Lex and Leo

I've heard they were both really sick Friday, but I don't know if it's true. If it is, it makes their performance understandable, but it makes no sense to me why they would go out so hard. I don't like the idea that they're burnt out. NP has performed spectacularly at nationals since their first appearance in 2018, and it looked like Leo held back a bit at state when he realized he wasn't gonna get the record. Plus, they didn't race until October because they're planning on doing WJXC, so their season still isn't over. I think the combo of going out really fast + throwing in some massive surges + being sick was just more than they could handle.

They went out in 4:33 and then tried to hammer at the halfway point.

That's the recipe for ending up in the medical tent.

No reason for Lex and Leo to jump into the lead after Sahlman pulled it back after the hot start. Should have tucked in behind Gorze or Kipyego.

34 guys under 4:40 at the mile. 42 under 4:45. Way too fast on that course.

At clovis, they went through in 4:31 then hit the 2.1m at 9:54. These are the best he runners in the country. I get what youre saying but I disagree based on past races.

So always going out at 14:15 5k pace is optimal? Looks like they get slower as the race goes on. That strategy caught up to them today. And it certainly doesn't work on the next level.

One of their teammates got sick this week, not Leo or Lex.

They were both bedridden until 10am yesterday and were the sickest Doshi's dad has ever seen them apparently. That plus the wind and weather they don't have experience in obviously made their usual tactic of setting such a fast pace no-one else can keep up fail.

You actually believe a story that Leo and Lex were extremely sick to the point of being bedridden until the day before the race, but they still thought they could run away from one of the best boys fields ever assembled? Um, no, it didn't happen like that.

I like many was surprised by the way the Leo and Lex blew up. Some of mentioned that they were sick the days preceding. Does anyone know this for sure or is this just rumor? If they were really sick it does not seem logical that they would go out at such an aggressive pace especially into the windy conditions. Regardless if they were sick or not the decision to go out at this pace into the windy conditions I believe doomed them both and they epically collapsed. As a runner I have also made this error and I would expect many others in this forum have too. Hopefully they will both learn from their tactical error.

I respect they are fast.
If sick, likely not the first time in their life, so they would know how to handle it.
Their race tactics were wrong for this level and type of race. Others ran a better race.

People talking about how their strategy was illogical if they were sick…they are high school kids. They are still learning. Most of you people who post on here are idiots.

Exactly. They’re learning, and despite the fact that they’re often in the eye of the running public, they’re still kids. They had huge expectations based on their past results, and honestly were probably a little excited after their brother employing the “gas” strategy so recently.

In all honesty, this could be a really good thing for them. Sure it stings, but they can take some lessons from it, learn about themselves and race strategy, and will hopefully come back stronger and smarter.

Leo beat Lex by 36 seconds in the u20

jk

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