Suguru Osako and the Oregon Project

There are very, very few people in the United States who have run as fast at that age over that range. But if it were only about time why would Salazar work with Americans? There are lots of Africans that age with way faster times. Obviously there are other considerations than just time or nationality.

troof be told wrote:

There are very, very few people in the United States who have run as fast at that age over that range. But if it were only about time why would Salazar work with Americans? There are lots of Africans that age with way faster times. Obviously there are other considerations than just time or nationality.

I think you're contradicting yourself. Why doesn't Salazar work with many more Africans? I think nationality/culture is not entirely irrelevant.

I remember seeing this a little while ago. I thought it sounded cool. I've been waiting for the day that the Japanese men start running some world class times and placing higher in championships (that aren't ekidens) They are so deep at the Half-Marathon that it's just a matter of time before competition forces people to drop down some more time to get to the sub-60 range. It seems like the best are hovering around 61-61:30 (with the occasional sub-61)

Hopefully that will push them to beat the top in the world at the marathon and 10,000m. It'd be cool to actually get some competition from elsewhere besides Africa and the random few others like Mo Farah or Liliya Shobukhova

When listening to interviews with Alberto, there's always a bit of contradictions going on. He usually states something along the lines of, "The goal and purpose of the Oregon Project is to get American distance runners competitive again in international competitions." Obviously with Farah, he's stepping outside those parameters, and it seem more and more, like he's not necessarily trying to get Americans competing on the world stage, but just wants to beat the East Africans with other nationalities.

I read something else that said Osako wants to get into the 26s for 10000. I thought that sounded pretty ambitious so I looked at what Japan's national record is. It's only 27:35. That seems kind of slow but I bet they would say that Americans are slow marathoners for having such fast 10k times. I put together a list of sub 2:10 performances for US vs. Japan and it's just nutty how many more Japan has had.

US:

2:04:58, 2:05:38, 2:05:56, 2:06:17, 2:07:01, 2:07:04, 2:07:47, 2:08:04, 2:08:24, 2:08:41, 2:08:44, 2:08:47, 2:08:51, 2:08:53, 2:08:56, 2:09:00, 2:09:02, 2:09:08, 2:09:13, 2:09:15, 2:09:21, 2:09:21, 2:09:26, 2:09:27, 2:09:29, 2:09:30, 2:09:31, 2:09:32, 2:09:35, 2:09:37, 2:09:38, 2:09:40, 2:09:41, 2:09:41, 2:09:47, 2:09:53, 2:09:55, 2:09:55, 2:09:56, 2:09:56, 2:09:57

Japanese:

2:06:16, 2:06:51, 2:06:57, 2:07:13, 2:07:35, 2:07:40, 2:07:41, 2:07:48, 2:07:50, 2:07:52, 2:07:52, 2:07:55, 2:07:57, 2:07:59, 2:07:59, 2:08:05, 2:08:07, 2:08:12, 2:08:15, 2:08:16, 2:08:18, 2:08:18, 2:08:21, 2:08:27, 2:08:28, 2:08:35, 2:08:36, 2:08:36, 2:08:37, 2:08:37, 2:08:38, 2:08:38, 2:08:40, 2:08:43, 2:08:43, 2:08:44, 2:08:45, 2:08:46, 2:08:46, 2:08:47, 2:08:48, 2:08:48, 2:08:49, 2:08:50, 2:08:50, 2:08:52, 2:08:52, 2:08:52, 2:08:53, 2:08:53, 2:08:54, 2:08:55, 2:08:56, 2:09:00, 2:09:03, 2:09:04, 2:09:06, 2:09:09, 2:09:10, 2:09:10, 2:09:10, 2:09:10, 2:09:11, 2:09:11, 2:09:11, 2:09:12, 2:09:12, 2:09:13, 2:09:15, 2:09:16, 2:09:16, 2:09:16, 2:09:17, 2:09:18, 2:09:18, 2:09:23, 2:09:23, 2:09:23, 2:09:23, 2:09:23, 2:09:23, 2:09:25, 2:09:25, 2:09:26, 2:09:26, 2:09:26, 2:09:28, 2:09:28, 2:09:28, 2:09:29, 2:09:30, 2:09:30, 2:09:31, 2:09:31, 2:09:32, 2:09:33, 2:09:34, 2:09:34, 2:09:35, 2:09:35, 2:09:36, 2:09:37, 2:09:38, 2:09:38, 2:09:40, 2:09:40, 2:09:40, 2:09:41, 2:09:43, 2:09:45, 2:09:47, 2:09:48, 2:09:49, 2:09:49, 2:09:50, 2:09:50, 2:09:50, 2:09:51, 2:09:52, 2:09:55, 2:09:55, 2:09:57, 2:09:57, 2:09:58, 2:09:58, 2:09:59, 2:09:59

For those keeping count that's 41 vs. 127. Maybe Salazar sees Osako as his chance to make a great marathoner?

