Kerron Clement is a distance runner

For those who don't know...as a high schooler, Clement was not only one of the top hurdler/sprinters in the nation, he doubled as his high school's number 1 XC runner in the fall. As a junior or senior he ran respectable times in the 17s for 5k.

If only more coaches weren't afraid of making their sprinters slower by having them do over-distance.

BigTex wrote:

If only more coaches weren't afraid of making their sprinters slower by having them do over-distance.

Trust me, in general that is not a good idea. Clement is the exception, not the rule.

yeah for someome who runs the 400m and down, xc and/or long distance running is unneccesary, did u ever see michael johnson running in your local 5k or 10k?

400m at that level as an elite in high school or college is pure sprinting, purely strength and anaerobic ability. Distance running may may actually impede on a sprinter's ability. A 5 mile jog here and there is not that bad though

BigTex wrote:

For those who don't know...as a high schooler, Clement was not only one of the top hurdler/sprinters in the nation, he doubled as his high school's number 1 XC runner in the fall. As a junior or senior he ran respectable times in the 17s for 5k. ........

That is quite interesting. If true, then this guy is both unafraid to run some distance work, and even has some aerobic potential.

Is this THE GUY to finally break 1:40 someday?????????????? Could be (if he gets to 44 flat or so in the 400, and continues running some distance training, and then trying some 800's, and even jumping in a 1500 occasionally.)

here we go again..."can this person blah blah blah"..He just ran the WR indoor record for the 400m! Besides low 17's for the 5k is decent but not anything special...There are tons of guys in HS who were exceptional 200m-400m guys and could run a decent 5k

Sir Lance-alot wrote:

Is this THE GUY to finally break 1:40 someday?????????????? Could be (if he gets to 44 flat or so in the 400, and continues running some distance training, and then trying some 800's, and even jumping in a 1500 occasionally.)

Sir Lance Lot,

That maybe the single greatest post in LetsRun.com history. I mean the thread is genius to begin with. A guy sets a WRecord inthe 400 and someone turns it into a distance thread. But you actually give the thread legitimacy.

I mean he is a 400mhurdler which often results in 800 success.

I've told weldon to highlight this thread on the front page.

-rojo

well thankyou Rojo. (ok, I take back anything negative I have said about the letsrun.... :-) )

But seriously, who knows what is possible, but 1:40 is the next great barrier in men's track and field. Ever since Seb Coe ran his 1:41 nearly a quarter of a century ago, 1:40 has been a tantalizing possibility. But yet no one but kipketer could even come close.

It has got to happen someday, and in fact seems overdue in ways.

Doogie Howser, M.D. wrote:

Trust me, in general that is not a good idea. Clement is the exception, not the rule.

There's certainly some scientific proof!

Ghost of Ashenfelter wrote:

Doogie Howser, M.D. wrote:

Trust me, in general that is not a good idea. Clement is the exception, not the rule.

There's certainly some scientific proof!

There does exist proof of this. It involves intermediate muscle fibers, capillarization, and vertical integration of training, among other things.

Now that Clement has the 400 meter world record, I think it's pretty safe to say he is a SPRINTER. To speculate is still fun though. He could probably rabbit Paula Radcliff for a few miles in the marathon. And he could probaly scare the shit out of any 800 meter runner in the world at the line.

Here is a link to a XC meet he ran in high school. It took some searching and, I had seen more results from him at one time, but can no longer find them.

http://www.texastrackarchives.com/XC%202002/02xc_laporte_meet.htm

Here is another

http://www.texastrackarchives.com/XC%202002/02xc_orange_county_inv.htm

That's awesome. I bet nobody ever out kicked him.

Could this be the guy to finally break 2:00:00 in the marathon? Let's face it the marathon had a 2:09 runner 35 years ago and has steadily been wittled down to 2:04 now. If this guy can get to 42.25 in the 400 and keep his endurance up around the same level it was when he ran those 17:40's in dual meets, then maybe he could jump in some 8k and 10k XC races in college next Fall and extend his range a little and be the first guy to be able to string 26 straight 4:34's together.

He is, after all, a distance runner?

i disagree that distance would hurt a sprinter. i feel that it helps. the more miles and more base you have the better, as long as you're not overdoing it. if he keeps doing a little distance, maybe this kid could take a run at the 800 meter record.

you obviously know nothing about muscle physiology. Stop being a dumbass. Your thought has no scientific basis

Kerron ran CC in HIGH SCHOOL!

He has not and will not be out on anyones road running anytime soon. Anyone who knows Holloway knows that he doesn't train any of his sprinters out on the road. Stop speculating about how someone trains and what they could do in other events and enjoy the moment.

You distance types have all the answer, just cant understand why the USA sucks on the International Level in the distance events and dominates in the sprints. Maybe you guys should stop runnning so much distance and get off here and go somewhere and get faster!

Barabas wrote:

You distance types have all the answer, just cant understand why the USA sucks on the International Level in the distance events and dominates in the sprints. Maybe you guys should stop runnning so much distance and get off here and go somewhere and get faster!

Actually, Barabas, I know EXACTLY why the "USA sucks on the International Level in the distance events and dominates in the sprints." I said it before, and I'll say it again: The reason is..........

Many, many years ago, the USA decided to enlsave humans from Western Africa. Turns out these are the most genetically gifted sprinters on the planet. And this is why we dominate the sprints. BUT......if we had for some reason decided to enslave East African people so long ago instead, well then, the USA would be kicking some butt in distance running instead (we would have dozens of Mebs on our squad).

There's your answer, plain and simple.

there goes any chance of you joining club dirt

typeIIb wrote:

you obviously know nothing about muscle physiology. Stop being a dumbass. Your thought has no scientific basis