I dont put a lot of stock in a freshman after the hs senior season he had. Probably needed a reset, gather and make his push after a low key freshman year.
Big picture....needs to start taking 36" barriers to have a chance for LA 28. He doesnt have the wheels for 1500m. Otherwise, he's just going to fade away and be remembered as a hs great that nobody could help him capitalize on his abilities.
wish with modern technology the usernames were a list of everyone’s PR’s.
PRs really mean nothing. I don't care if the OP has run 3:32, it's a stupid take.
He didn't run those 3:37-3:40 times in March. In fact, last year, he ran a 4:14 1600 on March 24th. Let's give him a little time to progress before we start using the word "pathetic".
^^^^^ That is the correct response.
Last year in March, he ran 4:06.13 indoors at NB indoors (winner was 4:02) and ended up running 3:37.
What's pathetic is the OP - presumably a grown man - going to a messageboard to label the collegiate opener for one of America's top talents, who has been battling an injury, as pathetic. I think it's GREAT he's healthy enough to be racing.
Did you see his post-race quotes in the Eugene Register-Guard?
“I’m not happy with it,” Birnbaum said. “I thought I could run faster today. Sometimes at the beginning of the year I just suck. It’s as simple as that. I’m not very good. … I think I race into shape really well. The more I race the better shape I can get in.”
“I’m not happy with it,” Birnbaum said. “I thought I could run faster today. Sometimes at the beginning of the year I just suck. It’s as simple as that. I’m not very good. … I think I race into shape really well. The more I race the better shape I can get in.”
Folks complaining about the meet environment have obviously never paid attention to Oregon early season meets.
I coached at a smaller college in the state for a while and Hayward was never rockin’ in March.
Heck one time I was at the Oregon twilight late in the season and there were more officials than fans in the stadium. 40s and raining. We all joked though that once the weather is perfect, the meets would be on TV.
3:45 is a great run for this kid this early. Be patient. Those top high school kids are usually pretty gassed from their nutty senior years.
Now if he ran 3:45 at Azusa next month with a rabbit and good condition then you could talk doo doo. He’ll probably run 13:40 there
Probably just still adjusting to training and coming off of injury, most of last year top high schoolers have slowed a little for now, Lex and Leo were only running low 4's in the mile during indoor
Folks complaining about the meet environment have obviously never paid attention to Oregon early season meets.
I coached at a smaller college in the state for a while and Hayward was never rockin’ in March.
Heck one time I was at the Oregon twilight late in the season and there were more officials than fans in the stadium. 40s and raining. We all joked though that once the weather is perfect, the meets would be on TV.
3:45 is a great run for this kid this early. Be patient. Those top high school kids are usually pretty gassed from their nutty senior years.
Now if he ran 3:45 at Azusa next month with a rabbit and good condition then you could talk doo doo. He’ll probably run 13:40 there
Exactly, people don't understand that outside of SoCal, weather is not perfect and effects your times. People go from the midwest to Arcadia's meet, and run fast times that they can't replicate on the outdoor track until the very end of the season. Why can't they run a similar time the next week? WEATHER.
What about R. Harrison acting as a rabbit? Why? That seemed weird as a possible winner of the race looking easy leading at 1200m of a 1500m race. Is there any info on his training and state of mind about his time at Oregon?
Probably just still adjusting to training and coming off of injury, most of last year top high schoolers have slowed a little for now, Lex and Leo were only running low 4's in the mile during indoor
Correct. For the hs fanboys that never coached....he'll have a better chance in the steeple. Again, he doesnt have the wheels for 1500m now or in the future. Sorry to hurt your feelings. But would you rather he actually had a chance to medal someday or just be good enough to MAYBE make a 1500m national final? Think Evan Jaeger.
What about R. Harrison acting as a rabbit? Why? That seemed weird as a possible winner of the race looking easy leading at 1200m of a 1500m race. Is there any info on his training and state of mind about his time at Oregon?
I don't know. are these guys all injured? or coming back from injury.
I remember a post from last week on this forum; people in their 30s,40s,50s+ wondering if running high mileage in college + post college made their bodies break down too quickly. probs depends on the person, but if these KIDS (and that's what they are. they're still in adolescence.) are being pushed too hard...
RichardRyder wrote:
Correct. For the hs fanboys that never coached....he'll have a better chance in the steeple. Again, he doesnt have the wheels for 1500m now or in the future. Sorry to hurt your feelings. But would you rather he actually had a chance to medal someday or just be good enough to MAYBE make a 1500m national final? Think Evan Jaeger.
He did have the 4th fastest time nationally in the 800m last year. the boy's got some wheels! also, I don't think runners who have BIG KICKS should worry about their times at the beginning of the season. As a runner myself with a big kick (haha), I always felt weighed down at the beginning of the season, with mileage and interval workouts, etc. some people would beat me at the beginning who could not hang with me at the end of the season. those end of the season times are really what matters. The three week taper at the end of the season was like magic. a little rest worked wonders for my legs.
