NCAA 1500m champ Sinclaire Johnson going pro

Strike while the iron's hot, why not. Another NOP signing based on Pace/Simms? They seem to represent most of the domestic NOP athletes (and former) as well as mostly Nike.

Late sign hurts Oklahoma State who probably doesn't have time to sign another? Assume she isn't staying on to be coached there?

coach d. wrote:

She needs to wear more sunscreen.

???

Lots (not all ) of Ricky Simms athletes go to Nike and Sinclaire wore Nike shoes at OSU, but Sinclaire's running idol growing up in Florida was Jenny Simpson so does New Balance have an edge?

Jonathan Gault wrote:

Johnson ran 4:05.98 to win NCAAs in June -- #2 on the collegiate all-time list per T&F News -- and lowered that PR to 4:03.72 to finish 4th at USAs. She will be repped by Ricky Simms.

Thoughts?

I'm disappointed. I think the NCAA is an amazing system for developing talent and like to see people build their brands. Unless she's getting north of $200,000 per year, I think she should stay in school.

The issue with coming out now is most of the sponsor's have spent their budget. But Ricky is smart enough to make sure she gets paid.

But anything less than $200k is a disgrace.

I remember hearing that SImpson got 500k per year coming out and that was soon doubled to 1k million a year as she medalled at Worlds .

She won the outdoor 1500m title and then improved on her time to a level where she won't be pushed by NCAA athletes unless her career takes a step backwards. What exactly does she have left to accomplish in her senior year?

rojo wrote:

Jonathan Gault wrote:

Johnson ran 4:05.98 to win NCAAs in June -- #2 on the collegiate all-time list per T&F News -- and lowered that PR to 4:03.72 to finish 4th at USAs. She will be repped by Ricky Simms.

Thoughts?

I'm disappointed. I think the NCAA is an amazing system for developing talent and like to see people build their brands. Unless she's getting north of $200,000 per year, I think she should stay in school.

The issue with coming out now is most of the sponsor's have spent their budget. But Ricky is smart enough to make sure she gets paid.

But anything less than $200k is a disgrace.

I remember hearing that SImpson got 500k per year coming out and that was soon doubled to 1k million a year as she medalled at Worlds (or was it 250k to 500k?).

rojo wrote:

Jonathan Gault wrote:

Johnson ran 4:05.98 to win NCAAs in June -- #2 on the collegiate all-time list per T&F News -- and lowered that PR to 4:03.72 to finish 4th at USAs. She will be repped by Ricky Simms.

Thoughts?

I'm disappointed. I think the NCAA is an amazing system for developing talent and like to see people build their brands. Unless she's getting north of $200,000 per year, I think she should stay in school.

The issue with coming out now is most of the sponsor's have spent their budget. But Ricky is smart enough to make sure she gets paid.

But anything less than $200k is a disgrace.

I remember hearing that SImpson got 500k per year coming out and that was soon doubled to 1k million a year as she medalled at Worlds (or was it 250k to 500k?).

Wow, 1k million a year!? That’s a lot of money!

rojo wrote:

Jonathan Gault wrote:

Johnson ran 4:05.98 to win NCAAs in June -- #2 on the collegiate all-time list per T&F News -- and lowered that PR to 4:03.72 to finish 4th at USAs. She will be repped by Ricky Simms.

Thoughts?

I'm disappointed. I think the NCAA is an amazing system for developing talent and like to see people build their brands. Unless she's getting north of $200,000 per year, I think she should stay in school.

The issue with coming out now is most of the sponsor's have spent their budget. But Ricky is smart enough to make sure she gets paid.

But anything less than $200k is a disgrace.

I remember hearing that SImpson got 500k per year coming out and that was soon doubled to 1k million a year as she medalled at Worlds .

That's a lot of money.

I could see it as the 1500m is one of the main events in the sport and she was setting collegiate records left and right including a sub 4.

BUT from the data LRC pulled on athletes salaries from the agent estimates, this seems to exceptionally high. If she were to get 1M/year, she would have to be more marketable than anything.

