Under Armour signs a 15-year old track star to pro contract

Who cares... seriously this is a non story

While her marks are impressive for a teenager, they aren't much on the pro level.

Seriously, what is the benefit for her to go pro this young? It's one thing if you're Olympic caliber already (i.e. Allyson Felix going pro after high school and then earning her silver medal in her first Olympics), but she isn't there yet.

She is no Sydney McG, but college isn't for everyone and she has the opportunity to improve. Whatever the market will bear.

What is she going to do? Turn it down? Ludicrous. She going to keep training either way so obviously you take the money rather than do it for free.

This seems kind of dumb. Who is she going to race against? I don't know the rules in France, so maybe it makes more sense there. Who is she going to compete against? She's nowhere near a pro level and would get blown away by pros, but now she can't compete for her HS or a US college b/c she is pro. I suppose she can enter college races as a pro since that is the level probably most suited for her right now, but no prize money involved and no college team...seems kind of pointless. Unless they are paying her more than the cost of a college degree per year and cover all her training and travel costs etc this was a dumb choice.

This affects her in no other way than free swag and some euros in her bank account. She can compete as normal in school and college. It would be stupid to turn this down. All it does is rule out the NCAA. Easy choice.

The promotion of the basterdization of France continues...

Probably naive, but hopefully someone can explain ... why can't she take the pro contract and use the money to pay for college?

How would they decide on the woman to jump over?

Fits Better wrote:

Am I the only one who thinks they should go back to the name Broad Jump for the women's competition?

Another key point from the press release that everyone is missing is that she is likely going to be (and in fact already is apparently) a big face france puts forward when they inevitably host in 2024. Sign her early and get all that free promotion for minimal risk, nothing wrong with that.

High risk, high rewards, especially if Paris wins the 2024 Olympic Bid and she continues to progress.

Dumb post of the year from repulsed. People can do what they want to do. It's not like going to the NCAA guarantees medals and money, actually usually it guarantees you won't medal or get money.

Yes and no.

1/10 of the athletes at the Rio Olympics were from the NCAA (Source: NCAA Research).

Many athletes and countries look at the NCAA as a true proofing ground and an opportunity to see world-class competition.

Competing in the NCAA does not make you a world-beater.

France and a lot of European nations work on the coach/club system (she is an example of this).

University in Europe is heavily subsidized so earning a college scholarship is seen in a different light.

She would have finished 3rd in the NCAA Division 1 long jump competition.

Runfastrunfar wrote:

Many athletes and countries look at the NCAA as a true proofing ground and an opportunity to see world-class competition.

It's "proving ground" not "proofing ground."

Do people really care if someone from Ghana or wherever is jumping for France?

english minor wrote:

Runfastrunfar wrote:

Many athletes and countries look at the NCAA as a true proofing ground and an opportunity to see world-class competition.

It's "proving ground" not "proofing ground."

Long day, sorry about that.

idiocrazy wrote:

Do people really care if someone from Ghana or wherever is jumping for France?

I believe she was born and raised in France outside of Paris; has compete for the Tricolor and is registered under the IAAF.

LetsRun.com wrote:

Her name........

Heather Arneton of France.

She long jumped 21' 6¾" (6.57m) this year indoors at age 14. Her TJ best is 43' 8" (13.31 m). To put that in perspective for you, 6.57m would have ranked her #8 in the NCAA this year and 13.31m would be 16th in the TJ.

She's run 11.85 for the 100 (1.2 m/s wind) and a 11.59 wind-aided (3.5 m/s wind). Both marks were run at altitude in El Paso, TX of all places earlier this year.

Full details here:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2017/07/armour-signs-15-year-old-track-star-pro-contract/

I would have waited 2 years before signing her because predicting the trend for a young female is tough. However, she is a phenomenal athlete, probably the best jumper I have ever heard of for her age. She is so good that this might turn out to a good bet for UA. (This kid is really-really-really good.) - What's the deal with these French athletes in El Paso, who want's to train in 100+ degrees everyday?

I just watched a video of her jumping.

OMG!!!!

If this girl get's her 100m down to about 11.2 in next couple of years, I am predicting the WR...she is that good.