High Schooler DJ Principe Runs 4:00.97

Great kid. Check out the end:

http://www.dyestat.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=44531&do=videos&video_id=194637

Lots o' photo

http://www.flotrack.org/article/50964-photos-new-balance-games#.WIWvQZK2vcM

Dc guy you are correct. Periodization is extremely important. Clearly Principe didn't take much of any down time after XC and ran fast on the track in Dec and now in Jan. what does that mean for Mar. (Indoor Nationals) and May Jun.? Not sure but it's not a good lead in. HS can be a very intensive race schedule. Let's hope his coach and family have understanding of such.

I wish this amazing young runner all the best as he builds for the future.

Stanford gets another stud.

I think DJ and Ratlcliffe will be a real dynamic duo in a couple years. Leads me to the question- who is more talented.

I know it took Ratcliffe his whole senior year to run 4:01.5, but he plays soccer every fall.

Not to take ANYTHING away from DJ, but I believe his success is a combination of

Great coach + great talent + great training partners + hard work + entry into the sport early enough

Ratcliffe has 3 or 4 of those. Not sure how his coach was.

But I know DJ doesn't train over his limits. LS coach seems awesome and really smart, got to talk to him at the Dream Mile.

He told me his stance on training "More miles, anyone who tells you different, is wrong. That's bullshit"

Their stud freshman (another nice kid) is from Mass. Their top girl is from Mass. Is it fair that they compete in the RI interscholastic league? Does St Andrew's basketball team thats loaded with D1 talent compete in RI? No, they compete against other prep schools that are on a level playing field. But I get it, it's easier to sell the school with all those bannersEnough said. Congrats again to DJ.

JM400 wrote:

I don't think it's unfair. Parents decide not the kids, for the most part... The parents want the best and still paying taxes in their town. There are some very good public schools and some compete with LSA and Bish Hend - mainly track. Also when one says recruit, what do they mean by that ?? Like a college coach calling a kid at night and talking to them ?? Having an open house, to show case the school to prospective students maybe a form of recruiting but not against the rules. But you are 100% right, it's a case of hard work and great coaching that made LSA a strong program.. People need to get over it and stop making excuses and build their own program and train hard...simple as that...

The kid played lacrosse, his older brother plays lacrosse at LSA. It's all about academics with his family anyway...sports is second. Move on and get over. Can't beat them then join them.

You don't really get it. Lasalle has won the last 5 ri state championships in lacrosse and Hendricken has won 7 straight in football, 5 of which was played against Lasalle. Move to a prep league, your a prep school.

I'm always amazed when someone like DJ who has a lack of true foot speed runs sub four or close to four minutes for a mile. Not knocking DJ either, he's just not the speediest guy in terms of 400/800 ability but his mile times are spectacular.

Then again, look what Drew did in the 800 last year. I was stunned. Maybe DJ can do the same.

Get over it please. Control what you can control, train hard and see what happens. Parents want the best and get the best. And schools like LSA and BHend produce results. Success breeds success. Most the public school coaches coach just for the bump in pay and don't give a crap about running. Yes Lsa and Bish Hend has a bigger pool to pick from. Moses Brown is a Prep school ?? Also, for a very long time LSA was horrible in XC and Track. The last 8 years or so the coaches there turned things around and have a great passion for developing kids, being competitive and winning. They did not recruit DJ and any other kid. End of story !!

He may not have great speed but I feel like he has a bit better top end then drew. Drew is unbelievably talented but his top end looks very uncomfortable and forced, his 1:48 was great but he may never get much faster in that.

DJ hasn't displayed blazing speed but I think that his very smooth stride gives him potential to continue to get faster in distances 800 and below. His biomechanics are quite good which I think stretches his potential a bit.

Perhaps you have heard of Sir Roger Bannister? First sub-4 and never broke 1:52.

My Team is Mediocre wrote:

I'm always amazed when someone like DJ who has a lack of true foot speed runs sub four or close to four minutes for a mile. Not knocking DJ either, he's just not the speediest guy in terms of 400/800 ability but his mile times are spectacular.

Then again, look what Drew did in the 800 last year. I was stunned. Maybe DJ can do the same.

Speedracer56 wrote:

You don't really get it. Lasalle has won the last 5 ri state championships in lacrosse and Hendricken has won 7 straight in football, 5 of which was played against Lasalle. Move to a prep league, your a prep school.

It seems to me that you're from RI. Maybe even still in high school? I myself am from RI and had to compete against these private schools too. I know the feeling of competing against recruited talent. I was recruited to run for La Salle, but turned them down because all my friends were at my local public school. Is it unfair that schools like Duke and UNC recruit top talent and destroy schools like BC who get the New England D1 talent leftovers? That's how sports work. However, this doesn't change what most other people are trying to tell you. These coaches are good. Exceptional for high school and I understand you may feel that is unfair, but some of these public schools have talented coaches too. Many of the coaches in RI are former D1 runners with established careers. So the coaching isn't necessarily unfair and even if it was, it doesn't change the most important aspect of all. The athlete. DJ and all the other talented athletes that run at La Salle and Hendricken would still be talented even if they went to public school. Your frustration and anger stems from your inability to claim accolades such as all-division, all-class, and all-state. You justify this by blaming athletes who compete in RI, but are from MA. So maybe if they didn't compete in your state you might get that all-state medal, but what excuse will you make when you compete against them at New Englands? Nationals? D1 college? Applying for a job? Instead of making excuses, you need to find solutions. Accept where you are and train to be the best you can be. If your best isn't good enough, then just be happy you gave it your all. Life doesn't owe you finisher medals.

you are a joke ! And have a zero clue. Go smell some salt and wake up...

Wrong on all fronts. I'm 51 and never ran track. I don't blame the kids or coaches. Good for them. I'm involved in RI hs sports and have watched the disparity for years. They're prep schools with resources public schools don't have. They should play in a prep league. BC recruits just like Duke they just suck at it. Public schools only have the kids in their town to pick from. I'm not mad. Just surprised you all can't see the simple facts.

I get it...LSA and BH are private schools not prep schools. Funny you do not mention St Rays, Prout or Mount. Just the private schools that win ?? Mose Brown is a prep school, Wheeler, PCD and Lincoln School, St Andrews are classified as prep school. But you can't always blame LSA and BH on winning or why they get the best kids. Maybe you should focus on why the Public schools can't keep them ?? LSA and BH don't always get the best kids, just do a great job developing them.