co-founder Official 2009 LRC.com Men's Steeple Rankings Thread

Ed Eyestone with Macadams/Perry is way better than Robert Gary with Huling/Olinger. Good battle if Olinger can return to form.

Watch for a batch of OTC steeplechaseers with Coach Rowlands as well!

Will Lincoln ever make it back?

Will Fam stay in the easiest event or pursue another race?

Here's hoping that Huling can keep raising his game so that there's someone from the US who is competitive at an international level.

Looking at the bright side, there's a lot of room for any of these guys or for a decent miler-5k runner to make an impact on steeple in the US.

Personally, I think steeple is about the coolest event out there and great to watch. It's just a shame it can't get more attention from faster runners or fans in the US.

I think that Aaron Melhorn deserves an honorable mention. I don't think he belongs in the top 10, but he did run 8.39 at a smaller scale college meet and won NAIA's. I think that is pretty good for a 20 year old sophomore.

The lack of well-known names on the list shows that we certainly are in a transitional period at the elite steeple level in the US. The shortness of the comments on most of the list members also shows that focusing on the steeple right now is not likely to get you a lot of fame or fortune.

What has he done besides those two small feats? If I remember correctly, didn't he maked the USA Championships? What happened there?

Also, he's 22.

I am confused how McAdams is behind Huling when the brojos said they favor wins over time. Seems like McAdams had a better season based on that.

melhorn is a junior in college at Malone this year. he ran at USA's and was not scared to mix it up. he had the lead at the beginning and actually put a gap on the field before he faded.

Yes, I recall watching the qualifying heat at USATF's and wondering what he was doing. If Melhorn had just sat back and rolled with the pack then he probably would've qualified for finals seeing as he was an 8:39 guy and all of the qualifying times that made it through were between 8:34 and 8:45 with the packs running an even-paced effort. Instead he tried to take off from the guys running at 8:20 pace out front by himself the first few laps and faded huge to end up at 8:59 and out of it.

Always good to see a guy have success from a smaller school, he just seemed to have needed a bit of a race plan. Live and learn though, sure he'll be back this year and in the mix.

Actually it was laps 3 and 4 of heat one at the USATF Champs. He put in a big surge and opened up a 20-30m gap that stirred things up (not quite 8:20 pace though), but it ended up hurting him the last 1k of the race. But the guy is tough and hat's off to him on making it to that level while still in college. Anyone know his HS PR's? Would be cool to see a guy from a smaller school mixing it up in the years to come.

Here was the race:

http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view_video/235247/189338

Since we all agree the US men's steeplers had a down year, it seems reasonable to assume that there will be a lot of turnover on this list. So who do you guys think will be:

1) on this list next year who isn't on it this year (among runners who have already run some serious steeples)?

2) the biggest upward mover (upward meaning a better [lower]) ranking?

3) a darkhorse candidate who has never taken a serious shot at the event and might try to make his mark while it's a bit weaker?

My answers:

1) Lincoln and Fam--if either of them chooses to get back to the event.

Melhorn--I agree with earlier posters that he could end up a good one.

Cory Thorne--a couple strong runs last year, and if he chooses to stick with it he might fulfill the promise he showed when he was younger (he was just starting to at the end of college).

2) Jake Morse--didn't peak right last year but could have a post-collegiate breakthrough and end up in the top 3.

Kyle Alcorn--had an off-year but is always a contender in championship races and has a low 8:20s PR; could be #1.

3) Ben True--finally focusing on running full-time, but he might as well put some of the strength he gained from skiing to use (plus he's a solid all-around athlete--he was a good hockey and lacrosse player when he was younger, too); a low-8:30s race wouldn't be a shocker if he gives the event a shot and it clicks for him.

Not trying to be a jerk, but Melhorn is 21 and he ran 8.39 when he was 20.

The Steeple is an event for runners that can't run a fast enough mile or 5K in the USA. Always has been, and always will. Who grows up wanting to run the Steeple? Event should be eliminated, barriers cost too much and the water jump is for horses :-)

All these post about the steeple being a event that no one good does are probably coming from people who have never run the event. A lot of fast American runners don't run the event becasue they are scared of the event. You can't just add 30 sec to your 3k time and really think that is what the best flat runners in the US would run. I get tired of hearing stuff like "if a 13:20 guy would run it he could beat all the US steeplers." Events can have down years, it happens. How quik we are to forget that the 1500 and 5000 were way down at the 2004 trials. Now they are doing great. Why can't the steeple be the next event to get it going?

Dan Huling ran 8:14 for the steeplechase this past summer.

That is 3 seconds faster than Fam ever has.

Lincoln seems like he won't make it back.

Huling is absolute class of American steepling now.

hold up wrote:

All these post about the steeple being a event that no one good does are probably coming from people who have never run the event. A lot of fast American runners don't run the event becasue they are scared of the event. You can't just add 30 sec to your 3k time and really think that is what the best flat runners in the US would run. I get tired of hearing stuff like "if a 13:20 guy would run it he could beat all the US steeplers." Events can have down years, it happens. How quik we are to forget that the 1500 and 5000 were way down at the 2004 trials. Now they are doing great. Why can't the steeple be the next event to get it going?

It reminds me of how the uninformed believe that a good 10k guy will make a good marathoner. 100% UNTRUE.

lil help on this one wrote:

It reminds me of how the uninformed believe that a good 10k guy will make a good marathoner. 100% UNTRUE.

Yeah, no . . . there's some correlation in both cases. While I agree with your sentiment, I think "100% OVERLY-BROAD GENERALIZATION" would be a much more accurate statement.

So (as I asked above) who do you guys think is most likely to raise the bar for US steeplers in 2010?

Snoopy cries wrote:

The Steeple is an event for runners that can't run a fast enough mile or 5K in the USA. Always has been, and always will. Who grows up wanting to run the Steeple? Event should be eliminated, barriers cost too much and the water jump is for horses :-)

Ever heard of Henry Rono [WRs in 3000SC, 10,000; 5000; 3000 in one season]? Barringer ran sub-4 and set the 3000sc AR etc.

Dan Huling and maybe Brian Olinger will be ready for this upocoming season through 2012 Trials. Two steeplers both training together who have run under 8:20!

Slattery done?

Lincoln injured.

Fam probably focusing on 800 this year?