NCAA indoor 800 champ Sabrina Southerland has signed with Brooks Beasts. She's the 2nd NCAA champ to sign with the Beasts this year (Josh Kerr is the other).
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NCAA indoor 800 champ Sabrina Southerland has signed with Brooks Beasts. She's the 2nd NCAA champ to sign with the Beasts this year (Josh Kerr is the other).
More details:
Interesting. Southerland is a huge talent and I hope she finds tons of success with the Beasts. Seeing how the group's other female middle-distance runners are doing, I wouldn't be too sure. Hannah Fields had a breakout 2017 season, but came forward publicly about her ongoing eating disorder this year. Haven't heard much about others (Natalja Pilusnia? Baylee Mires? Justine Fedronic? Jess Tonn?). Katie Mackey has been consistently good in domestic competition, but looks to be on the tail end of her career.
Hope I'm wrong though!
Why would anyone sign a female 800m specialist? US spots are basically locked as is the international podium.
Who will be getting pink slips from Beasts this fall? I would bet there will be several.
Justine Fedronic has been injured last year and took a big break (several months). She came back this year and ran 2'01 in Belgium. Hope she will do the indoor season !!
I keep wondering if Neale will end up at Brooks. I haven't heard anything about her since her raced that Euro race in I think June. She seems to do well enough, but is somewhat inconsistent
There are very few opportunities and training groups to join, its no wonder that one of the only groups with money is signing lots of runners. It would be really cool if the the US had more training groups, and most importantly, more expert coaches to properly prepare these athletes for elite competition. So many burn out in college or don't have a contract afterwards due to poor coaching and focus on academics and other career options.
I am not convinced that the Brooks Beast Team is at the world elite level in training and coaching...or maybe they just aren't on the dope train like the rest of the world. Can't wait to see how Kerr and Southerland develop, wishing them the best.
I watched Southerland when she was struggling at GTwn, this is a good decision for her.
Danny has already coached a medalist and world team members, and none were at the level of the athletes the Beasts signed this year.
Aside from a few lesser talents, across the board athletes improve there consistently. I agree with the above poster on Mires & Piliušina struggling there. But they were inconsistent or injured at the NCAA level, the pro level would be too much for them. I have seen the BAC and OTC wreck NCAA Champions each season, so if Mackey gets criticized on a 2:04 NCAA runner not improving, if I am Southerland, I am at confident.
JamesTheAmateur wrote:
I keep wondering if Neale will end up at Brooks. I haven't heard anything about her since her raced that Euro race in I think June. She seems to do well enough, but is somewhat inconsistent
Awful name, Brooks "Beasts".
Sabrina is not going to train with the Beasts. They cut all the women from the team, so she has no one to train with.
So what is the story behind this? It was just announced that she signed with Nike OTC.
Let’s go Weldon. You reported the Beast signing. You owe us an explanation. Your reputation is on the line.
This falls on the lap of Jonathan Gault who was the initial wrong reporter
Wrong reporter wrote:
This falls on the lap of Jonathan Gault who was the initial wrong reporter
My reporting was correct. Southerland signed a contract with the Brooks. That is a fact.
When she signed the contract, she was under the impression that she would be able to finish up her master's at the University of Oregon remotely. Her plan was to spend the fall taking classes in Eugene before moving to Seattle.
After she signed the contract, she was told by her academic advisor that it would not be possible for her to complete her degree remotely and that she would have to stay in Eugene. Southerland also said that she learned Brooks had made some cuts to their middle distance crew and that she wouldn't have any training partners.
She asked Brooks to release her from her contract and they did, which left her free to sign with Nike.
Is rumor of Beasts having cut all the women in the group true?
Tame items wrote:
Is rumor of Beasts having cut all the women in the group true?
I don't know for sure, I would have to ask someone at Brooks to confirm that. But Southerland said that Brooks had cut all their mid-d women.
Thanks for the follow up, Jon!
Gods work