Does Hunter deserve to be in the A-heat Wanamaker after today's performance?

No. He ran 3:58 in a perfect race, everyone in Wanamaker has a higher pedigree than him.

B race will be a race for him. If he goes in the A it's a Hoover job . Let him get race. experience.

WTF, he was SEVENTH today, the slow heat is better for him.

What is the point of running the B race?

No A race exposure

Even if he has an amazing race and runs 3:56 or 3:57, there is no point really (has any B race ever gone that fast?). He already has the HS record. Ryun and Webb still ran faster than that...

If he runs slower than 4:00, it will be a disappointment.

I would run either a 1000m or a 2 mile somewhere instead.

If he makes it into the A race, then it's probably worth running it.

When need to give talent like Hunter the opportunity to be legendary.

Ryun got called up to race the soviets; emphasis needs to be placed on our future talent - equal opportunity be damned.

He's got more in the tank than what we saw this afternoon.

It is not everyday but yes "B' races produce sub four times especially when the 'slow guy' of the 13 runners in the A race has a 3:57indoor PR.If He goes in who comes out, the Pan Am Bronze guy, the two time European Champs Bronze guy, the 2015 USA Championship runner-up, the USA Road Mile Champ or one of the imported Olympians?

Ghbgygbybhbbyg wrote:

What is the point of running the B race?

No A race exposure

Even if he has an amazing race and runs 3:56 or 3:57, there is no point really (has any B race ever gone that fast?). He already has the HS record. Ryun and Webb still ran faster than that...

If he runs slower than 4:00, it will be a disappointment.

I would run either a 1000m or a 2 mile somewhere instead.

If he makes it into the A race, then it's probably worth running it.

I wonder if Drew Hunter will go to bed tonight wondering, "Will I disappoint Letsrun Forum User Ghbgygbybhbbyg should I FAIL* to break 4:00 at M?? Should I ditch that Tinman clown, and Ma and Pa, in favor of Coach Ghbgygbybhbbyg? Is there any point, really, in running the Millrose B race, even if I run a 3:56?? Not if Coach G sez so!”

[*Don’t you just love that word?]

For Drew Hunter at this young stage in his rise to greater heights, the Millrose B race – not necessarily the A race (even if he gets in!) – is a logical, and substantial, platform for a next race. Harsh as it seems, even after his record run today he's still ONLY a 3:58 miler -- all-time great for an indoor HS boy, but not great for what will be a cream-of-the-crop Millrose Wanamaker Mile. Everything can be measured on a relative scale.

Hunter knows his place...and, with his parents and Tinman guiding him, he keeps wisely climbing the LONG ladder of success. It's no surprise that his usual HS distance races had, in part, reached the point of frustration because he lacked equals to duke it out with, for mutual benefit, too. Of COURSE there were rare elite exceptions (indoor nationals last winter, the Dream Mile [2nd to Grant Fisher], the Brooks 2-mile in Portland, then the Jr Nationals at Eugene last spring). But mostly the trench warfare racing he craved and recognized as ultra-motivational and valuable was non-existent as he outgrew the vast majority of his HS peers, and he knew he wouldn't LEARN ENOUGH BY DOING unless he went to war against better talents, but with the right set of challenges and challengers.

From a learning perspective, then, a Millrose Games B race in two weeks, on par with today's Armory field, has so much to offer to an 18 year old 3:58 indoor miler. Again, Hunter "only" finished 7th today, yet he was grinning from ear to ear afterwards and in his interviews, because the setup was perfect for him to step up for the second week straight and to excel for the second week, in competition with much more seasoned and developed older guys. They offered him a great mix of worthy opponents – so that although he was far from a win, he still had a chance to soundly defeat others with a national record time.

Finishing last would NOT be fun for any athlete on center stage, even if a PR resulted. That's another reason why the Millrose Wanamaker Mile might be just a tad too lofty for Hunter at this point. Should he make the Wanamaker, and finish way back against the truly elite milers, then the hide-behind-a-user-name message board wolves would devour him…and there would be a few snide smirks back at his high school, too. It’s a cruel world, baby!

You completely missed the point. Hunter did amazing today. He probably was even a bit surprised with his performance. I'm just saying that it would probably be more fun for him to break other records, rather than go after the mile again in a B race. There are other good races which he could enter...

That's all...

You don't need to read more into it.

When you're in HS, you want to improve your times every time out (and you usually do). It's fun to break new barriers.

Obviously, he can do whatever he wants...

