Edward Cheserek moved to New Jersey from Kenya in 2010. He came on to the XC/Track scene immediatly. Winning 2011 and 2012 Footlocker finals as well as 4 track national titles (2 SMR indoor, 1 5k outdoor, 1 2mile indoor), indoor 5k and 2 mile high school records. Won 17 national titles in XC/track including winning the XC title as a freshman, soph, and junior. Some consider him the GOAT.
Lukas Verzbicas was dominant too though and had plenty of accolades. The only guy to win both NXN and FL; won FL twice; sub 4, 2 mile high school record, his epic triple win at indoor nationals.
And the only time he and Ches went head to head, Ches lost. For the indoor national 2 mile. 8:40 to 8:42. Lukas did this 2 days after winning the national title in the 5k. (Lukas was 18 AND listed as a senior, so he was not an age cheat)
Which leaves us to think...just how good was Lukas Verzbicas?
which makes us ask....just how good was lukas verzbicas?
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Biggest difference between the two was that Ches was clean...
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Inside'r wrote:
Biggest difference between the two was that Ches was clean...
source? -
Interesting you ask this. I just rewatched the 2010 FL final and this years 2018 final. Verzbicas made the course look easy, never struggling, and putting near 15 seconds on Futsum Zeinasellassie in the last 800 or so.
In the 2018 race, all those boys looked like they were struggling up that final hill and were red-lined at the end.
What I think is pretty cool is that LV never lost an XC race prior to college. That's dominance.
I honestly think had he stuck with Oregon while not getting too upset at losing that first college XC race, that he had the makings of the next Galen Rupp, and I mean that will all complement.
I feel really bad for LV, and I hope he is getting along ok in life. To have so much success and so much potential as a teen, to not being able to compete any more due to a stupid accident has to be very tough mentally. -
How is he today?
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He was a phenomenal runner. His combined mile and 2-mile times were 5+ seconds faster than any other HS runner.
I've never understood why he ran so poorly at Oregon. Although his HS school times would indicate he could have been at least in top 10 at Nationals, he ran in the high 24's for 5 miles.. -
SDSU Aztec wrote:
I've never understood why he ran so poorly at Oregon.
I'll give you one guess. -
He was very good, very very good... too bad he had to play around with the Tri and end up getting in that bike wreak.
It's alarming the number of runners I know that have been seriously hurt when on a bike. Usually they are biking due to a running injury, then end up with a dislocated shoulder, broken collar bone, etc from taking a nasty fall on the bike.
LV is a wasted talent. He could have been right there with all the guys that have been part of this resurgence of American distance running. -
Where is he? wrote:
How is he today?
Are you just that lazy to type "Lukas Verzbicas" in Google?
Here's a hint: He's on social media. -
He broke our hearts even more than German Fernandez did. He could have been the best American runner right now.
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ric flair woo wrote:
Edward Cheserek moved to New Jersey from Kenya in 2010. He came on to the XC/Track scene immediatly. Winning 2011 and 2012 Footlocker finals as well as 4 track national titles (2 SMR indoor, 1 5k outdoor, 1 2mile indoor), indoor 5k and 2 mile high school records. Won 17 national titles in XC/track including winning the XC title as a freshman, soph, and junior. Some consider him the GOAT.
Lukas Verzbicas was dominant too though and had plenty of accolades. The only guy to win both NXN and FL; won FL twice; sub 4, 2 mile high school record, his epic triple win at indoor nationals.
And the only time he and Ches went head to head, Ches lost. For the indoor national 2 mile. 8:40 to 8:42. Lukas did this 2 days after winning the national title in the 5k. (Lukas was 18 AND listed as a senior, so he was not an age cheat)
Which leaves us to think...just how good was Lukas Verzbicas?
You mean Ches won their only time head to head. -
Oh sorry.
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verfallen wrote:
He broke our hearts even more than German Fernandez did. He could have been the best American runner right now.
I think German was the bigger talent. He broke by heart much more. -
His twitter account has almost nothing there. I have no idea if he is running or intends to.
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Both were age cheats. One may have been taking peds.
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SDSU Aztec wrote:
He was a phenomenal runner. His combined mile and 2-mile times were 5+ seconds faster than any other HS runner.
I've never understood why he ran so poorly at Oregon. Although his HS school times would indicate he could have been at least in top 10 at Nationals, he ran in the high 24's for 5 miles..
To your question: Drug testing in the NCAA. -
How does one get so good in high school wrote:
Both were age cheats. One may have been taking peds.
Verzbicas was 18 when he graduated high school. That is standard.
Again, source on PED use? -
Scotch tape wrote:
SDSU Aztec wrote:
He was a phenomenal runner. His combined mile and 2-mile times were 5+ seconds faster than any other HS runner.
I've never understood why he ran so poorly at Oregon. Although his HS school times would indicate he could have been at least in top 10 at Nationals, he ran in the high 24's for 5 miles..
To your question: Drug testing in the NCAA.
source Lukas used drugs? -
verfallen wrote:
He broke our hearts even more than German Fernandez did. He could have been the best American runner right now.
German Fernandez would have beaten Lukas in a head to head 2 mile -
LV's mom ran for the Soviets and was his coach. Once he left her "program" for Oregon, he ran poorly.
