We've merged two thread on the same topic into 1. The other thread was titled, "a recap of bad decisions by Aaron Sahlman" which we feel is a little too negative for a HS focused thread.
Obviously, Aaron Sahlman knew his health wasn't close to 100%, but he thought he might be able to race ok. To rephrase the question: who would have stopped Aaron from racing? He has been competing unattached this spring and is now an adult that has now finished high school. Decisions on whether to scratch from a big meet, for some of those young adults it may be the biggest race of their lives, and while likely not for Aaron, it was certainly a big meet for him this year. Decisions on whether students are healthy enough to race is often a hard and close call. Doctors often give radically differing options, and some kids are actually fine to run when they complain they are dying, while other kids say they are fine, but make injuries worse by continuing. I believe Aaron made a reasonable call to race despite not being fully healthy and a similarity reasonable call not to finish when he realized his body was not ready.
Obviously, Aaron Sahlman knew his health wasn't close to 100%, but he thought he might be able to race ok. To rephrase the question: who would have stopped Aaron from racing? He has been competing unattached this spring and is now an adult that has now finished high school. Decisions on whether to scratch from a big meet, for some of those young adults it may be the biggest race of their lives, and while likely not for Aaron, it was certainly a big meet for him this year. Decisions on whether students are healthy enough to race is often a hard and close call. Doctors often give radically differing options, and some kids are actually fine to run when they complain they are dying, while other kids say they are fine, but make injuries worse by continuing. I believe Aaron made a reasonable call to race despite not being fully healthy and a similarity reasonable call not to finish when he realized his body was not ready.
Actually looked like a terrible decision. Someone has to make the tough calls for him or he's going to continue to hurt himself. That's what a coach/parent is for.
Who is coaching him?? Between the focus on the 800, training for a record he was nowhere close to, ending his CIF season early, and racing injured for little gain, makes it hard to think there was any overarching guidance here post XC.
Who is coaching him?? Between the focus on the 800, training for a record he was nowhere close to, ending his CIF season early, and racing injured for little gain, makes it hard to think there was any overarching guidance here post XC.
I'm sure he has a coach. It might be an overly zealous parent or something that thinks they know how it all work but there is someone that is guiding him poorly.
Who is coaching him?? Between the focus on the 800, training for a record he was nowhere close to, ending his CIF season early, and racing injured for little gain, makes it hard to think there was any overarching guidance here post XC.
It really seems that it came to ahead during NXN, the inmates have been running the asylum at NP since Brosnan went to UCLA. It seems to have been chaos since, all the stars leaving the team to chase NIL value for next year and they have major beef with each other. Sahlman hasn't raced the Youngs since NXN. I'm not unconvinced that he didn't stay in the field so that the Youngs wouldn't take his spot.
Alot of this stuff enabled by the adults at the big meets. Flying these kids all over the country and promoting them. The adults at hoka who greenlight a clearly badly injured Sahlman racing should be ashamed. There wasn't another adult that was going to step in and they should have.
Obviously, Aaron Sahlman knew his health wasn't close to 100%, but he thought he might be able to race ok. To rephrase the question: who would have stopped Aaron from racing? He has been competing unattached this spring and is now an adult that has now finished high school. Decisions on whether to scratch from a big meet, for some of those young adults it may be the biggest race of their lives, and while likely not for Aaron, it was certainly a big meet for him this year. Decisions on whether students are healthy enough to race is often a hard and close call. Doctors often give radically differing options, and some kids are actually fine to run when they complain they are dying, while other kids say they are fine, but make injuries worse by continuing. I believe Aaron made a reasonable call to race despite not being fully healthy and a similarity reasonable call not to finish when he realized his body was not ready.
This seems like a cultural problem. While he risks his health for a meet no-one cares about the european and african phenoms are working towards DL, WC and the olympics in 2-6 or whatever years.
Coach Smith and NAU can’t be happy - wonder how much pull they have over him at this stage. At a minimum feels like Colin should be talking some sense into him on NAU’s behalf.
i have an insider source at NAU, just texted me: "MIKE IS MAD AF"
How easy is it for NCAA D1 programs to rescind an offer before the student hits campus? To be clear, I am NOT recommending that NAU/Smith do this, but what if an incoming athlete suffered a major injury or got hurt doing something stupid (basically, the athlete's fault) that diminished their ability to compete, can the institution cut them loose without penalty?
i have an insider source at NAU, just texted me: "MIKE IS MAD AF"
How easy is it for NCAA D1 programs to rescind an offer before the student hits campus? To be clear, I am NOT recommending that NAU/Smith do this, but what if an incoming athlete suffered a major injury or got hurt doing something stupid (basically, the athlete's fault) that diminished their ability to compete, can the institution cut them loose without penalty?
Not easy. A coach can have tryouts and make cuts (which an injured athlete would fail to meet) but that’s about it afaik