Leo and Lex Young commit to Stanford

How do you know running is not their future? Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but seems a little ridiculous to assume 2 of the best recruits in High School history can't make a good living on running. Especially once you add in how big of a following they have on social media / youtube, they are way more marketable than the average pro distance runner that disappears 9 months of the year.

I wish them the best in whatever path they choose, but not everyone needs to be focused on the 9-5 life.

I think it's telling they chose not to go there.

Making only $180K out of college and not $300K, what a failure! They can’t even make as much as the average Letsrun poster!

Isn't that exactly what the Brooks Beast program was aiming to do? Provide job training while running? I thought I heard Allie O mention this program in a past interview.

Actually, Stanford was the second most successful distance program in the country this past year:

If you scored cross-country 2021 by top 8 finishers and top 8 teams and added those scores to the 5 indoor and outdoor events from track and cross-country, you'd get this. Stanford got a respectable 5th in cross-country this past year (and Cole Sprout was injured) but they picked up tons of points in the Indoor 3K and 5K as well as the outdoor 5K and 10K:
Northern Arizona 47
Stanford 43
Texas 33
Wisconsin 32
Ole Miss 28
Iowa State 24
Washington 23
Michigan St 20
Notre Dame 18
Princeton 17
BYU 16
Texas A & M 16
Oklahoma State 15
Arkansas 15
Florida State 10
Eastern Kentucky 10
Texas Tech 10
Campbell 10
Oregon 9
Montana State 8
Illinois 8
Mississippi State 8
Georgetown 6
Wake Forest 5
Colorado 5
Michigan 4
Villanova 4
Air Force 4
Drake 4
Duke 3
Tulsa 3
Arizona State 3
Minnesota 3
Virginia Tech 3
Alabama 1
Lipscomb 1
UNC 1

Don't get me wrong - $180k, especially right out of college, isn't a bad salary at all.

That being said, a competitive programmer / math competition person going to a T5 college (i.e. USACO Platinum and/or USAMO medalist) would have to perform badly in an interview to "only" make ~180k. Aiming for ~300-400k jobs is the norm, so anything less would seem like a failure.

Ask yourself if your attitude is not contributing to a higher suicide rate among young people.

I hope they continue to develop as runners but they've already demonstrated entrepreneurial and marketing skill and that doesn't even take into account other academic aptitudes that they possess. They will be very successful.

Don't think this is much of an argument.
If the gaps in your resume were because you were off making Olympic teams, beating everyone else in the country at your event and consistently finishing top 5 in the world, I'm pretty sure employers will understand.

Besides whether he has a global medal or not, his records and sheer excellence at the sport are enough to give him a pretty cushy nest egg of capital so he can call the shots on the next phase of his career. If you're say a lesser pro like Drew Piazza or Drew Windle, I might be a little worried about your pro-running prospects

Dude, your jealousy and defensiveness aren't a good look. Just because you're proud of State U doesn't mean that Stanford has done any of these things. Oh, and guess what, here are Stanford's last 8 NCAA cross results. They have pretty much lived up to expectations, no? Milt had a few blow-up years early on in his tenure, but (a) that's mostly true of any program over enough years, and (b) a different coach and a different roster, so not remotely relevant to today.

2021 - 5th
2020* - 5th
2019 - 6th
2018 - 5th
2017 - 4th
2016 - 2nd
2015 - 3rd
2014 - 2nd

Not winning nationals AND not making $300K. How do these kids live with themselves!

Your a moron running is nobody's future it is a past time. Unless you think once you hit 30 you are retirement age. How many runners are 62 years old and still at it? Zero!!! This is not the NFL your not going to be a pro runner and retire and go into being a broadcaster!

And guess what….Christian Simone (np alum) quit competitive running altogether at 18

Right, the off-the-beaten track choice of Stanford. Really eschewing standard markers of mainstream success.

If you to Northern Arizona you are there to run. Apart from class, there are few other distractions. At Stanford you are surrounded by students who excel in all areas, there are so many other things to explore I find it amazing that Stanford athletes do as well as they do. Look at their roster and note their majors and academic achievements- going to Stanford is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s not all about your starting salary.

I was looking into the whole eligibility issue and in contrast to Stanford's own website, NCAA D1 xc results last year listed Hicks (4th), Robinson (14th), Hart (80th), and Sprout (81st) as freshmen, which would make them juniors (if they don't go pro) when the Youngs arrive. For NAU, Young was listed as a freshman, Bosley as a sophomore, Kusche as a junior, and Hastey and Quax as sophomores. Raff was listed as a junior. So, next year, they're projected top five might be Young (11th), Bosley (13th), Sahlman, Hastey (39th), and Quax (114th). Another Sahlman might help. But NAU has won 5 of 6 xc titles--not always with the best recruits, like Nur and Grijalva--and Stanford has often underwhelmed relative to expectations, so it is not obvious that Stanford will ride two freshmen to the title next year.

What about Aidan Puffer? Also, class of 2023 is insane. Maybe one of those impactful guys will go to NAU? Also, Quax ran a 13:41 5K so I wouldn’t be surprised if he closes the gap on the 4th man.