It's important to peak at the right time is my point. should he go to UW? I don't know. I'm sure they'd be happy to have him. 3:37.93 1500m time last year.
Birnbaum could be a great Steepler, but 1:47 in HS isn't enough wheels for the 1500m, lol.
The HS RECORD is 1:46
49.89 open jr year, he's got wheels!
All of that's great for a hs kid for sure. Problem is, everyone he's going to meet from here on out in races of significance is going to have the same or better. Hes not running against just less talented hs kids anymore. Just review the rust buster 1500 last weekend again. He had no response at all to Cook. I know its early and Im not the one whos calling him pathetic. He's far from that and has HUGE potential. I just dont think its in the 1500. That 1:47 isnt going to drop much further. He's a grinder not a gear shifter. That 1:47 would def come in handy 2 laps from finish of steeple.
All of that's great for a hs kid for sure. Problem is, everyone he's going to meet from here on out in races of significance is going to have the same or better. Hes not running against just less talented hs kids anymore. Just review the rust buster 1500 last weekend again. He had no response at all to Cook. I know its early and Im not the one whos calling him pathetic. He's far from that and has HUGE potential. I just dont think its in the 1500. That 1:47 isnt going to drop much further. He's a grinder not a gear shifter. That 1:47 would def come in handy 2 laps from finish of steeple.
You're not being logical. You are using his HS times as evidence that he can't compete with the best 1500 runners in the nation in five years. It is very possible that he lowers his 800 and 1500 times in five years, and he will be competing with them in five years.
Looking at the list, he has 1500 times comparable to some of the best 1500 runners this country has produced.
It's way, way too early to put him on the steeple path because he's "only" run 1:47 in high school.
Out of curiosity, what kind of times do kids coming out of high school need to prove to you they're a "gear shifter"?
Schumacher's methods result in many injuries. It's always better to be undertrained, healthy, and ready to race versus overtrained, injured, and on the sidelines.
Weird how nandrolone supposedly doesn’t do anything but none of his athletes can stay healthy without it. Jerry’s a fraud
Birnbaum was healthy when Jerry got him. He hadn't raced him since September and he was unhealthy. That's not the fault of some crazy high school program. He was getting stronger all the time through track season last year. No, this is Jerry. Train, train, train for eight months to get injured just before outdoor track season. He's not in shape for that reason. Jerry doesn't understand that when you get the top talents in the country at 18 or 19, your sole responsibility for three years is to keep them healthy. They will be good on training that is not absolutely maximized to deliver the best possible results after several years for mature runners who have stayed healthy enough in college to make his pro squad. But what's he gone and done yet again? Messed them up.
1. I don't see him running a mile at Nuguse level anytime (a paced 3:43) which is what it would take to medal at any level of significance.
2. Tactical races are typically won by positionong and superior speed which I dont think he has.
3. I said he would have a better chance at the steeple to medal. He can train like a miler all he wants but should start taking 36" barriers in the near future to have a better chance than in the mile when he's at his prime. If Coach S is concerned more about training and wants him to run CC in the fall, he moves away from being a better miler. You cant have it both ways anymore. I wouldnt compare him to Ingebritsen, Nuguse or the Brits either. Its too early.
I just dont think his chances in his prime are good at the mile. I think he could be a world beater in the steeple and that Jaeger was a recent US example. Unfortunately, we didnt get to see his best either but he was on the verge of greatness.
The mile/1500 is definitely a glory event over the steeple but like Coach B told Pre....Give them a reason to care about the other event.
1. I don't see him running a mile at Nuguse level anytime (a paced 3:43) which is what it would take to medal at any level of significance.
2. Tactical races are typically won by positionong and superior speed which I dont think he has.
3. I said he would have a better chance at the steeple to medal. He can train like a miler all he wants but should start taking 36" barriers in the near future to have a better chance than in the mile when he's at his prime. If Coach S is concerned more about training and wants him to run CC in the fall, he moves away from being a better miler. You cant have it both ways anymore. I wouldnt compare him to Ingebritsen, Nuguse or the Brits either. Its too early.
I just dont think his chances in his prime are good at the mile. I think he could be a world beater in the steeple and that Jaeger was a recent US example. Unfortunately, we didnt get to see his best either but he was on the verge of greatness.
The mile/1500 is definitely a glory event over the steeple but like Coach B told Pre....Give them a reason to care about the other event.
Sorry, but you're not making sense to me. You say you wouldn't compare him to Nuguse because it's too early, but you do compare him. Also, Nuguse's 800 PR in high school was 1:54 from what I can see, so by your standards, even Nuguse shouldn't be running the 1500 because he didn't have the wheels.
You think he could be a world beater in the steeple? Have you seen him run barriers? I haven't, so I'm not about to jump to that conclusion. We don't know if he has the athletic ability (or desire) to do that.
You didn't answer my question about what times high school kids need to prove they're gear shifters. How are you judging "wheels"?
