Willing to wager Addy doesnt come within 20 seconds of 15:25 in high school.
Shalane Flanagan High School: Marblehead (Mass.) High School, Class of 2000 HS Personal Bests: 800m: 2:17 Mile: 4:46 2-Mile: 10:24 5K XC: 17:08
Look up the high school times for Alicia Monson, Emily Sisson, etc.
It's clear both Leachman (whose 5,000 was terrific) and Ritzenhein are talented. How talented will take time to see, and we've certainly seen many young woman shine in high school and then see little development as they get to college. For both of them, though, we are all on the outside: we don't know how hard/easy they train; how much pressure is put on them; how willful they are--all of which influence how far they will go.
Exactly this.
I do not care if A. Ritz ‘only’ runs sub-16 in HS. Longterm success is what is really going to matter.
Leachman is very exciting to watch and fearless in her racing. I’m very excited to see her development in HS but I also don’t think if a runner struggles to match her, they are automatically a failure.
Tuohy could has runned sub 4:40 in the same race at that age.
And Engelhardt ran sub-4:40 7 or 8 times as a freshman, but so what? Young athletes, especially female, develop at different times. There is no way of knowing where Addy, Leachman or Sadie will be in 5 years. Just appreciate their performances in the moment. There is no need for constant comparison.
Many girls peak sophomore year. Some of them peaked in 7th or 8th grade
I do not care if A. Ritz ‘only’ runs sub-16 in HS. Longterm success is what is really going to matter.
Leachman is very exciting to watch and fearless in her racing. I’m very excited to see her development in HS but I also don’t think if a runner struggles to match her, they are automatically a failure.
The long road takes time.
There have been plenty of runners who most people didn't notice at Foot Locker who went on to have good pro careers. Like Colleen Quigley and Nikki Hiltz.
This year all the attention was on Leachman and Forsyth, but there were probably a few girls back in the pack who will end up being successful pros at some point.
This year all the attention was on Leachman and Forsyth, but there were probably a few girls back in the pack who will end up being successful pros at some point.
Hard to believe a generational talent in Forsyth is almost nonexistent on LRC compared to Ritzenhein/Leachman. Where’s the love for Forsyth?
I think there's love for Forsyth. She didn't have much of an indoor season, so that's why she hasn't been talked about much the last few months. But in XC season she certainly was.
This year all the attention was on Leachman and Forsyth, but there were probably a few girls back in the pack who will end up being successful pros at some point.
Hard to believe a generational talent in Forsyth is almost nonexistent on LRC compared to Ritzenhein/Leachman. Where’s the love for Forsyth?
We do like Rachel Forsyth, but no one knows what is going on with her right now. She missed most of last year, then had a great cross country season in fall 2023, and then barely raced indoors including skipping all the indoor national meets.
It's hard to get excited about someone's races if you have no idea when they're going to race.
Sadie is by far the best 1500/1600/mile female high schooler (she is also excellent at 800). Leachman and Ritz are better 2 milers and XC.
Don't sleep on Jane Hedengren in the mile. Hedengren ran 4:35.69 in the mile last year, and can probably run faster than that this year. I hope we get to see a Engelhardt vs Hedengren in the mile at one of the national meets in June.
Y’all realize Leachman dropped a 4:41 in her 2nd mile of the 2 mile and also in the 5000m? Different levels. Ritz lost to 3-4 girls at New Balance 2 mile at sea level.
Leachman is clearly the best sophomore in the country, but don't spread fake news about something as objective as splits. I couldn't find splits on the record race, so I watched it. She split 4:57, 10:00, 14:51.X, so her 3rd mile was 4:53. The first two 1600s were clearly slower.
Y’all realize Leachman dropped a 4:41 in her 2nd mile of the 2 mile and also in the 5000m? Different levels. Ritz lost to 3-4 girls at New Balance 2 mile at sea level.
Leachman is clearly the best sophomore in the country, but don't spread fake news about something as objective as splits. I couldn't find splits on the record race, so I watched it. She split 4:57, 10:00, 14:51.X, so her 3rd mile was 4:53. The first two 1600s were clearly slower.
That is a far cry from "dropping a 4:41."
You’re right, only a 4:39 second 1600m in her 9:44 2-Mile
No, it's not their coaches. It's that Colorado doesn't do indoor track
Out of the loop - why doesn't Colorado HS do indoor track?
Different states have different rules for different reasons. Not sure the reason for Colorado. But there are several states that don't do winter/indoor track.
Out of the loop - why doesn't Colorado HS do indoor track?
Different states have different rules for different reasons. Not sure the reason for Colorado. But there are several states that don't do winter/indoor track.
I can help you with that: Lack of facilities and greedy mentalities.
Fort Collins indoor facility is a poorly maintain garage, and the coaching staff does not want any one besides them using it. Do not ask.
Gunnison has a awesome indoor track, but it is 4 hours away from Denver Metro, and is longer in the Winter. Affordable, but an orphan way up in them thar' hills.
Steinhauer at Mines is essentially an old blowing alley from the 50's complete with flop sweat odor. Also not interested in other users, though they host a limited event series of meets, that is a cash grab for this private schools athletic department.
Balch Fieldhouse at CU Boulder is a half condemned, non-maintained cash grab that CU Boulder pulls about $350 an hour in from. As a bonus, they have dumped a bunch of concessions equipment in there, so, no jumps for you .
The IPF at CU Boulder is a great facility that does not let anyone use it, well, I mean if one can pony up ~$35K for 8 hours, one can rent it. Try breaking even on that.
Mountain Lion Fieldhouse is a nice; a new facility, with a higher cost than Balch, as they charge $15 a head and are only open for a couple hours twice a week. No idea what it costs to rent for a meet, as there is not pricing online, and the athletics department would/did not call me back.
Air Force. Not open for casual users, and is $5-6K to rent for a day, but is hard to get to as a line forms for the security people to check cars coming in. And older facility it is closing and they are building a new one next year. They seems to be interested in hosting meets though!
The head coaches and AD's of most of these places are not interested in the larger community. That comes from years of experience and trying. On one hand, I understand, but at another, it is really just a 'feck you' from the college coaches. They could if they wanted. However, anyone who has been in Colorado running for any amount of time, especially on the Front Range, knows a few things:
Wetmore, and Bedard are jackasses. Anything outside of their small world is a nuisance.
Sparks is well aware of how the USATF club scene was screwing up meets at their facility and chooses not to fully participate, plus, their indoor track SUCKS!
Fellows is a jerk. We are bothering him. I am still trying to understand how there were 3 club meeting there this season.
As for the AD's, I get it, it is dollars and cents, however, would not opening these facilities for a reasonable coast offset the costs of their non-revenue generating sports, like Track and Field?
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