Alberto and Rupp's talent.

Running 27:10 is not underachieving, period. There have been lots of extremely talented high schoolers. Everyone on this site already knew Rupp was insanely talented, just as they know Webb, Ritz, Solinsky, etc. are extremely talented.

Pretending that Salazar has not done an incredible job bringing Rupp along is laughable. Every single year Rupp has been better than the year before. He has avoided injuries and developed skills that he previously did not have. What part of that indicates anything other than outstanding coaching?

"There are champions everywhere."

If a HS football player can come on out of nowhere and run 15:11, I don't think it's too much to suggest that Rupp isn't a wunderkind. I certainly wouldn't suggest that Rupp has exceptional talent, but I don't think he has all-time type talent. Look at his times from when he first started running in early HS... impressive, sure, but not the stuff that would make you say, "in a decade or so, we're gonna be talking about this guy breaking 13 and 27."

It wasn't just that Alberto knew the soccer coach at Central Catholic -- Alberto was head XC coach at Central Catholic at the time.

Salazar has never tried to claim he took some average kid and turned him into one of America's great distance runners. He's always made clear that when he encountered Rupp, the kid was a diamond in the rough.

Well, it is debatable in this modern age just how good 27:10 is when American runners have East Africans pulling them around the track. It struck me in the thread about the 1970 article on Prefontaine how the times then are pretty close to today's best American times. But lets put it this way. Solinsky is not more talented than Rupp. And if you are right that "Everyone on this site" knows what I said in my OP than fine, we can all move along. But I don't think you are right. A lot of people know. But others apparently don't. For one thing I see LetsRun posts every once in awhile flat out asking what Rupp's background is. They believe this crap that Rupp is some prima donna runner with advantages that other more talented runners don't have.

the letter why wrote:

Running 27:10 is not underachieving, period. There have been lots of extremely talented high schoolers. Everyone on this site already knew Rupp was insanely talented, just as they know Webb, Ritz, Solinsky, etc. are extremely talented.

Pretending that Salazar has not done an incredible job bringing Rupp along is laughable. Every single year Rupp has been better than the year before. He has avoided injuries and developed skills that he previously did not have. What part of that indicates anything other than outstanding coaching?

I get your point about how other posters perceive Rupp and I don't think you are wrong about that. But you seem to be arguing in your post the opposite extreme. Any of these runners who sets American records and competes favorably in international championships is a total genetic freak, and there is no reason for you to think Rupp is any more naturally talented than any of the others. Your bald statement that Solinsky is not more talented than Rupp is ignorant; how on earth are you drawing a comparison here? They have both been incredible standouts at every level of competition.

And yes, Rupp has received advantages that other runners have not. For one thing, he has had an excellent private coach who has always looked to his long term development and moreover has done so incredibly well. I just think it is ludicrous for you to argue that Salazar has done anything less than a phenomenal job as Rupp's coach.

Without commenting on the above, it must be noted that Rupp, gifted with speed AS never had himself, is just beginning to surpass his coach's own marks at 5,000m and 10,000m. That said, Rupp is still very early in his career, as well as in his physical maturity,and is just starting to do mileage exceeding 80 mpw.Let's wait another two Olympic cycles or so to evaluate his career, which appears to be being designed with the long haul in mind. As was running 120-140 mpw when he achieved his best marks.

Whatever. I just won't make the CS comparison so bald. I see no evidence that Solinsky is more talented. I think you are using the word "phenomenol" a little too loosely. I think its best to say Salazar has done a good job but above all the jury is still out. When I say Galen has underachieved I meant it more in the sense AS has deliberately made Rupp underachieve. He has openly said that he could have put more mileage into Rupp's training and that Rupp would do much better. I would venture to say that no elite American distance runner has ever run less mileage than Rupp has at his age. Of course now AS apparently is giving him more mileage so we will see. Also, Rupp did not receive advantages other runners have not with Salazar. He earned advantages other runners did not. Sure there was some luck involved that he and AS hooked up. But it was nothing out of the ordinary that other elite runner haven't gotten. Its more just different in that he and AS have retained their relationship all through High School through to the pros. And of course AS is more famous than other coaches. But Ritz and Solinsky by their accounts are thankful for great coaches all through their life.