THOUGHTSLEADER wrote:

She won the outdoor 1500m title and then improved on her time to a level where she won't be pushed by NCAA athletes unless her career takes a step backwards. What exactly does she have left to accomplish in her senior year?

rojo wrote:

I'm disappointed. I think the NCAA is an amazing system for developing talent and like to see people build their brands. Unless she's getting north of $200,000 per year, I think she should stay in school.

The issue with coming out now is most of the sponsor's have spent their budget. But Ricky is smart enough to make sure she gets paid.

But anything less than $200k is a disgrace.

I remember hearing that SImpson got 500k per year coming out and that was soon doubled to 1k million a year as she medalled at Worlds (or was it 250k to 500k?).

Isn't she only a sophomore (moving in to her junior year this CC season)?

The US women's 1500m is stacked, but she's got a very good shot at further improvement, as her 400m and 800m times are very good. A shame for OSU as they have developed her from a middle-of-the-pack runner, but good luck to her.

Sinclaire was a 55/2:08/4:57 runner in HS, and didn't really surpass those times until well into her soph season at OSU, and finished dead last at NCAAs that season. Her 2019 season featured breakthroughs to 4:35 for the mile, 9:10 for 3K, and a huge 4:30.22 anchor carry at NCAAs for 3rd team place in the DMR. From there it has been a clear trajectory.

https://www.tfrrs.org/athletes/6000008/Oklahoma_State/Johnson_Sinclaire

jonnyjinlondon wrote:

THOUGHTSLEADER wrote:

She won the outdoor 1500m title and then improved on her time to a level where she won't be pushed by NCAA athletes unless her career takes a step backwards. What exactly does she have left to accomplish in her senior year?

Isn't she only a sophomore (moving in to her junior year this CC season)?

The US women's 1500m is stacked, but she's got a very good shot at further improvement, as her 400m and 800m times are very good. A shame for OSU as they have developed her from a middle-of-the-pack runner, but good luck to her.

Sky seems to be falling for some.

Per the Stillwater paper yesterday, staying in school until she graduates and will continue working with Coach Smith through next season. She wins, Smith and recruiting get a boost, team will lose some points next year but from her perspective, it's probably better to go pro now. 2:00, 4:03, quite an upside.

This was absolutely the right decision. Sinclaire should focus on the Olympic Trials next year without the distractions of indoor track , NCAAs, etc. She also needs more experience running against runners of very high caliber. She will get that at Pre and other A-list meets. She won't get it in the NCAA.

She was the fastest finisher (final 400 meters) at USA Nationals even though she ran a good portion of the last lap in lane 2. Her potential is obvious.

Here are some things I expect her to do next year:

- make the Olympic team

- make the Olympic finals

- run under 2 minutes in the 800

- run under 4 minutes in the 1500

This agent's M.O. is classic... he entices athletes and families to leave college early... puts pressure on brands to make a written offer, and then plays that one offer against the field.

Not a successful strategy.

She will not get $200k/year. She has not shown that worth. More like $60-$80k, maybe $100-$120k for a desperate brand.

mooonshot wrote:

This agent's M.O. is classic... he entices athletes and families to leave college early... puts pressure on brands to make a written offer, and then plays that one offer against the field.

Not a successful strategy.

She will not get $200k/year. She has not shown that worth. More like $60-$80k, maybe $100-$120k for a desperate brand.

Is the agent forcing athletes to sign with him? If not, I don't see a problem.

My guess is she moves to coral gables to train with her coach, who was hired at University of Miami’s distance coach.

In situations like this (leaving school early) who makes the 1st move.

Did the athlete start talking to agents or did agents (in this case Simms) poke around and see if a shoe company might sign her, get a basic $ number then approach the athlete (Hey I can get you $100,000 a year at least if you want to sign with me and go pro)

200k?? For a 4:03 runner? I know it was touched on in the running salaries piece, but damn the money is just better in the States. I'd say with some confidence that 7/10 of the IAAF top ranked women in the 1500 arent making more than 60k base, some probably less (tseguy, DeBues-Stafford, Embaye, Arafi, Nanyondo, Chebet).

Honestly I'd love if track followed other pro sports in having public salaries.

Smart move. She looked incredible all through NCAAs and kept that confidence going through USAs. Definitely a lot of talent there bolstered by a confident personality.