...like ignore know-it-all Armchair Coach Gobbledygook, who, after all, KNOWS it would be more fun for Drew Hunter to break other records than to, yawn, go after that borrrrrrrrrrring mile again in a minor-league B race in two weeks.

Ghbgygbybhbbyg wrote:

You completely missed the point. Hunter did amazing today. He probably was even a bit surprised with his performance. I'm just saying that it would probably be more fun for him to break other records, rather than go after the mile again in a B race. There are other good races which he could enter...

That's all...

You don't need to read more into it.

When you're in HS, you want to improve your times every time out (and you usually do). It's fun to break new barriers.

Obviously, he can do whatever he wants...

It's up to the meet directors. They want a good performance. If the B-race produces a better performance cuz Hunter has people to connect to whereas he'd just get dropped off the back in the Millrose Mile (or blow up) and end up with a slower time, then the B-race it is.

Moving him to the A heat would be good promotion for the meet and sport.

Much better than whoever the 10th fastest guy is.

While I think Hunter would be better suited to the B heat at Millrose, Webb's mile PR prior to Bowerman mile 2001 was his 3:59.XX from indoors. With a faster indoor performance than Webb, and for a race that's historically not as fast as Bowerman mile (I know we're comparing indoors vs. outdoors), you'd think Hunter would get the nod for the A heat.

frederk wrote:

No. He ran 3:58 in a perfect race, everyone in Wanamaker has a higher pedigree than him.

OF COURSE HE SHOULD BE IN THE A RACE. I could care less that everyone has a 'higher pedigree'' than him. First of all, I'd argue they don't have a higher pedigree than him. If a pro runs 3:57, I'm not interested. If Hunter does, I'm very interested. He 100% should run the 'A' race if he wants to. HE's a teen phenom. No one else ran 3:58 as a HSer indoors so in my mind his pedigree is higher than theirs.

wineturtle wrote:

B race will be a race for him. If he goes in the A it's a Hoover job . Let him get race. experience.

The only reason why I'd have him in the B race is to get used to being in a pack and running relaxed in a situation like that. Today he was single file most of the race. Millrose would be the same if he's in the A race.

That being said, I think they are doing some really smart stuff with Drew. He's learning to race. The goal isn't to win or break 4. It's just to get experience and do the best you can. Webb never learned how to run with people and was obsessed with winning (which is a good thing at times but also bad at others) as he just dominated everyone in HS. Now that HSer's race pros, it's better.

Let me end with this. WHY IN THE HELL IS THERE A B RACE AT MILLROSE. IT 100% SHOULD BE CANCELLED. When I go to an NBA game, I don't want to see the #8-13 guys play a 5 on 5 game.

Totally stupid. How anyone thinks that is a good idea - I have no idea.

Who is supposed to be in the B race? Who is in the A? Please tell me who thinks it's a good idea to have two races. Totally stupid.

No. It would only lead to 3:55i and crush the dreams of a generation.

Hunter should not be in the A heat, he has run 3:58, a great time but he was well beaten by the other guys in that race. If he wasn't a high school kid nobody would care. 3:58 gets you in the B heat.

Also having a B heat is a good idea. It gives those athletes who aren't good enough for the A race the opportunity to run well.

In the UK there is quite a void in athletics between competitions for young developing athletes and senior professional competitions. Having B heats at big meets like this is a good idea and something that should be done more in my opinion.

The HS indoor 3:58 should be an automatic oly marathon trials qualifier for next weekend in LA.

rojo wrote:

OF COURSE HE SHOULD BE IN THE A RACE. I could care less that everyone has a 'higher pedigree'' than him. First of all, I'd argue they don't have a higher pedigree than him. If a pro runs 3:57, I'm not interested. If Hunter does, I'm very interested. He 100% should run the 'A' race if he wants to. HE's a teen phenom. No one else ran 3:58 as a HSer indoors so in my mind his pedigree is higher than his

How many of the foreign athletes ever ran an indoor mile at high school? Or an outdoor mile? Or even any indoor race? He has a long way to go before his pedigree is higher than, say, Nick Willis.

Let me end with this. WHY IN THE HELL IS THERE A B RACE AT MILLROSE. IT 100% SHOULD BE CANCELLED.

Because people want to see runners like Hunter.

Let me end with this. WHY IN THE HELL IS THERE A B RACE AT MILLROSE. IT 100% SHOULD BE CANCELLED.

Great idea less places for emerging talent to be exposed to the public--

That kind of thinking can land you a job at USATF HQs!!!

leave him in the B race - there are already too many bodies in the A race