Why has Kitchen taken big leaps in college, but not Tostenson?

Everyone progresses differently. It isn't linear and coaching plans make a difference. For all we know, there could be a thread in 2028 where we discuss how Tostenson running 12:41 is a lock for the Olympics and Kitchen hasn't improved since freshman year.

One is mid distance one is long distance.

Let’s give the mid distance guy until the end of outdoor.

Both have great coaching set ups, but rarely is college PR after PR.

My old coach used to say if we can get you to match your high school times, you avoid mono/ other dorm disease, and pass classes freshmen year it was a win.

Its indoor mate, that's base training season for people focused on big meets and championships outdoors. Lets reevaluate come June.

Yeah I also have found it odd that tostenson really hasn’t taken off yet this year while kitchen appears to be the next great ncaa runner. i mean tostenson ran a bit of a poor xc season, and this indoor has come in last 3 times in the mile at uw breaking 4 only once and being over 4:05 once as well. Rooting for the kid!

Yeah I also have found it odd that tostenson really hasn’t taken off yet this year while kitchen appears to be the next great ncaa runner. i mean tostenson ran a bit of a poor xc season, and this indoor has come in last 3 times in the mile at uw breaking 4 only once and being over 4:05 once as well. Rooting for the kid!

Just look at the coaching people. One has produced Olympians, one produces also-rans.

Different coaching.

Tostenson chose arguably the best coach for milers in the country, but now he has to live in nasty Seattle, versus Kitchen gets the altitude boost in Utah and also has an incredible coaching setup.

All legitimate medal threats spend majority of their time at altitude so you're fighting an uphill battle if you choose to be at sea level all year as a distance runner.

With tostenson being much better at a younger age, maybe we could also consider the possibility tayvon had a later start to the world of athletics. Many who start taking sports seriously later (around 9-10th grade) make massive jumps

I don't have the impression Cole Hocker spends the MAJORITY of his time at altitude. But I could be wrong.

Kitchen's HS 800 PR was 1:55. When comparing thier PRs it doesn't surprise me at all that Kitchen is much stronger at the longer distances. I think the jump in XC distance can be a more difficult transition for a mid distance guy entering college. My bet is they both do well, but their event focus will be different.

This is an insane man, he's almost 30 seconds faster than Tostenson in the 3k.
7:36 is 1227 points on WorldAthletics
8:15 2

*This is an insane jump man, he's almost 30 seconds faster than Tostenson in the 3k.
7:36 3k is 1227 points on WorldAthletics
8:15 2 mile is 1218 points which is what Strand ran.

Sahlman ran 7:36 by the way this season. It takes a lot of speed to run 7:36 as you can see.

Look at the progressions in HS. Kitchen got fast a little latter and has been getting faster at a faster rate.

Also it’s only indoors. People handle changes differently.

Neither Powell, nor Tostenson has started well at Washington, yet both were faster than Kitchen at mile on down in high school. Kitchen has already averaged sub-4:05 per mile for 3k! But UW has a lot of years of success at the mile and 1500 with the Powells, so I assume that will continue. Kitchen, however, is looking like one of our best 3k-10k prospects over the next few years. Very impressive what Ed Eyestone has done with him already.

Kitchen is responding to altitude training. The BYU runners do drive out to the
Wasatch Mountains to get in training at up to 7000 feet. That's a new stimulus. The double thresholds (with lactate meter testing) is also another new stimulus. It's harder to do DT at higher altitudes.

Kitchen's body is responding positively to those changes.

In addition to Kitchen's more upward trajectory coming out of high school (later to develop), and in addition to the benefits of altitude @ BYU, Tayvon also has less distractions (partying) than about anywhere in the country. He's on a team with a lot of guys who aren't drinking and carousing, on a campus where that lifestyle is not accepted or permitted.

Also, he's an aerobic beast who isn't afraid to take risks in races. He's rather blow up than not try to win.