Lopez Lomong-Best in NCAA 800 thru 5000, maybe even 10K

Funny wrote:

Manzano could take Lomong at any distance?! WTF? MAYBE at the mile/1500...maybe! Not at the 800m and definitely not 3k or longer. Where was Manzano at XC Nats? Pretty far behind Lomong.

A guy that DOMINATES the mile (Manzano) could run real quick for 800m. If you think differently, you're a retard. In between the 800 and 3K comes the mile. Someone good at the mile usually tends to have skills in the bordering events.

Lomong, unfortunately, is the flavor of the week. He ran 3:41 this past weekend and that is good, but not dominant by any means.

You guys would be all over Willis right now if he were still NCAA as someone else said.

Manzano is very good, but "dominant"? Be real. Two titles in four seasons (not counting his dismal DMR performance), both by last 200 kicks is anything but dominant. Let him win outdoors again before you hand him the HOF honors.

What has Manzano run for 800m? Never close to 1:47. Lomong ran 1:47 last year when he was not nearly what he is now. No way in hell Manzano runs close to Lomong for 3k. Different league!

Oh and your comment about the 3:41 makes you sound like the retard. It is March you freakin idiot. We'll see if 3:41 is what he is running in June. If it is not faster than 3:38 then you win. I would bet it is.

Trialswatcher wrote:

Solinsky ,who is one of my favorites, barely had same XC finish when right, as the 1:47 guy? I am scratching my head trying to figure out what others argue about.

Solinsky was 3rd. Lomong was 4th. Solinsky could've beaten Lomong if he was fresh.

chamney broke 148 as well u forget

Yes, he ran past Solinsky in the 3000. How would he have done if Solinsky was fresh and pushed the pace for the last 1500 at 30/lap? Further, Solinsky is BIG for indoors and it is a little harder for him than for LL. (Just think how hard it must be for 6'5" Eagon -- I think that is why he was dinged up and not able to race at NCAAs, he definitely is running like he is still suffering from those problems; probably won't see him race until Oregon or the late Standford race).

Also Manzano had three races and was able to win the mile but looked mediocre in the DMR. Why did Lopez only race one event; anyone that is dominant should be taking major points in several events. My guess is that an 800/3000 double would have resulted in two Second-place finishes or a 1/2 (and then Solinsky gets a 1/1).

you seem to forget that he lost at Tyson as well, whereas Solinsky was smoking one all season and only lost in his final race. To overlook Lancashire will be your downfall. Out of everyone in the NCAA right now he would be the one who I would think will run sub 3.35 this summer. Lomong is great but is he the best distance guy in the country? No. Stroup opened up with 3.40 last year remember? Had Lomong doubled the way Solinsky or Manzano did he would not have been so dominant.

7:49 is 7:49. Faster than anyone currently in the NCAA has run and he did it very relaxed.

exactly, 7.49 is 7.49, but compare that to 7.38 and 7.42 what willis and cragg were doing in college. Lancenshire for sure over lomong, infact my order for the most dominant athlete would be: Solinksy, Manzano, Lancenshire, Lomong.

Whoever reasoned that Lomong can definitely beats Manzano in the 3k/800 but not the mile hasn't a clue. Furthermore, I think he is the most talented runner in the NCAA system right now. I also think he can beat Manzano in the mile. A 7:49winning a a 147 flat is very impressive. Note: Brannen had a collegiate PR of 756 and hes been stuck at 146 for about 5 years, he topped outin that event. I still think Solinsky will win te 5 k outdoors, but Lopong is bringing heat in the 800 and particularly the 15. People rave and rant about Manzano's kick. But the truth is es not incredibly quick. His kick only works off a fast pace. Lomong on the other hand has wheels and he is finally a guy who could match Manzanp's strength. One final point-I think his best event will be the 5k down the road-even superior to Solinsky/Tegenkamp. He reminds me alot of Kimani, but hes an even speedier version. And if thats true, its scary how good he can be.

LL would not have run 7:49 if Eagon had not gone out and set a fast pace to win the meet for Wisconsin. Eagon was not going to score after being hurt for several weeks, it was important to outscore FS by as many points as possible, with 8 just about doing the trick since FS clearly did not have the horses to outrun Baylor (or probably the other teams in the fast final heat) in the 4x400. Has anyone seen him run a fast race at the front?

Who cares if he runs fast from the front? It is a race and he won. Isn't that the goal? The goal is not to be the idiot that leads and gets passed. It is to win.

Is the guy crazy or what? 7:49 to win indoors, 3:41 outdoors, then 1:47 800 the next week. What's his problem?

Ok, now what do you think? Lomong has run 1:45, 7:49 and 3:37. Manzano quite obviously did not dominate Lomong.

except at USATF outdoors where manzano made the world team.

Lomong did not run his best event and still finished tied for 4th. Manzano has NOT beaten Lomong.

Trialswatcher wrote:

Why don't we figure it like this:

Lomong 4th at one of the toughest races to run well AT, NC's XC.

1:47 800

7:49 3K winning, it could have been anything, 47, 45? He was still winning if Solinsky doubles.

Sub 4 mile? I would think that's an after thought.

There is not one guy in America who runs this profile.

Now? If you want to say Solinsky gives him all he can want at 3K fresh? I am buying, not selling that, but that's about it.

Solinsky ,who is one of my favorites, barely had same XC finish when right, as the 1:47 guy? I am scratching my head trying to figure out what others argue about.

Okay I see no sense in this. Solinsky is definitely similar if not better. Scratch the whole 880 and Solinsky is in fact a beast in 1500 - 5k.

Lomong - 3:37, 3:58.5, 7:49, I'm guessing mid-high 13s, 4th Nats XC

Solinsky - 3:37, 3:57.8, 7:36.9, 13:12, 3rd Nats XC

I'm liking Solinsky a little more though...might be my WI bias though.

324an wrote:

Solinsky is definitely similar if not better. Scratch the whole 880 and Solinsky is in fact a beast in 1500 - 5k.

Sure, if you ignore the most significant and unusual factor about Lomong as a distance threat (his world-class 800m speed), then he and Solinsky are similar. But that sort of misses the point about why people think Lomong may have a big upside.

Why scratch the 800m (not 880)? It is part of the equation. Lomong was 4th in 2006 and 3rd in 2007 in XC. He also has yet to run a 1500m in Europe so has only run a 1500m in championship style race - not rabitted. Also, if you think he can only run mid to high 13's in the 5k then you are crazy, ignorant or just plain dum (just kidding so don't get crazy!).

I would not say he is THE best but certainly one of the best. I also will guess that he makes a greater impact on the international scene than Solinsky. We'll see about that though.