Solinsky steeple at Stanford

Okay, Ill give you that Garderud wasn't exactly bulky. What I meant was Solinsky is a strong, track fast kid like these guys.

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/3493/garderud2ap7.jpg

http://www.mensracing.com/athletes/photos/solinsky06ncaa150a.jpg

and I think his first few steeples will be exciting to watch.

We can revisit this after the Spring, assuming he runs more than one. As you know, the first ones can be ugly and you just have to convince yourself the second will get better.

Henry Marsh

Clearly not the "prototypical" steeplechaser...

Sometimes the people on this board really frustrate me with their lack of knowledge.

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/84838142/Sports-Illustrated

I am a Solinsky fan. The day I saw Jerry give Chris the nod to "go" and he went straight into a 4 flat last mile... on a dime... to win NCAAs... I've been sold.

I'm also a Jerry fan. I think he and Salazar are the best we have for 3k-10k guys.

What puzzles me is Chris' lack of improvement, though. With sub 13:00 training partner(s) (depending if he runs with Ritz ever), in a year where it should all be about lowering his 3 year old 5k PR, he does the steeple? To me, that is an acknowledgment that he has hit a plateau, but a wrong approach around it.

I would rather he focus the year on developing his 1500 speed or his 10k strength and then attack the 5k rather then work on an irrelevant event that probably won't be his best and also won't help his 5k.

What happened in 2008 and 2009 to go from 3:37, 7:36 and 13:12 in 2007 to 7:41/7:37 and 13:18? His training partners improved... why not Chris? I mean, Teg went from 13:07 to 12:58 between 2007 and 2009 (although he did have that 13:04 in 2006). Was 13:12 his ceiling? I can't imagine, but I suppose its possible.

I thought he would be more focused then ever on sub 13:00 after watching Ritz and Teg do it. But maybe not?

He stated his goal this year is sub-13, I think after an indoor mile. No reason to think he's changed that goal.

I have no reason to doubt Chris can run <13:05, possibly <13:00. He was probably capable of it last year had the stars lined up. Watching him close last year alongside Teg in 52 or however fast they ran that last lap at USA's definitely shows he's on track, and he ran 7:37 for 3k last year if I remember right. He was burning up the indoor track this winter too. The guy has not plateaued. When you're training at the level these guys are and as close to maximizing your potential as possible, it's VERY hard to improve each year, and improvement is rarely as large as it was for Teg and Ritz this past year. I know Webb might not be the best example, but everyone counted him out on multiple occasions before he ran 3:46, and now some people are thinking he may even go faster than that this year or next. Regardless, I wouldn't consider making the WCs and a 13:15 (or whatever Chris ran last year) a failure.

Good luck to Chris and whatever he decides to do. He's been one of favorites since I saw him lumbering in after Bairu and that Iona guy in 2005, and especially the next summer when he just layed down the hammer in the 5000 to hold off Boit and that same Iona guy (can't remember his name). Go Chris!

"Solinsky Fan," you're clearly aware of Teg's 5000m SBs from 2006-2009:

2006: 13:04, big PR.

2007 and 2008: no PR.

2009: 12:58, big PR.

Solinsky is one year behind:

2007: 13:12, big PR

2008 and 2009: no PR.

2010: ?

I'm not saying I understand the reason to try the steeple now, but this Tegenkamp / Solinsky parallel is reason enough to predict a 5000m PR for Chris this summer.

Sub-13 might be a little ambitious - I'm guessing Matt would tell him that the last six seconds from 13:04 to 12:58 were tough. But 13:12 to 13:06 would be good progress.

Richard Kipligat.

I didn't say he was a failure. No way man. He just hasn't had that shift to upper echelon yet, like Teg and Ritz, and I thought he would.

If he is still gunning for sub 13:00, then my point is moot. I was only saying anything if he was switching to the steeple and giving up on the 5000. If that's not the case, then I still think he can compete and be a sub 13:00 guy.

