rojo wrote:
Is it April 1st? She already raced once this year and lost an 800 and ran 2:06. What shoe company would give someone who just ran 2:06 a pro contract?
Look I know she has basically done EVERYTHING an amateur could want - win World Youth gold, win World Junior gold and then win an NCAA titles as a frosh.
But if I were a shoe company, I wouldn't pay a penny to a woman who just turned 19 in November but was faster at 17 (2:00.65) than 18 (2:01.46) and just ran 2:06 in her last race (unless she fell in that race and the Texas A&M recap didn't mention it ). And while she won World Junior gold in 2016, she didn't even make the final in 2018.
From her standpoint, if she's getting PAID BIG and is sure the A&M coaches will agree to let her workout there, then it's fine, but if I'm the CEO of a shoe company and she's not really good, I think I might fire whoever signed her to that contract.
As a fan, it pisses me off. I like seeing people do college athletics.
Anyways, here is what A&M wrote about her first race, "Here is what they wrote: "Sammy Watson finished second in the 800 with a 2:06.89 as USC's Alyssa Brewer edged her for the victory in 2:06.48. Watson, who led the field throughout the race until the final meters, had splits of 29.44, 31.76 (1:01.20), 32.62 (1:33.82), and 33.07. Brewer finished with a 31.81 over the final lap."
Here is an article from her hometown paper that includes an LRC interview in it.
https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/2019/02/12/sammy-watson-track-field-pro-texas-a-m-usa-national-world-championships-olympics-ncaa-champion-800/2852588002/