ANDREW ROCK _ UW LAX! 400M CHAMP

What's the DIII national record? I know he ran 45.29 at nats last year and it was the national meet record, but is this also the national record?

Nevermind, I found it. Seems that his 45.29 from nationals last year was the national record, so he broke it today by .06 seconds.

Edwin Moses was running at the DIII level at Morehouse when he won his first 400H gold medal in 1976, wasn't he? Seems he could've run a decent open 4.

It's exciting to see the success of top DIII athletes like Rock. I truly believe that the top DIII coaches are the best college coaches in the land because these coaches have to develop athletes, not just recruit them.

Usher wrote:

It's exciting to see the success of top DIII athletes like Rock. I truly believe that the top DIII coaches are the best college coaches in the land because these coaches have to develop athletes, not just recruit them.

That comment should start some interesting debate, or should I say incite some sarcastic and degrading remarks.

His times are mind-boggling for D3 in Wisconsin, of all places. I need to know more about this guy. Like, what were his times in HS? Why isn't he going to a D1 school in a warm climate? There has to be a story here. Even in the USA, 45.xx quartermilers don't grow on trees, and they don't go to D3 schools. Imagine if he were going to Baylor or South Carolina...

The ability of a coach is independent of the athletes they recruit, regardless of division. It is wrong to flat-out say that D3 coaches are better than D1 or D2 coaches just because the latter coach more stellar athletes. Just as a D1 coach who gets a 47 high school runner and helps them reach 45s in 2-3 years is no super-hero coach, neither is the coach who works with Mr. Rock (a super-talented high schooler who did not go to a D1 school). The coach may be good at his job, but we do not know that unless we look at the bigger picture. It is important to look at what he (the coach) does for other athletes. One runner does not make a coach, no matter what division.

It is fair to say that some very good coaches do not coach for famous programs. However a D3 coach who turns a 9:30 two-miler into a 14:31 5k runner (a 5% improvement in performance capacity) is not a beter at his or her job than a D1 coach taking a 9:00 two-miler and turning him into a 13:46 5k runner (5% improvement in performance capacity).

It is certain that coaches who recruit talented athletes who do not improve as collegians are not doing quaility work. It is easier to weed out the lousy coaches as opposed to the good coaches.

In summary, it isn't right to laud D3 coaches because some of their athletes do well or make apparently large drops in time over given distances, nor is it prudent to praise D1 coaches because they coach athletes who rank among the nations top group. Good coaches improve athetes predictably, no matter their talent. Bad coaches ruin athletes, fast or slow. Tinman

From Wisconsin State Meet 2000

200 Meter Dash

1. Andrew Rock, Stratford, :22.05

Long Jump

1. Andrew Rock, Stratford, 22'4 3/4"

300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles

1. Andrew Rock, Stratford, :38.50

110 Meter High Hurdles

1. Andrew Rock, Stratford, :15.17

http://www.wisconsintrackandfield.com/results/2000/wiaastatediv3boys.html

. wrote:

From Wisconsin State Meet 2000

200 Meter Dash

1. Andrew Rock, Stratford, :22.05

Long Jump

1. Andrew Rock, Stratford, 22'4 3/4"

300 Meter Intermediate Hurdles

1. Andrew Rock, Stratford, :38.50

110 Meter High Hurdles

1. Andrew Rock, Stratford, :15.17

http://www.wisconsintrackandfield.com/results/2000/wiaastatediv3boys.html

Is Wisconsin's state meet held over 1 or 2 days? None of those marks is impressive for a future 45.3 guy, but if he did them all in the same day that would change things.

Anyone know his HS PRs?

It's held over 2 days, by the way he was in D3 (small schools) so there wasn't much competition.

Senior Year PR's (I think)

200: 21.3

400: 50.1

110H: 14.5

300H: 37.5

LJ: 22-6

http://www.wisconsintrackandfield.com/boyshonorroll/2000.html

50.1 to 45.2 in under 4 years...that's amazing.

yeah, you're right....you should look at what the coach does with other athletes. That's why it's so impressive to see what the coach, Mark Guthrie, does when he takes mediocre 400m runners and makes them studs every year! I've gotten a first-hand look at what he does to those guys, and he has a formula that works extremely well. Stop wondering what would happen if Rock went to Baylor, and start questioning how good Baylor would be if Guthrie was there! (a little sarcastic obviously)

Another comment on Rock at state....all those finals were on saturday, and he won all the events (except one field event in which he took second in) so it was a weak division. The kid is impressive, but what's more impressive is his work ethic and his attitude. He doesn't complain about competition, whine about the weather....he gets out there and busts his ass in good ol' wisco!

much props to Rock and the rest of the 400 crew at LAX...especially Toshner.

for the record on Moses...he ran 47.65 (right around there) to WIN the US Championships while he was in college. I believe he also competed in the Olympics/ WC's while in college. i don't know what his story is with the open 400, but he could roll the hurdles pretty damn well!

oh yeah, i remember.....Moses went to Morehouse and they didn't even have a track to train on.....he trained in some HS facility. He won the trials in 48.3 (which was the american record) at the Olympics in Canada he set the Olympic and World record by winning it in 47.63!

this link has a good article on him.....he's got some pretty amazing credentials, and it's too bad about this summer....i'm still a fan!

http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/moses_bio.html

And this is the All-Time D.3 list (w/o rocks mt. sac race):

400 Meters

45.29 Andrew Rock UW-La Crosse 2003 NCAA Championships (1)

45.90 DeWayne Stephens Montclair State 1992 NCAA Championships (1)

46.00 David Coates UW-La Crosse 1994 NCAA Championships (1)

46.06 Ben Dreyer St. Norbert 2002 NCAA Championships (1)

46.14 Kenneth Davis Southern (NO) 1982 NCAA Championships (1)

46.22 Mike Spangler Susquehanna 1988 NCAA Championships (1)

46.41 Mario Watts Amherst 1994 NCAA Championships (2)

46.58 Tim McCrossen St. Lawrence 1987 NCAA Championships (1)

46.81 Terry Anders UW-Stout 1996 NCAA Championships (1)

46.84 Boniface Makatiani MIT 1990 Florida Relays

Coach Mark Guthrie is a very good sprint coach, in my opinion. I respect him. It is an honor to know him. Like his predecessor, he has helped a lot of people run much faster than they did in the past. That, my friends, is a good coach. Tinman ... former La Crosse Man and proud of it.

I heard he does intervals with Rock and can kick his ass !!