Flotrack is reporting that senior Shippensburg athlete, Neely Spence is forgoing her college eligibility to pursue her olympic dreams -5k or 10k.
I find it surprising and a little sad. I doubt Ms. Spence has any chance of making a 2012 olympic team and this may be due to dad's unrealized olympic goals.
I think Neely may have star in her eyes. She is an excellent runner and seems like a grounded young lady. But olympic aspirations seems a tad premature.
Thoughts?
What's the point of her staying? Will she see any competition over the 5k/10k distances? Spence has an outside shot, so why not give it a go. A lot can be learned in an Olympic year, while she most likely can't learn much more competing in the DII system.
Hopefully she signed with Mr. Ray Flynn, that man can get a shoe contract for anyone. Just ask MP.
If she's turning pro- smart move.
she's also getting married...
Well she is engaged. I would assume she would postpone the wedding after the Olympics. Or atleast the olympic trials.
She has little if any chance of securing an olympic spot.
If she was able to get the A standard in the 10k who would be there to beat her. I am assuming that if Shalane, Kara, and Davila qualify in the marathon that will be there focus. So that leaves Jen Rhines and who else? Small chance but good luck! If things work out her dad will look like a genius.
She was 7th at USAs last year and about 12 seconds away from a spot to Daegu. She finished one spot behind Desi and one ahead of Lauren Fleshman. If she isn't justified in skipping her last year of college track to try for the Olympics, who is??
Just read the interview that Flotrack has up on their website.
http://www.flotrack.org/article/9596-Neely-Spence-Interview-after-going-pro-announcement
I can assure you that this has nothing to do with her father's unrealized dreams (he has a WC bronze and was 12th in Barcelona, what dreams are you talking about?). Neely has the IAAF "B" standard in the 5k and while I agree she isn't one of the favorites to make the Olympic team in 2012, this was the best move for her. Neely is one of the most practical and grounded individuals I have ever met, she didn't make this decision because of how it would affect a single season, she made a move that she believed was in the best interest of her future.
The NCAA has NEVER been a supportive anchor for distance runners in the USA who want to get to the Olympic/International level..goes all the way back to the time of Wes Santee....score points baby, and burn them out..
kiswahili wrote:
Hopefully she signed with Mr. Ray Flynn.
She did.
Is she really "leaving college" as in not getting a degree? No, probably not. She'll probably still get a degree. So all she's doing is leaving behind a little bit of amateur eligibility. For a shot at the Olympics, why not?
Shoebacca wrote:
Is she really "leaving college" as in not getting a degree? No, probably not. She'll probably still get a degree. So all she's doing is leaving behind a little bit of amateur eligibility. For a shot at the Olympics, why not?
The article says she is planning graduate from Shippensburg in May. And yes, all she'd give up is a season of indoor and a season of outdoor.
Except for Huddle, all of the top 10k women seem to be more focused on the marathon. Neely is probably capable of running close to 32 in a 10K, the only sub-32 athletes who are not focued on the marathon is Huddle. I would say Neeely has a shot and I wouldn't call it a long shot.
I would tell any female MD or distance runner whose goal is to simply make the USOT to learn to steeple. If you can run about a 4:32 mile or 15:30 5k, you have to flat credentials to run with our best steeplers.
Koll-Flanagan-Goucher-Davila-Huddle-Magdalena-Yoder have all run sub 31:45 in the last year. Knowing this is an Olympic Year you can probably add McGregor and Kasto to the list. After the marathon trials that list is down to 6.
good for her! she has been highly dominant the last two years in DII and focusing on the standards and trials will give her more time to prepare, just like she said, so who wouldn't want to take a shot at that.
Hey, Ray Flynn, put a call into the Hershey Trust and see if they want to get behind a local athlete. There are not many who can make the world stage from this area and if you're looking for a company with several billion lying around they have got it. she is the perfect girl to get behind. big HS career here, big local college career and now taking a shot at olympic dreams. heck, for them to throw 50K-100K at her for a year or two is nothing.
I read somewhere she was going to
be coaching at Shippensburg also. I was surprised to hear this considering the additional time comittment of someone who is going professional and still in school at the same time. What is she thinking!?!
Knowing Coach Spence and Neely, I can guarantee that Neely's best years are ahead. They have always followed a very conservative, long-term approach to training. Neely has made steady improvement year after year, and has had very few injuries. It's something that should be valued in the professional running world. Too many athletes push for immediate results, can't stay healthy, or burn out. Not only do I think Neely has a great shot at making the team in the 10k this year, I think that her longterm career will be one of the best in US distance running, from 5k to marathon. This is the perfect time to give it a shot, and I think any female who has run 15:27 deserves to go for it. Get behind her, big things are going to happen for this one!
Rockymtn Trls wrote:
I read somewhere she was going to
be coaching at Shippensburg also. I was surprised to hear this considering the additional time comittment of someone who is going professional and still in school at the same time. What is she thinking!?!
Although I am not close the the situation, I imagine that Neely's coaching duties will be as a volunteer asst, an arrangement which can entail no coaching but allows access to facilities, training partners on the team, etc.
I don't think her dad will have her standing on the infield with a clipboard and stopwatch all spring.