Wheating a top 5 competitor in the world? Not so sure about that.

no

Yes

Many more might place ahead on talent alone, but only 4 have more competitiveness than AW.

gotta have the guts too wrote:

Yes

Many more might place ahead on talent alone, but only 4 have more competitiveness than AW.

this is a joke, right? if anything, wheating is more talented than he is a hard worker or strong willed person.

From a talent standpoint, Wheating is phenomenal. However, he hasn't done anything as of recent that indicates he is "top 5 in the world." I think he has the potential (key word: potential) to be number 1, but potential alone means nothing.

Wheating should move to LA/SD and train at OTC.

LA/SD 18 T&F Oly 2012 medals wrote:

Wheating should move to LA/SD and train at OTC.

The world will not be able to handle the 3:10 1500m runner he would become.

He's run 3:30 & has great speed. I think he hit that PR in a non-championship year. IMO, he could've medalled then & is at least as talented as Manzano & Centro. Faster PR & raw speed.

I'm glad Wheating sees it this way.

Yeah, he hit the 3:30 in an non-championship year (2010, I think). That was definitely top 5 caliber.

All I'm arguing is that as of this point in time, he is not top 5 in the world nor is he very close to 3:30 shape. Definitely not trying to knock the guy's potential though.

With the right coach Wheating could medal. He should move to Flagstaff or Boulder to train for Moscow 2013.

He needs to focus on being top 5 in the U.S. first.

I'm still scratching my head about the 3:30 pr of his.

No doubt.

Look at how he performed in late 2010 prior to his rash of injuries.

If healthy, he is a possible number one in the world 1500 meter runner and a top 3 - 5 800 meter guy

Trollist wrote:

The world will not be able to handle the 3:10 1500m runner he would become.

Neither would I. It would be mind boggling.

Even in 2010, when he ran 3:30 he was ranked #9 in the world while Manzano was ranked #6 as Manzano had a better overall season and ran well through to the end of the season.

But that was a college year for Wheating and he had a lot college races before the pro season so he ended his season early.

He has to look at at his talent and then look at the medals that Centro and Manzano have and think that he can do that.

There was a story earlier this year that Wheating had incurred some injury after the Trials 1500 that made him limp when he walked, yet he took the time to hit every post-Trials late night party instead of nursing his injury.

That's dedication ......

Wheating was luck to make the team as he almost failed in the qualifying round. Credit his kick sure, but a top runner wouldn't have let it come this close and nearly missed like that.

Is he top 5? Of course not. Does he have potential to be? Well sure just as do any of the people that are in the top 30 or so have?

Wheating = Absolutely not. Haven't really seen anything promising from him lately and his time as one of the best in the 800 seems over as well as the 1500 b/c of guys like...

Centro = ABSOLUTELY top 5 in the world in the 1500m with huge potential in the 5000m.

LETS MF RUN wrote:

gotta have the guts too wrote:

Yes

Many more might place ahead on talent alone, but only 4 have more competitiveness than AW.

this is a joke, right? if anything, wheating is more talented than he is a hard worker or strong willed person.

Well, first you don't know what you are talking about.

Second, you are a dolt for trying to state that a guy is not a hard worker, when there is no way you are privy to his work load at all.

For the record, the guy is an incredibly hard worker. I guess you did not notice him running cross country for Oregon...do you know how rare it is for an 800 guy at Oregon to have ever contributed in a meaningful way to their XC teams?

Wheating loves XC and distance and doesn't mind doing the work.

Do you really think he just won DUAL NATIONAL TITLES IN THE NCAA by not working hard?

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW HARD IT IS TO DO ROUNDS IN TWO EVENTS AT NCAA'S AT THAT AGE? How hard that is on the body, the work it takes?

Just because he makes a few funny videos in his spare time doesn't mean he is not a hard worker.

Really, think about it, how often has the 800/1500 double been achieve at NCAA's????

Think that is easy?

Think that doesn't take hard work?

Wheating is not a strong willed person?

Do you have any idea how much strong will it took to train through the plantar fascia injury and make it to the semifinals at the Olympics?

Ever had 6 weeks of your life ruled by physical therapy several times a day and pool work?

It takes a strong will, and dedication to get through all that...and make it into the semi-finals of an Olympic Games.

The likely factor in Wheating the last few years is that he got injured from the hard work and dedication...that the work loads were maybe too much for a guy who just really stared running two years before college.

He got a pretty meteoric rise to success, nearly won the NCAA 800 3 years in a row. Try that.

Eventually the rise and work load caught up to him and his body broke down.

Even with the the 3 injuries he made it to WC's last year and the Olympics this year.

Wheating is right, he is a top 5 competitor in the world...in his knowledge of himself, in his heart...and per his statements he's got another Olympics in him, and 4 years to get his body, and racing right.

He is a hard working runner, who loves to win...who is still learning and improving.

But, he needs to get out of Eugene and join Centro and Salazar in Portland, where he can get immaculate care over his health.

The guy needs consistent training, good health, and an intense focus on being the best in the world. If you are shooting for "top five", you and being wishy-washy. Who are you planning on finishing behind? Why not simply be like Mo, and plan to spend a couple years becoming the best in the world?

The talent is there for sure, but it's not easy to see it all coming together to put him on the medal podium.