I hate the steeplechase. If your not running 7:5high or 8:0low then your just copping out of the real events.

that's why Teg don't run no steeple

can i get any kind of verification that solinsky is actually running the steeple or is this just a revived rumor from last year that never will come true. cause if it is true i am going to stanford to watch

No Solinsky. Fun thread, though.

http://www.sml1.com/recordtiming/stanford/invite10/open_accepted_running.htm

Event 13 Men 3000 Meter Steeplechase -

===============================================================================

Name Year School

===============================================================================

1 Josh Adams SO BYU

2 Sam Ahlbeck SR Washington S

3 Leif Anderson SR Cal Poly

4 Mark Battista JR Iowa

5 Michael Brocks JR Syracuse

6 Micah Chelimo FR Alaska Ancho

7 Johnathon Cherono SR Arkansas-Lit

8 David Chirchir SR Oklahoma Sta

9 John Coyle SO Weber State

10 Greg Drosky SO Washington

11 Derek Dutille Unattached

12 Dallas Eborn SO Southern Uta

13 Regan Frey JR BYU

14 Brett Hales JR Weber State

15 Kyle Heath Stotan Racin

16 Nathan Huerta SR Cal Poly

17 Mitchell Hunt FR Oregon

18 Luis Ibarra Nike Run LA

19 Collin Jarvis FR California

20 Jake Keyser JR Colorado St.

21 Spenser Lynass SO Colorado St.

22 Kelly Lynch SO Notre Dame

23 Alex Mason SR Georgetown

24 Chad Meis SR Seattle Paci

25 Ryan Merriman SR BYU

26 Joe Miller SO Notre Dame

27 Taylor Monaghan FR Oklahoma Sta

28 Richard Nelson SR BYU

29 Jace Nye SR Weber State

30 kyle perry New Balance

31 Steve Potratz SR Idaho

32 John Ricardi SR Idaho State

33 Beau Rogers SR Chico State

34 Kevin Sandall JR Southern Uta

35 Cody Schmidt FR California

36 Simon Schmidt FR California

37 Jacob Smith FR High Point

38 Dylan Sorensen FR Georgetown

39 Kyle Suarez SR UC Davis

40 Elloit Welder SR Princeton

41 Andy Wright SR Cal Poly

NEW LINCOLN wrote:

Any poredictions for Solinsky's 1st steeple race ever at Stanford next week? Shame Jerry is moving him to make room for Jager and Teg!

Well i never thought i'd see one of these, but i have to hand it to you.

generating a 2 page debate about how Solinsky will do in a steeple race he isn't actually entered in is definitely worth:

10/10

Edmund Turk wrote:

Henry Marsh

Clearly not the "prototypical" steeplechaser...

Sometimes the people on this board really frustrate me with their lack of knowledge.

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/84838142/Sports-Illustrated

"Marsh had the mindset of a wounded tiger trapped inside the body of a truck driver."

as I recall, marsh had the great kick where he'd run the whole steeple in last place and then destroy almost everyone on the last lap. lincoln topped out at 13:10 in the 5k, as I recall, and he managed an 8:08 steeple. maybe this is the time (non olympic, non world's year) for Solinsky to try the steeple, as the 5k's getting crowded with Ritz, Teg, Rupp, Lagat, and probably Webb. Too bad he isn't trying one. But he is about as talented as it gets in this country and should be able to break 13 in the 5k; his indoor mile indicates a strong season ahead. That 7:37 was in a sit and kick race, so did not indicate his potential at the time.

i must say...... I am glad he is not racing at stanny. I was shakin in my boots, thats no lie

i remember him giving an interview on flotrack and saying he was going to try the steeple and he did a workout in practice and i was at 840 3kpace! so that seems pretty promising...

Huling was in a class of his own last summer/autumn. Check some of his results from this year, Reebok indoors, DNF in the mile. Akron Blue/Gold meet, DNF in the 5K (was at the meet, but due to my running the lesser 5K the following morning, I was sent to the team hotel and missed the race). Heard he was in the mix but dropped off and DNF'd late. As a MAC runner and steepler, definitely a fan of Huling, but he has not done too much in 2010. Definitely hope he can get back to 8:14 shape though...

I don't agree that Schumacher is the best steeple coach. I would put Eyestone (Macadams, Perry) and maybe even Rob Gary (Huling, Olinger) or Quintana (Alcorn, Aguayo) ahead of him. Marc Rowlands might end up being better than all (Nelson, Bruce, Morse).

Poster Formerly Known asGoober wrote:

I hate the steeplechase. If your not running 7:5high or 8:0low then your just copping out of the real events.

You hate it because it is much harder than just a flat out run, and you probably would suck at it because your lazy.