Best High School Runners Who Never Did a Thing in College or After

TheComebackKid wrote:

Ryan Sheridan

Kevin Tschirheart

Yeah this brings me back too. What the heck happened to Tschirhart especially? I heard rumor that he liked drinking to much in college but that what everyone says for runners who never do anything after college.

sean krinik :( he was so good..... 1:48 in high school

hidosweif wrote:

sean krinik :( he was so good..... 1:48 in high school

he still has time. his problem is he was too strong for his own good and essentially ripped his back apart. if he learns how to move more fluidly he still has time to be a national contender. he's keeping himself within about 6 months of race weight/fitness.

Sam Vasquez competed in the 1500m at the 2012 London Olympics. He is now a head coach at the collegiate level.

Roman Gomez - SS - 2 time State Champ at 1600/3200

Darren and Kirk Stonerock

Ran at Kenowa hills in Michigan and now keeps spiraling downward at eastern illinois

I mean Illinois state.

Ajim Baksh (sp?) from SoCal in the mid-70's.

Carissa Seward, Goldendale, WA

Esrom Woldemichael. Northview, Michigan

Jon Thomas from Des Moines Roosevelt was a 9:07 guy in high school who was on varsity in cross country his freshman year at Oregon. After that, Vin Lanana took over the program and he never did much of anything after. Josh Lewis from Sioux City West (9:20 and Drake Relays champ) went to Iowa State and was nowhere near being promoted to varsity during his whole time there. He transferred to UNI after 3 years and didn't even bother joining their team.

Obea Moore without a doubt

NH runner in 2010:

Francis Hernandez

ran 1:54, 4:07, third at milrose games, ran 9:18 as a soph to stomp Alex Mcgrath, who went on to Williams and Mary's, 15:15-20 5km time, 15:30 on Derryfield park, which is notoriously hilly, for reference, Guor Mariel, only ran 15:30-16:00 on that race. All of this in HS, destroyed all competition from soph year to senior year, culminating in his 4:07/3rd place millrose game place.

Then, 4 years later, barely dipped under 4 for the 1500m. I mean, this dude ran 9:18 as a sophormore, at the blistering 90-100 degree heat at the UNH stadium (which trapped all the heat due to the stands being a hundred feet from the track...etc). Francis stomped on Eric Jenkins any time he ran, and now eric's running a 13:07 5km, vs a 15:00 or w/e 5km from this kid. Damn sad. Hell, even Francis would have beat on Guor if guor ran in his area - although different length xc races...etc

NH runner in 2010:

Francis Hernandez

ran 1:54, 4:07, third at milrose games, ran 9:18 as a soph to stomp Alex Mcgrath, who went on to Williams and Mary's, 15:15-20 5km time, 15:30 on Derryfield park, which is notoriously hilly, for reference, Guor Mariel, only ran 15:30-16:00 on that race. All of this in HS, destroyed all competition from soph year to senior year, culminating in his 4:07/3rd place millrose game place.

Then, 4 years later, barely dipped under 4 for the 1500m. I mean, this dude ran 9:18 as a sophormore, at the blistering 90-100 degree heat at the UNH stadium (which trapped all the heat due to the stands being a hundred feet from the track...etc). Francis stomped on Eric Jenkins any time he ran, and now eric's running a 13:07 5km, vs a 15:00 or w/e 5km from this kid. Damn sad. Hell, even Francis would have beat on Guor if guor ran in his area - although different length xc races...etc

I've browsed through this thread and there are some good names on there. The big question is- WHY?

Why did these people have such great performances in HS but fell apart later?

You want specifics or just in general why do runners stop improving?

Injuries

Reached their potential in HS after 4 years of hard training

Becomes fully developed (female).

Lack of motivation.

Everyone has a ceiling. The harder you train the closer you get to that ceiling. Doesn't matter if it takes 4 years or 8. The extremely talented can coast through high school on 30-50 mow and still run all-state level times. Those with less talent crank out 80 mile weeks to meet those same times.

Alan

Florida, 1970s. Brett Hoffman from ? St. Pete ran 8:50s as sophmore, junior and senior. Not sure what ever happened to him. Maybe he did great in college, but no internet to prove it.

jerry McGuire wrote:

Esrom Woldemichael. Northview, Michigan

Wow! Haven't heard this name in a minute!

from my high school: Ellen Dougherty

Multiple state championships in high school, then she went to Nebraska and never did anything of note.

Michael Poe. Talented but a basket case.