ANDREW GARDER 9:01.40 Two mile as freshman, 4th FL as a sophmore

I'm proud of Andrew and I hope he ends up at WSU.

3200 meters is not 2 miles.gardner ran 9;01 for 3200.

PopUrCollar wrote:

Andrew has the ability to become a legend in U.S distance running. 9:01.40 as freshman is quite a feat and to have overcome being an orphan and his other life battles is inspiring!

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/sep/07/running-from-turmoil/

WArunner Fan wrote:

Jordan McNamara turned out ok (the previously mentioned Auburn Riverside runner). He went pro this summer.

Lafler is one of the most talented runners I've ever seen in the state (4:21 as a freshman), it's a shame he chose WSU. On dyestat back in the day he was deciding between WSU, Iona, Portland, and Wisconsin. Bad choice.

Anyways, Gardner will be scary good.

Jono was obviously a VERY mature freshman. He ended up barely making footlocker and running 4:14/9:18, so its not like he was going to get a scholarship to Wisco, and a 2.3 GPA doesn't quite get you into schools like UW and Iona. He is doing well at WSU though. Stress fracture his freshmen track season, but ran 14:09 as a redshirt frosh last year and took 20th at Pac 10s cross this year. Pretty solid. Just needs to be more consistent.

emilnewhouse wrote:

Fustsum is very cocky. At MW Footlocker, he didnt even acknowloge kids that were trying to get his autograph...walked right by. Whereas Lukas was signing for everyone who asked, and he was STILL IN HIS RACE SINGLET and SHORTS in 30 DEGREE WEATHER!

Is that your only support for claiming that he is cocky? Was this after the race? If I had just gotten beat by a large margin while pushing myself as hard as I could AND it was 30 degrees, I wouldn't feel like signing autographs either. Lukas had an easy race, I'm sure he had a lot more energy than Futsum.

That's a pretty weak reason for calling someone cocky. You don't even know the kid. That's like people thinking you're an idiot just because you made one idiotic post here on this thread.

Ryun's 3:55.3 was extraordinary, but I was counting that as middle distance and not as long distance.

wazinwizard wrote:

Ryun.

Touche my friend, touche.

Yes it is. FYI, it was after the race and it had nothing to do with being tired or not. This was 20+ min. after the race was finished and he looked great.

It was just an interesting juxtaposition compared to what Lucas was doing at the same time.

And to the poster underneath. Yes, if you walk by kids trying to get your autograph and you totally ignore them, it indicates to me that you are cocky. You disagree, that's fine. But just wondering, what kind of characteristic does this action show you?

I would not make a judgement about someone's character without having had the opportunity to interact with them, or without at leats having observed them in action in a number of circumstances. For all you know, he was late for serving homeless people down at the shelter and that's why he didn't stop. Maybe he was in a rush to get to work to send money back to a village in Africa where his earning help feed a bunch of little cousins of his. Maybe his dad told him running is a waste of his time and he needed to be home ASAP to cut the grass or he would beat the crap out of him. You have no idea what was going on. Hopefully a bunch of people who have no idea who you are won't assume the worst about you when you do something that some people view as questionable.

Michael Kiter was probably the most talented Spokane runner I've seen outside of Davis. Did decent his frosh year at UW and then I believe failed out of school. 855/407 on 40 mpw. Didn't have much of coach at Shadle either. Was way behind whoever the top Ferris guy was at the time (Ice?) their soph year and by senior year was schooling him.

Back in 04-07 the teams were redicuolus, but nobody really did anything individually, the top spots on the track still went to the guys from the west. it was after they graduated that Spokane started producing more individuals than teams(with exception to NC who has placed well at NXN the last 5 years i migh add). But they have been producing redicuolus individuals since then. Name anyother state that a 9:14 3200 doesnt qualify someone for state, with exception to Cali, but big population difference there. Spokane kids alone would have won boarderclash in 09, and thats without ben johnston and adam thorne. Both of whom went to great distance schools, along with Howard and Schroeder teaming up at BSU. What you are seeing isn't Spokane kids just fizziling out in college, you are seeing a progression of individuals in the seniors from 09 to guys weitz and gardner and bering this year..

wazinwizard wrote:

Nah, not Jmac, they had some kid who was like a frosh when he was there. Maybe I'm confused, he could have gone to a different school.

