big potentials/short careers

Clinton Davis and William Reed.

Not too well known... all fast 3200m runners in HS that didn't hardly make a blip in College (well Angel made a small blip perhaps).

1.) Ernie Sheppard

2.) Andres Gomez

3.) Angel Martinez

4. Brian Grosso

Gabe is still in college and has already made one Olympic team and one WC team. Compare his performance at his age with US distance runners that you consider overachievers.

A bet that I would make: even money Gabe vs. Webb to medal in 2004. Webb is more likely to make it to the finals; Gabe is more likely to medal.

But for underachievers just look around Palo Alto. Example #1: Michael Granville. I would be embarassed to run 50.xx in an open 400 given my potential. He probably opened at least one 800 in 50. Mike, quit talking to the women and run!

Andres Gomez was good, but I don't think he ever ran much faster than 9:09 or so in HS. There are HUNDREDS of guys in the past decade who ran that fast and were never even AA's.

Speaking of this, does anybody have a clue as to the whereabouts of Ryan Wilson (CA, Arkansas alum)???

I would also say that Tim Gargiulo skipped out when he was really on the verge!

Also, Mark Coogan has to rank as one of those who just hasn't been able to break through, and I'm not even going to mention Brantly.

I wouldn't lump Coogan/Brantley with those other guys. At least those two MADE olympic teams.

How about Reynolds, Serna and Hulst? The Malstalir brothers?

My intentions were certainly not to lump those guys with most of the others mentioned, so I apoligize if my post gave off that vibe. It's just more of a feeling that those guys are always walking the fine line between solid performances and brialliant ones. Basically its my feeling of wanting them to get to that higher place that they have both almost visited several times. I have great respect for Coogan and Brantly; and they are the kind to come through in big races from time to time, but I just know that they are both great athletes who have never really reached the level where they belong.

I spoke with Keith in '99 and I couldn't help but feel that I was talking to a frustrated guy that just needed a little something else.

Here are 3 other names to add to the list-

1) David Hartman (Villanova/UT-San Antonio alum)- now CC coach at Texas A&M

2) Jose/ Iniguez' (UT-San Antonio alum)

3) Sammy Unberhagen (Texas/Southwest Texas/Arkansas alum)

4) Louie Quintana (Villanova alum)

What happened to Serna, Hulst anyway? Have you read Steve Scott's book, "The Miler". It's worth buying, and Scott pretty narrates the thing himself. You can certainly appreciate his respect for Ralph Serna.

Hulst died from brain cancer in the early '90s.

1.Jeff Nelson- Holds the record for High School 2mi, then stopped running in college.

2.Danielson- 2nd High schooler to ever break 4, than has a family and gives up running in college.

3.Andy Powell- Looked like he had tons of potential in High school and has been hurt all through college.

4.Sharif Karie- (even though he might keep running) Ran 4:03 in High School, than went to Arkansas and hardly improved at all.

I predict Alan Webb will NEVER run faster than he did in high school.

Gotta disagree with you about Brantley. He was someone with modest talent who worked extremely hard, became a full time runner when he wasn't good enough to be one, lived on the cheap, put in the work and became an Olympian. If anyone reached their potential, it was Brantley. It's just that his potential was good enough to put him on an Olympic team and win some road races in the United States before the Kenyans came over here in droves, but he just didn't have the talent to do more than that. That dude deserves all the props one can get, because most guys with his level of talent never would have achieved what he did.

Jose Iniguez - very interesting. The thing is, he raised

his brothers & sisters during his running career, pretty

amazing huh? Maybe there's more than just running, I

don't know. But yeah he had some pretty serious injuries

& I guess never got over them??? Damn shame, he had

amazing potential.

Now he has a publishing business for running events, I think

he's pretty successful as his business is sponsoring

several events in town.

Thanks for the scoop on Jose'. I actually get periodic updates from my friend in Austin about him, and I have heard a little bit about his business. He's a cool dude and I'd like to see him on the scene. Club Austin has a good bunch of guys, and they are making some headway.

Former Mead HS and Oregon alum Matt Davis is one of the most talented runners ever, but his career was plagued with injuries. His senior year he blazed the state course in 14:09 beating his brother Micah by more than 40 seconds. After state he had a serious knee injury when he slipped on some ice. He ran Footlocker West regionals anyway after not training for a month and injecting himself with cortizone and won. Afterwards he could not walk but ran Nationals after injecting more cortizone and got third to Meb and Goucher off pure guts. In college he was plagued with injuries but still managed to be a three time All-American in Cross Country(5th his senior year when it was only his second cross race, injuries again)and ran around 28:30 for the 10,000. Again,he was never close to being healthy in college.

Current outlook:

Webb

Tom Graves of Illinois. He ran 8:51 for 2 mile (not 3200) as a junior, and then went on to place top 15 in the NCAA xc champs as a freshman. Don't think he ever improved on that. As a teen he owned the likes of Spivey who developed later. However, I recall his college career (ran for Auburn) was spotty, and by rumor had it he hated running by the time he was through.