Jerrell Mock dark horse for Chicago

A VERY dark horse indeed. But the reason I could see it happening is him going from track to the marathon relatively quickly, still has some leg speed in him.

Bump

Big Mock wrote:

Mock debuted in the 10k with a 28:11, debuted in the half marathon with a 62:15.

His debut marathon is Sunday in Chicago. I think 2:13 is a reasonable debut.

You were grossly mistaken in thinking 2:13! But congrats on a great call.

Good call, Big Mock.

Wait, that was his debut? Pretty darned solid. What the US needs is a half dozen guys like him in the hopes that two or three of them go on to be a few minutes faster and able to compete internationally.

My apologies if this was noted elsewhere, but who is his current coach? His former college coach, Art Siemers?

Montesquieu wrote:

My apologies if this was noted elsewhere, but who is his current coach? His former college coach, Art Siemers?

Yep!

How is it that Jim Walmsley gets a half dozen pages for his 64:00 half, but Americans that actually break 2:12 get a half dozen posts?

It's bizarre how little love there are for up-and-comers who don't shove "content" down your throat via SM. Stinson and the Tinmen certainly have earned their acclaim yet Mock just quietly shows up and debuts faster than all of them – faster than Stinson's third try at the marathon. It's a Kardashian world, I guess? Don't look now but between Epperson and Mock the fastest marathon group in Colorado isn't in Boulder, it's in Ft. Collins. It's refreshing to see, even for a Boulderite. Oh and those guys are looking for a teammate or two for Club Cross.

Big Mock wrote:

Bump

Someone buy this man a beer.

I would put Mock's debut and Riley's resurrection on par with Kincaide going 12:59.

BIGGGGG FALL in the U S of A distance world.

Evan Jogger wrote:

It's bizarre how little love there are for up-and-comers who don't shove "content" down your throat via SM.

Be careful what you wish for.

comedyrelief wrote:

How is it that Jim Walmsley gets a half dozen pages for his 64:00 half, but Americans that actually break 2:12 get a half dozen posts?

Exactly. Mock has been incredibly consistent and running very well the past year. Running mid 62 in the half, ran 28:30 in the random 10k on the track after Houston half marathon. Had some other good performances in the Gate River 15k and a 10k in Utah. He has been very consistent and extremely good for being 22/23 ears old the past year or so. Now he's got a 2:10 marathon to his name. He has been on a similar trend to Reed Fischer who has gotten way more recognition. And on that topic, if Reed comes back well from his current injury he could be another young guy aged 24 or so that would have probably run 2:11 flat at Chicago. And then Stinson finally ran right around there, and I believe he's 27. There are several other guys that are pretty young and running 62's for half marathon that are just about to emerge in the full marathon and will probably run around 2:11 if the day is right. Out of this big group I think we will have a handful of consistent sub 2:10 guys over the next five or more years. Fauble seems to be only 27 so he could be around for a while too to go with this group. It could be reasonable to think some of these guys could end up running 2:08 in the marathon on the right day in a few more years. U.S. distance running is about to have a greatly increased amount of good marathon runners. And if Shadrack Kipchirchir or Leonard Korir move up to marathon we'll certainly have more sub 2:10 guys, they could probably run in the 2:06-2:08 range if they tried.

1. I love Coach Siemers and I think these guys are awesome. They do things the right way.

2. Mock deserves a contract

3. Epperson and Fischer are both good enough to also get minor contracts.

4. It will never happen in Fort Collins

5. All 3 should move together to Hansons or NAZ and start getting paid. The window is too small you guys can’t wait much longer.

This guy could get $50k with Hansons or NAZ. Maybe at Zap as well. Not sure how their contracts work.

He's currently doing training that works for him, and he has decent training partners still in Fort Collins.

Best thing for him is to stay where he's at but get an independent contract where he doesn't have to join some group. People on these types of contracts are Ben True, Stinson, Droddy (runs for roots but his main money isn't coming from roots), even the ADP guys that are sponsored by Nike aren't getting money because they're in ADP, they're just straight up getting paid from Nike contracts and would keep their contracts if they moved from Colorado Springs.

I agree with you 100% but you also have to pay the bills. The game is changing. If he makes the Tokyo team he will get a contract. If not he will just get a kit deal with no financial stability. He deserves more.

The game is not changing, it's just that most of the runners in groups that people are constantly watch are either younger runners that come fresh out of college (Hanson's, NAZ, Bowerman types) or the older athlete that is about to get their contract cut so they join the existing sponsored group as a last ditch effort to stay on the brand longer. Individual contracts exist for athletes that are either good enough (which Jerrell Mock is showing he is) or marketable enough with decent enough performances (like Allie Kieffer) to remain an individual. Both contracts still exist and will continue to exist while brands view elite running as something to invest in because athletes thrive in both environments depending on who the athlete is and the type of structure they surround themselves with (which Jerrell has structure with his teammates and coach). Jerrell should stay where he is unless his performances or personal preference would indicate otherwise.

Yup! He's a college graduate scholarship athlete with presumably zero college debt. Yeah, he probably lives with a roommate or three because Ft. Collins housing is more expensive than, say, Pueblo or Topeka. Yet he's likely doing well enough that he's not living in a van down by the river and he's not racing in 5-year old flats. Getting some free gear helps, it lets you move up a shelf on the ramen aisle at Safeway, but it isn't necessarily so great that you want to leave the environment, the coach and training partners that has helped you thrive for years now. It's not like the step going from high school to college to leave the post-collegiate set up that made you for arguably greener pastures. He should be reasonably expected to race as well as Kawauchi did without moving to follow money.

Depressing, really.