Jordan had a damn fine college career, probably the best that I can think of actually. When comparing to the spokanes, and Helmer, Baranyi.

Julian Blake Cowan is who you're thinking of. Not sure where he's at now. I love my WA guys, but here are some random thoughts...

Helmer had a solid career at ASU. Never quite broke out in XC, but had some good races on the track. I think he'll make a great Tri guy in the year's to come. I think he was similar to Lafler and Freker, as having early success and a slower growth curve.

Somebody earlier threw out Bywater; he ran 3:45ish on the track, so I wouldn't write him off yet. Hassan, MaxODM, Moskowitz, Miles U, and Prentice are all in that same boat too. Hopefully stronger things to finish out their NCAA careers.

Baranyi, Greer, and Garber's NCAA careers were too bad. Hopefully Howard and Co. can push WA collegians back up to the top.

Cowan is running at Columbia, as he felt he could better support his family getting a degree from Columbia, than pursuing a "running school" and hope for the best. Or at least that's what I heard.

Stop hating dude he's only 15 but he's a great athlete. The kid was dead last at the one mile marker and ended up 4th WOW, wonder how he would have done if he started out just alittle more aggresive.

....

Excerpt from Footlocker Article below

Andrew Gardner, a sophomore who was the YOUNGEST runner in the field, finished fourth but said he climbed all the way from last place at the mile mark.

“I’m mature enough for these guys,” said Gardner, who ran 15:18. “I don’t treat myself as a sophomore. I treat myself as a senior.”

Ah, Cowan, yep, that is the one. Columbia??? Nice, that is awesome for him. I think Hassan has had a really good ncaa career - personally.

Oregon really hasn't had much success either I'm afraid. Obviously much lower numbers overall when compared to Washington, but some of the really talented individuals didn't end up doing too much in college. Similar story I think. all good programs, quite a few miles....Jesuit, Crater, Central Catholic.....

Klotz got himself a few xc all americans, never did much on the track. Stoutenburgh ran like 8:50 then disappeared. Ahmed dropped out of portland, Maag ran pretty damn well at Princeton I must admit. Greer is running awesome at UO right now.

the 04 class did alright though...Rupp, Eagon, Vail...talk about a studly top three. Also in that class was Cannaday who has turned out to be a stud marathoner.

- NwReppin'

Edit: The WA girls have done pretty well.

Felnagle: Good

O'reilly: Bummer deal

Pixler: Who saw that sh** coming!

Larson: Very good D2 career right along side with Pixler

As long as you bring up the girls, how about the female counterpart of Gardner- Maddie Meyers! She dropped her mile PR 15 seconds last year (soph) for 4:40 and a big win at the Dream Mile. Also sweet personality and in good hands for long-term development.

[I would not make a judgement about someone's character without having had the opportunity to interact with them, or without at leats having observed them in action in a number of circumstances. For all you know, he was late for serving homeless people down at the shelter and that's why he didn't stop. Maybe he was in a rush to get to work to send money back to a village in Africa where his earning help feed a bunch of little cousins of his. Maybe his dad told him running is a waste of his time and he needed to be home ASAP to cut the grass or he would beat the crap out of him. You have no idea what was going on. Hopefully a bunch of people who have no idea who you are won't assume the worst about you when you do something that some people view as questionable.]

He was hanging out with friends afterwards...very noble indever indeed. I migh have a better idea of what was going on since I was there.

But whatever, you obviously won't be convinced no matter what myself and others observed from his actions. Just keep making fantasy predicaments in your head so you can continue to feel like a better person than me.

One last thing: Is being cocky such a bad characteristic for a great runner? It's a fun debate. Sometimes I think it's necessary to be truely great. In a way, Futsum, Lukas and Garder (put any great runners name here) all have a right to be cocky. It's just that their can be respectable and non-respectable levels of it...and you're right, I can't completely judge that from observing someone one time.

You guys are too quick to write off certain people, Bywater still has a few years left and has run pretty well with some injuries. Lafler is slowly becoming a prominent Pac-10 runner. Max ODM had been injured alot, still has time, Spokane guys like Dylan Hatcher and Cameron Quackenbush also have at least 2 seasons left, and have done pretty well. As for Gardner, hopefully he doesn't suffer the same fate as guys like Fayant and Garber from Mead. I think he's on a whole other level and will be a 8:42, 4:02 type guy.