 48.99 F.A.T. 400m range? If anyone were faster than than 47-flat 400m in Olympic &/or W.C.1500m semi-finals, we would hear about it non-stop as soon as the athletes show up at Olympic village. As soon as we turned on the tv, 1980 & 1984 Olympics, someone was telling us S. Coe has 46.87 F.A.T. 400m speed. Way back in 1972 Olympics it is common knowledge Miruts Yifter TT a 48.xx 400m at Olympic village. Yes, rolling start. Are you trying to tell me in 2022 most elite 1500m guys are slower than than Miruts Yifter in 400m? I believe J.I. is slower than 48.xx., 400m. I believe S. McSweyn is slower than 48.xx. They race afraid to kick off a slower pace. Most guys in semi-finals, Olympics & W.C. do not race afraid to kick. What is your best guess? Do you believe most 1500m semi-finalists in Olympics & W.C. are 49.xx guys?

This to consider wrote:

SDSMT Runner wrote:

I recently have raced against Birnbaum in a 3k and beaten him. Birnbaum is exceptionally talented and because of that he is in some capacity being taken under the wings of the Black Hills State University team/coach. In indoor, everyone told me that he was getting trained by them and that he was really fast. Black Hills has som decent milers for D2 and honestly I’m not even remotely surprised to see him break 4, just surprised it was this year. Some of the others on this thread mentioned training in Rapid City. I’m a collegiate distance runner training and living in Rapid, and during the winter it is incredibly harsh. My institution does not yet have an indoor track, so all workouts are done staring at a cinder wall on a treadmill. Easy runs and long runs are out in the elements (no matter how extreme). On problem with this type of training is that you never really seem to know where you are fitness wise. Another reason why it seems Birnbaum came out of nowhere is that South Dakota highschool competition is not the greatest. I personally didn’t run in south dakota for highschool but seeing how low the competition level is, its hard to imagine this kid trying to solo sub 4:10’s in outdoor, seeing as the winter lasts through march and into april. I’m guessing he found out something about himself at arcadia, and when he found people around him in the Brooks PR meet, he had a realization that he had what it took to hold on to the group. The sub 4 was earned over Bergen in the last 100 when it appeared that Birnbaum just wanted it more. He got that from the blue collar grinding he did all winter.

^^^this

Cali boys aren’t able to fathom what this kid did in getting here. I consequently give him the best odds of a decent pro career, out of all this year’s HS sub-4 milers.

(To show up on the day and do it sunglasses was off-the-charts.)