I think the answer is he can't get Americans that have that talent/have run that fast.

Alberto tried to convince Chris Derrick to join. German Fernandez wouldn't go because of Dave Smith and Jerry S connection. I heard they tried to get Emily Infeld and Shelia Reid too.

The point is American's are scared because of the cloud hanging over Alberto.

Why else would all the top talent that signed with Nike choose to go elsewhere. When Nike signs someone a lot of times they give them a choice (Alberto, Jerry, OTC, or lesser deal) Almost all of this years crop chose Jerry even with the success of Rupp and Farah.

I saw that Osako came second at Hakone behind Yuta Shitara, the kid who beat Ritz at the NYC Half last year. Seems like they have other guys good enough to be in Oregon too.

InWyo wrote:

When listening to interviews with Alberto, there's always a bit of contradictions going on. He usually states something along the lines of, "The goal and purpose of the Oregon Project is to get American distance runners competitive again in international competitions." Obviously with Farah, he's stepping outside those parameters, and it seem more and more, like he's not necessarily trying to get Americans competing on the world stage, but just wants to beat the East Africans with other nationalities.

Interesting!

So did anything ever come of this?

I would be curious where all those times were run. If it doesn't happen on the track, it's hard to trust 100%. Just because you run a road race and it says 26.2 or 5k, it could be a little short or a little long. You would have to compare American times vs Japanese times on the same course to be accurate. Having measured quite a few myself using a j counter according to usatf standards, I can safely say most road courses probably are not all that accurate(and never as accurate as a track). You also must depend on those who set up the course to place the cones where they are suppose to be(tight turns/tangents or wide turns as measured....). Don't trust a road time 100%- look at the competition and the times run elsewhere to get better perspective.

measured a few wrote:

I would be curious where all those times were run. If it doesn't happen on the track, it's hard to trust 100%. Just because you run a road race and it says 26.2 or 5k, it could be a little short or a little long. You would have to compare American times vs Japanese times on the same course to be accurate. Having measured quite a few myself using a j counter according to usatf standards, I can safely say most road courses probably are not all that accurate(and never as accurate as a track). You also must depend on those who set up the course to place the cones where they are suppose to be(tight turns/tangents or wide turns as measured....). Don't trust a road time 100%- look at the competition and the times run elsewhere to get better perspective.

We're talking about Japanese people... I'd be surprised if they measured a course inaccurately.

yreth wrote:

I'm surprised this hasn't been bigger news that one of Japan's top collegiate runners is going to be coached by Salazar. In case you don't know who Suguru Osako is, he's run 3:42.68 for 1500, 7:54.68 for 3000, 13:31.27 for 5000, 27:56.94 for 10000, and 1:01.47 for half-marathon and he's only 21 years old. For comparison, Rupp's PBs at 21 were(I think these are correct) 3:44.39 for 1500, 7:49.16 for 3000, 13:30.49 for 5000, and 27:33.49 for 10000.

Osako's PBs are impressive for his age but there are other guys his age who have run as fast. Why did Salazar pick him over an American runner?

I believe Nike is doing its best to turn distance running into a world wide sport again. Until recently it was a decade of complete African dominance. That is not good for the sport and that means its not good for Nike who wants to profit on running. It has nothing to do with race/color, it has to do with the wealth of the dominating country's people. Having world class runners from developed countries that have people with buying power is good for business. Nike has Salazar working with Americans, Canadians, English, Irish and now Japanese. He have nearly every truly world class runner from nearly every developed country soon.

you're forgetting Japanese runners are smaller. It's essentially a nation of marathoners.

Bump. So this guy is running the mile at the Washington meet this weekend, but the interesting thing is that it still says he's with the Oregon Project. I thought nothing ever came of him joining. Never seen him race in a kit/heard about his training or anyone talk about him. What's up with this?

Osako runs for Top Ramen (Nissan Foods) and not Nike. He isn't really a part of NOP. Salazar was given permission by Nike to coach Osaka because of the power of JAAF and the influence of the nation of Japan in general. In fact Osako is a considered a renegade in Japan. He rejected the Corporate system and ventured out to pale faced barbarian lands to associate with uncivilized primitives. Young Japanese admire Osako though for telling the old farts to piss-off. Something we sure as hell in the US as runners have to do more of (case Hightower/Siegel, case stupid Ore Trk Club meet management, case Competitor Inc., case US Marathon Trials, ...).

troof be told wrote:

There are very, very few people in the United States who have run as fast at that age over that range. But if it were only about time why would Salazar work with Americans? There are lots of Africans that age with way faster times. Obviously there are other considerations than just time or nationality.

Yeah I would think that he'd work with more Somalis than just Mo.

Suguru Osako 8:15 2 mile, his guys getting quick

What could he do in the Millrose 5k?

I say 13:26

8:15 is worth around 13:10-13:13. Not sure what the NR is.

NOP Skeptic wrote:

What could he do in the Millrose 5k?

I say 13:26