Alan who?

Who is Nick Willis and why is 3:42 impressive?

Freddy wrote:

Who is Nick Willis and why is 3:42 impressive?

Willis is a kiwi recruit of Warhurst's who's been running in meets on this continent the past few weeks.

His 3:42 is impressive in the context that he is no older than 19, probably 18, he ran this time in a tactical race (61/62/57 for the leaders through the first 1200), and his time would qualify him for NCs. On paper he's a finalist next spring in the 15. His youth may keep him from being a favorite, but I'm betting he won't do any worse than Webb if he toes the line.

Your lack of knowledge of him is a testament to the lack of hype surrounding his arrival at UM compared to a year ago with Webb. Don't know Willis personally at all, but I'm guessing his head won't be nearly as swelled as Webb's was (is).

willis isn't the only guy UM is receiving... They're also getting Andrew Ellerton of Canada who had a breakout season this year by running 1:49 3 times. (once was at world's) Look for him to continue improving.

Willis is 19. His DOB is 4-25-83. About 3 months younger than Alan.

He'll actually be 20 at the end of his frosh track year then.... Man, another overage foreigner!!!

Thats right willy, I am so sick of these overage foreigners just like how Willis is born in 83 and is starting school a year after Ritz did and Ritz is born in 82 and also the Torres brothers are both born in 1980 and started at Colorado a year after they were "suppose to". Thus in conclusion the core of University of Colorado's championships squad was overage nautralists.

Northstar wrote:

Ritz is born in 82 and also the Torres brothers are both born in 1980 and started at Colorado a year after they were "suppose to". Thus in conclusion the core of University of Colorado's championships squad was overage nautralists.

Ritz isn't over age. He started at the right age. He was born in Dec. '82.

There are plenty of American freshmen who are overage...all it takes is being held back a year or starting kindergarten a year late.

The physical differences between a 18 and 19 year old are minimal. For the most part athletes run to the level of the competition they are up against.

Examples: Would Alan Webb have run 3:53 at the National Scholastic meet last year...probably not. He did it in a race that was won in 3:49.

Would Nate Brannen have run 1:46 at the Canadian Jr Championships...probably not. He did at the Canadian Sr Champs, a race won in 1:45.

I ran faster as an 18 year old than a 19 year old, so the extra year of high school didn\'t do much for me. Even my freshmen year of college I ran slower than I did as an 18 year old. It wasn\'t until my last race of the summer between freshmen and sophmore year where I dropped my PB from 3:39 to 3:36. The fastest race I was in that year until that point was 3:39, then I finish 2nd 3:36 in a race that was won in 3:36.

I can see the arguement if you have freshmen coming in who are 23-24 years old, but please, don\'t tell me a 19 year old kid has a huge advantage over a 18 year old.

Hey "impressed with nick willis" do you beat off to a picture of this kid as seen from behind or what?

FYI,

1) when Webb ran the 3:53 his 1500m time was 3:38. That's a little faster than your nicki's 3:42.

2) If you had ever met Alan Webb, you wouldn't be so quick to label him as "center of my own universe." From having met him once I can tell you that he's a lot more humble than most people would be given what he has accomplished. He does expect a lot from himself and when he didn't have the results he wanted to this year, his demeanor was what the media used to portray him as self-centered.

3) If you're another one of these commentators who are upset that Webb left UM, GET OVER IT! I am sick of you guys. It's not that Warhurst is not a good coach, but Webb is playing to his strengths and that means running professionally, making the money, giving the sport good publicity and encouraging the youth to take it up.

Mr. Sullivan, one nit to pick: the difference here is not that the difference between an 18 and a 19 year old. It is the difference in using a year of eligibility when you are 18 or when you are 22-23.

Ok, so the 23 year old may have an advantage on the 18 year old, but not the 22 year old. And, again, there are PLENTY of overage Americans in the NCAA, but it is always the foreigners who are singled out. At least now with the phasing out of Ontario's 5th year of high school, all of Canada is on the 4 year system and I won't have to defend my "overage" countrymen

Torres brother went to CU right after HS, so I don't know what this waited after a year is all about? Maybe they were a year late at entering kindergarden, but they didn't plan on being older freshmans

Not only was Ritzenhein born in December of '82, it was December 30th. If he were 2 days younger he would still be a junior! Also, I know for a fast that the cut-off date for starting kindergarten in Michigan is December 1st, so Ritzenhein did not start late.

Many U.S. born runners graduate at 23 after redshirting.

I knew DI All Americans (American born) who after redshirting graduated just before or after turning 24.

Our universities are open to foreigners as long as they meet age and eligibility requirements. What is the big deal?

As for Webb and UM, best of luck to them.

cant complain too too much about furriners when stanford and byu fellas, among others, are off proselytizing christianity to faraway lands. love robison, but he was born in 78 and he'll be a junior next year, for example.

True, they did go to CU but they were born in a different year then most kids who graduated that year much like Ritz was last year. Sully maybe could correct me on this one but I believe that Nate is only 3 months older then Ritz, I know for a fact he is born after Sept. 1 since he competed as a "double year midget" in Ontario High School.

My understanding is that since Ontario has elminated the 5th year of highschool, Canadian students will now be on average 3 months younger than American students (since Jan 1st is the cutoff date for Canadian schoolchildren while most US states use September 1st).

The tables have turned. Whose overage now, you complain-a-pusses!!

canada wrote:

The tables have turned. Whose overage now, you complain-a-pusses!!

Isn't canada one of the states? It's as if they think they're a sovereign nation or something

Robison and the BYU guys are off "proselitizing MORMONISM not Christianity. Just a little bit different.