Did Gerry Lindgren or any US male go undefeated for their HS careers?

lkao2 wrote:

ooso wrote:

It's worth noting that there actually is plenty of doubt that Cain could beat Baxter this year. They've both improved about the same amount since last year. So there's no clear evidence that the result would change significantly from last year.

.... how can you possibly say this???

I agre with the the person saying there is some doubt. That's why we said in our preview it's too bad for the sport's sake that Cain isn't in this race. The hype would be INSANE.

Baxter beat Cain when Cain was a 4:11 runner. Could she beat her again now that Cain is 4:04?

I totally understand why you think not, but xc and track aren't the same thing.

In 10th grade, when Cain had a 4:17 pb, Cain lost to Baxter by 18 seconds in 2011. In 11th grade, when Cain had a 4:11 pb, Cain lost by by 4 seconds in 2012. In 12th grade, now that her pb is 4:04, one might think Cain would beat her but it's not a sure thing in my book.

The fact of the matter is Jenny Barringer finished over 100th at NCAA cross country as a 3:59 performer. Weird things happen.

Plus these girls are very good. One of them beat Emma Bates who almost beat Abbey D'Agostino. I think if Cain was in the NCAA, it would be far from assured that she could win the NCAA xc title this year. As a result, it's not a sure thing she'd win this either.

Here is a great analysis of Cain's chances at the beginning of the season:

http://www.tullyrunners.com/articles/MaryCainForensicNXN.htm

Jim, was a great freak of nature for sure, but he actually lost quite a few 400yd, 2 mile race and XC races in high school. Mostly, in track at least, because he was a points machine, he was on his third or fourth race of the day. Or they were races a little outside his perfect zone of 800yd- mile.

I always heard rumors that Earl Jones (Michigan)did not lose a high school race, but I know how myths spread beyond reality. He also likely ran several distances making it less likely. Maybe he was undefeated at a specific distance?

Michiganders, what do you know?

Herb Elliot most definitely lost races. Just never lost a 1500/mile.

Couldn't help myself wrote:

He's not an American, but Herb Elliott is worth a mention. He never had the experience of losing a race.

I lost 2 races over 3 distances 400, 800, mile in my high school career in a state that has no classes.

if onlyI wrote:

I lost 2 races over 3 distances 400, 800, mile in my high school career in a state that has no classes.

That is, I lost 1 400m race, 1 800m race and never lost a mile race.

Ohio guy wrote:

I always heard rumors that Earl Jones (Michigan)did not lose a high school race, but I know how myths spread beyond reality. He also likely ran several distances making it less likely. Maybe he was undefeated at a specific distance?

Michiganders, what do you know?

He lost to a Junior here

To answer the question, the most likely person to go undefeated in HS would be a 4:15-4:20 runner from a mediocre state who won every state championship they competed in, but never raced NXN, FL, NBON, or NBIN. I'm assuming that every national champ lost at some point, so the answer would be found in a runner who never went above the state level for competition.

if onlyI wrote:

if onlyI wrote:

I lost 2 races over 3 distances 400, 800, mile in my high school career in a state that has no classes.

That is, I lost 1 400m race, 1 800m race and never lost a mile race.

what pathetic piss-ant state was that, Delaware?

(and how many years/seasons did you run?)

(and Verzbicas also lost some races as a frosh in the spring in the national class 2 mile races he ran. And he was also a soph age frosh.

So far it appears no male has done it if one means: 4 years, at least 8 seasons (x-c and spring track, including indoors would of course magnify the achievement. Possibly someone has done in a small non-competetive state, like delaware or RI)

Jack the Riffer wrote:

Possibly someone has done in a small non-competetive state, like delaware or RI)

And the last poster posted the same thing as above, but also clarified/added: no national competition.

Couldn't help myself wrote:

He's not an American, but Herb Elliott is worth a mention. He never had the experience of losing a race.

It's worth noting that she would no doubt be about to take her first loss if Mary Cain hadn't gone pro.

That's not true as Elliott lost his first ever mile.

I'm not sure if this holds as much weight as some of the other guys, but Colin Eustis from Delaware Academy in Delhi, NY went undefeated in his high school carer. Was sick for Footlocker NE his senior year so he didn't run it. Pretty great accomplishment for him, prolly could be mentioned along with Baxter, Verzibicas, Lindgren but would need an asterisk next to his name. Colin went on to run at American University where he was a Patriot League champ in the 10k.

I know this is Canadian but I don't think Kevin Sullivan ever lost a XC or Track during high school. I know he lost a National XC race but this was not through the high school.

Delhi Bulldogs wrote:

I'm not sure if this holds as much weight as some of the other guys, but Colin Eustis from Delaware Academy in Delhi, NY went undefeated in his high school carer. Was sick for Footlocker NE his senior year so he didn't run it. Pretty great accomplishment for him, prolly could be mentioned along with Baxter, Verzibicas, Lindgren but would need an asterisk next to his name. Colin went on to run at American University where he was a Patriot League champ in the 10k.

what? firstly, did he really never lose a race in HS? (proof?) Secondly, what was the competition (private school? So he wasn't facing the best kids in NY. Doesn't even come close to counting). Third it says he was "2 time MAC Cross Country Champion". wouldn't you need to be FOUR time to be truly undefeated in HS?

He and Verzbicas do not belong in the same universe. But I guess you were trolling and got me.

8/10.

oh please wrote:

LetsRun.com wrote:

We know Verbicas did it in his 3 years of HS but he was only in HS for 3 years and wasn't American. What about Lindgren? Any women?

SOmeone in a thread on Baxter said Lindgren did it:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=5519897

Well Verzbicas lost at least once in a 2 mile race against the Rosa brothers.

This ^ is correct.

On a side note, some would say that he actually lost to German Fernandez that day and that the Rosa brothers were simply in a different race than he was in.

Tyrannosaurus Rexing wrote:

what? firstly, did he really never lose a race in HS? (proof?) Secondly, what was the competition (private school? So he wasn't facing the best kids in NY. Doesn't even come close to counting). Third it says he was "2 time MAC Cross Country Champion". wouldn't you need to be FOUR time to be truly undefeated in HS?

http://www.aueagles.com/sports/c-xc/2009-10/bios/eustis_colin00.html

He and Verzbicas do not belong in the same universe. But I guess you were trolling and got me.

8/10.

Well, actually Colin only ran in the MAC cross race twice, sr and jr year. If you would have done your research you would have seen that he was a stand out soccer player for his school and local club. During his freshman and sophomore years he was more committed to soccer than xc so he chose his post season soccer games over the MAC meet. If you knew how hard Colin worked for his accomplishments and how humble he is you wouldnt be so quick to doubt him or cut him down a notch. Seems to me like you are the troll.

If this is the same guy I'm thinking of doesn't he also do triathlons? (weird considering Verzbicas is also in the convo)May not be the same person...

Herb Elliott did not lose a 1500m or mile, but he did get beat at 880y/800m, 2 miles, and XC.

Couldn't help myself wrote:

He's not an American, but Herb Elliott is worth a mention. He never had the experience of losing a race.

It's worth noting that she would no doubt be about to take her first loss if Mary Cain hadn't gone pro.