What states seem to always turn out the top runners every year. For Example, Texas and I guess you can throw California into the mix. Any other states seem to have "something in the water"?
What states seem to always turn out the top runners every year. For Example, Texas and I guess you can throw California into the mix. Any other states seem to have "something in the water"?
I would say for girls, new york. At any given time, 2-4 teams from the albany area have been ranked in the top 25 in the country over the last 10 years.
Cant say that NY has turned out the most world class girls, but on the high school level, without a doubt one of if not the best state.
A lot of it has to do with population and weather, plus sport offerings. California and Texas notoriously have good athletes, but they have enormous talent pools and especially in Texas, the Southeast, and SoCal, the ability to train outside all year round. Additionally, many prospective athletes from the Northeast get bogged down with the great sport of lacrosse. Lacrosse is an excellent game of speed and strength (much better to watch than football) and is very, very popular from Virginia up to Massachusetts. Not to say that Cali doesn't have water polo and that these athletes would primarily be sprinters/jumpers/throws, but its a big deal.
I think that considering Massachusetts is much smaller than those other states it still has recently produced Jon Riley, Tom McArdle (same high school), Andy Powell, Franklin Sanchez, high school phenom Abdirzak Mohammed, Shalane Flanagan, and a few years back a notable character named Alberto Salazar.
It obviously cannot contend with the depth of the New York or California distance programs, however.
For sprinting, darkhorse is New Jersey. Carl Lewis, Dennis Mitchell, Renaldo Nehemiah, the list goes on.
For boys Michigan should be in there as of late. Footlocker champ the last 3 years. And a slew of good runners in the last 10 years (Harmann, Ritz, Shay, Moore, McMullen, Hyde)
-Clay
That is Hartmann....not Harmann (Ritz' teammate at Rockford).
Illinois has a few: Tim Broe; Torres Bros, Donald Sage, York, Craig Virgin
Doen't compare with some of the bigger state's but for a population of less than 3 million how about Oregon
Recent prep studs
Grant Robison (13:40ish 5k guy, multiple time state champ)
Jesse Thomas (8:35 steepler, former state xc champ)
Ian Dobson (8:18 3k in hs, 29:08 10k )
Eric Logsdon (3:51, 8:10 in hs, 14:05 )
Noel Paulson (4:07 mile, 8:56 2-mile)
Jacob Gomez (8:54 2-mile, Stanford bound)
also had a guy named Jeremy Park (in '98 or '99..can't remember) who ran 3:53 and did 3:45 and 14:05 at Portland State before transfering to the University of Washington last year
and this year's senior class includes:
Mike McGrath (1:50 and 3:52 as a junior)
Joquin Chapa (1:52, 3:54 as a junior...and has some pretty good genes)
Lauren Jesperson (1:52 as a soph, 3:50 as a junior)
plus Galen Rupp who ran 14:34 for 5k as a hs soph(!) last year
ohio baby......kennedy, wottle, fry, zishka, not to mention al the guys of the current new wave, Bader, smith kollar, Rodenbaugh...this is getting to be a pretty tough state
What about Florida? They have a huge population and tropical weather year round. Why don't more great ones come from there. Is it the lack of hills, it is all flat.
I'll add to the Ohio list:
Scharsu
John Sence
Marc Sylvester
Croghan (just some steeple guy)
Steve Payne (oh wait, that's in my mind)
Fla ...
Large population center, but there is also a *huge* population of seniors. FL is hot/humid for 3/4 of the year. FL's highest elevation is ~250ft - No hills.
Obvious: The largest populated states will produce the most top athletes.
Less obvious: Try to measure how many top runners are produced with comparison to their population base. Suddenly Oregon, Utah, Connecticut, etc. looks better and better. Don't forget how year round weather also plays into this equation.
What are you smoking? Robison is only one of those guys I've even heard of...
Don't mean to slam you brother, but those Oregon runners are well known to those of us who follow it. Not an obscure one in the bunch. I guess you've learned something here then, and that's just fine. Consider yourself educated. :-)
Just curious who, not counting Kenyans.
Has to be Rhode Island. The runners there are always the best on there teams in college
Don't forget North Dakota and Corey Ihmels!!
This post needs defining.
Is it best current state with the athletes competing in high school, or is it the most finished products we are reffering to.
one word... Corey Ihmels.
That would be two words.