Is it just me or is it sad that a college kid is the 1500 national champ?

Before i get ripped apart, a correction...

1. can compete with professionals

Surprise! wrote:

No they wouldn't. They would lose by 30.

You are missing the point. I followed up on a basketball analogy that another person made. I think they would keep it close, with NCAA rules of course, for a large portion because they sharp versus a team just shaking the rust off.

Centro is "at a peak". His opponents are not even close to a peak, and beyond one or two guys were a weak field from a world perspective. They have to be far from a peak to try to compete in 3 months. Centro ran well for a peaked collegiate, nothing more, nothing less.

There was a time when college "kids" like Jim Ryun (who won the AAU while a senior in HS) and Marty Liquori won the National mile title while they were in college. I'm sure there were others in the last 40+ years.

It isn't sad that a college kid can win USA's or that college kids routinely make the WC or OG teams, but it is extremely sad that after such a performance these kids are better off returning to college than they are "turning pro". In college they have coaching, facilities, medical services and room/board paid for; not to mention it pays for their college tuition. These pro's only make a pittance and can't afford any of that stuff. Look at the story about Manzano, he can't even train on a track because he isn't in college, he has to use the parking lot.

The professional/club system in this country is a joke. Without the structure and services that college athletics provides, most athletes struggle and are out of the sport in 2 years.

The few clubs that are putting real effort in are focused more on long distance/marathons, like Hansons, Mammoth, McMillan and ZAP. Brooks is starting up the "beasts" team, but the verdict is out on them.

It seems to me that it would be wise if a sponsor besides OTC supported a group of top 800/1500 runners. I think US men have a much better chance of competing in the 800/1500 on the world stage than they do in marathons and 10k's versus the Africans.

I see that Centro has ALL the tools. he fears noone and is ICE. Im as pessimistic as any other old fart normally is here on letsrun, but that kid runs as controlled in a nerve wracking tactical race as anyone Ive ever seen. He is not only sharp as a knife but IMMEDIATELY places himself in position to win a race.

I saw everything I needed to see at NCAA's, and was only confirmed at USA's. This kid has what it takes to final at world champs.

What is sad is that a national class 1500 was won in 3:47. Did anyone stay awake to see the finish? What was it like? This could very well be the most boring 1500 ever run.

College kid but how old is he exactly?

He is actually a young man

Mr. Rosenrosen wrote:

What is sad is that a national class 1500 was won in 3:47. Did anyone stay awake to see the finish? What was it like? This could very well be the most boring 1500 ever run.

it was pretty exciting. If you didn't see a clock and compared this race to one where some guy ran 3:30 and won by four seconds you would consider the tightly packed 3:47 to be more exciting. Times are the death of this sport.

It is not really that big of a deal; the collegiate athletes are peaked out and in their best shape unless they peaked too soon. The pro athletes are trying to time it so that they can be in good enought shape to make the team, but, still have some time to sharpen and run their best in August and Sept. A number of top collegiates have made the teams over the years in the 1500.

Raptured wrote:

Nothing against Centro, but ......

You are not alone in your bitterness that Matt ran the race needed to win THAT day. This wasn't the first or last race that the field of runners allowed to be started that slowly. Many in this final thought they had the finishing speed to cover this pace. Only one was correct. And by the way, don't wait for track and field to become popular.

Jim Ryun was 19-years-old when he ranked #1 in the world for 1500m and 800m. That must make you feel really sad.

Raptured wrote:

Nothing against Centro, but I'm sure he has quite a few years of development left before he reaches his potential. A men's 1500 going out in 65 is just sad and the fact that guys like Lagat, Wheating, and Manzano let a college kid beat them is even more sad. These guys need to nut up and run a little faster at the start so they don't get beat by a 21 year old college kid in a sit and kick race. If Americans continue to race this way, track will never become a popular sport.

Daniel Komen was 20 when he ran 7:20. Bekele was 21 when he ran 12:37 and when he broke the 10000 WR the first time.

Its odd that we DON'T see more college kids performing this well in the distances!

The elephant in the room in all this is Wheating.

Absolutely inexcusable he didn't take control of this race and take it down to a 3:35 at least. Then you would have seen expectations fall into place. At least half of the pack would have been left behind. The veterans Lagat, Lomong and Manzano probably would have hung on. I think Centrowitz would have been in the mix but what kind of kick he would have had I'm not sure.

ryan foreman wrote:

The elephant in the room in all this is Wheating.

Absolutely inexcusable he didn't take control of this race and take it down to a 3:35 at least. Then you would have seen expectations fall into place. At least half of the pack would have been left behind. The veterans Lagat, Lomong and Manzano probably would have hung on. I think Centrowitz would have been in the mix but what kind of kick he would have had I'm not sure.

You mean like Webb in 2007? Not that many runners have balls to do that because if it doesn't work out you are going to be toast the last 200m, like Webb at worlds in 2005.

:|} wrote:

[quote]whatifyoulookatitlikethis wrote:

3. At this point, he was not 'arguably the best player in the NBA', the best players were without a doubt, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, and Steve Nash just to name a couple. There's no way you could say LeBron at this point matched up to Kobe and Duncan just past their primes.

If you watched the senior mens basketball team in the summer of 2007 play all 10 games, it was pretty obvious Lebron was the best player in the world by that time and he was playing right beside Kobe so it was an easy comparison.

Lebron shot an incredible 76% from the field and 62% from the slightly shorter 3 point line and also led the team in assists.

Another point about Lebron was that he was BETTER than all the college players when he was in high school.

When he finally won his first MVP, it was far past due.

dont be a novice wrote:

If you watched the senior mens basketball team in the summer of 2007 play all 10 games, it was pretty obvious Lebron was the best player in the world by that time and he was playing right beside Kobe so it was an easy comparison.

Lebron shot an incredible 76% from the field and 62% from the slightly shorter 3 point line and also led the team in assists.

http://www.usabasketball.com/seniormen/2007/stats/USA.HTM

Another point about Lebron was that he was BETTER than all the college players when he was in high school.

When he finally won his first MVP, it was far past due.

A few things I'd like to point out. This is international play, which has nothing to do with play within the NBA. Also, since this was a qualifier for the Olympics, the players did not try hard. If LeBron wanted to try, then good for him. However, the best player in the league at this time, Tim Duncan, did not play and if he did, he would've done far better than Dwight Howard did. Also, LeBron went 12-18 from the FT line and Kobe went 34-39. Getting to the line more, and shooting far better should account for something, right?

It seems the verdict is in. The 1500 meter race, won by Centro, really sucked because it was run in 3:47 and not 3:30. The solution is obvious. In the future, the USATF organizers will hire a couple rabbits and place them into the race with the finalists. This is what is done during the Europeran Diamond League meets and this will virtually assure the kind of fast race all you ignorant LR posters seem to need. Sheesh!

I agree with the rabbit idea. My most basic point with this thread is that, at the end of the day, the NCAA 1500 record is 9+ seconds slower than the world record. If NCAA students can win a national championship, the pros in the US must be pretty pathetic.

You misspelled "promising."

You mispelled "mispelled."