Sophomore Larry Edwards ran 8:56.41 over the weekend. Discuss!!

*Discus

That is very good, but I hate getting excited about young people because nothing is guaranteed.

If a young person in the 400 runs 45 seconds at age 17, that's really good because it's already an olympic qualifying range, and we do see times around 45 from high schoolers. But an 8:56 is like a 8:22 3k. Even if they progress 5 seconds as a junior, and another 5 senior year, they're like an 8:12 speed. There are plenty of high schoolers that ran 8:50's that never break 14 flat in the 5k in college, yet there are 9:30 guys from high school that go well under 14 flat in college. So just because they're running fast now doesn't mean they're going to be running 8:30 as a senior. It is a good sign, though.

I agree. It is a great time for a sophomore and even a great time for any high schooler. But last year, it took 20.7 to qualify for the indoor 200 in the NCAA and it took 7:51 in the 3000. The best high schooler ran 20.9 in the 200 and the best high schooler ran 8:25 in the 3000. The distance guys are so much further away that it is always a crap shoot to predict who will go onto become really great. The 500th place in the NCAA last year was 8:27. Nico Young's time would not have qualified for nationals.

Predictor wrote:

I agree. It is a great time for a sophomore and even a great time for any high schooler. But last year, it took 20.7 to qualify for the indoor 200 in the NCAA and it took 7:51 in the 3000. The best high schooler ran 20.9 in the 200 and the best high schooler ran 8:25 in the 3000. The distance guys are so much further away that it is always a crap shoot to predict who will go onto become really great. The 500th place in the NCAA last year was 8:27. Nico Young's time would not have qualified for nationals.

I'm a little confused with your post. Young did not run 8:25.

He is training under Tinman

8:25 was the best high school time in 2019 when it took 7:51 to qualify for the NCAA. Nico Young's time this year was a national high school record but still not fast enough to hit the required time last year. We still have a few weeks this year before we know what the cut will be but it will certainly be faster than what Young ran. And times like 8:56 for 3200 would barely break into the top 500 in the NCAA.

Well, actually, last year Cole and Nico probably went through 3k a little faster than that at Arcadia when they both ran 8:40 for the 32. Purdy Calculator gives them an 8:04.

Anybody remember Matt Strangio? As a soph, he ran 8:57 at CA State winning in a 57 last-lapper. He also ran 8:47 last year. I'm guessing he'll break 8:40 this year. Hasn't lost a step.

What a phenomenal time for someone his age. And it's early and it's indoors. I'm going to love watching how he evolves over the next couple of years.

I don't know why some people's immediate reaction is to compare him to Nico (the HS GOAT).....this kid is only a sophomore. Nobody even knew who Nico was 2 years ago. Or to bring up stats about NCAA athletes.....again, this kid is only a sophomore in high school. How can you possibly predict how he will develop between now and when he is in the NCAA? You can't.

Larry Edwards has a bright future. Will be fun to watch.

2:01/800, 4:21/1600, 9:12 2 mile as a freshman.

8:56 indoors shows improvement obviously. Will be interesting to see what he can get his 800 down to this season.

What I really want to know is what is actual age is. He could be a 16 year old soph as far as we know.

sophmore class is stacked wrote:

Sophomore Larry Josh Edwards runs an 8:56.41 last weekend at the SPIRE Scholastic Showcase. This means that both he and Gavin Sherry are sub-9 with other sophomores not far behind. Discuss.

These guys are both approaching 20 seconds faster this year than last, so who knows exactly where they are on the improvement curve, but another 15-20 seconds by senior year does not seem out of the realm.

Maybe, just maybe enjoy the performance for what it is - in the moment.

I am only talking about indoor. NCAA indoor 3000 took 7:51 to qualify. Of course the college guys would run faster outdoor also.

how often do kids run 3Ks anyway?

unless they're from Oregon ...

Not often but the fastest indoor 3200 was 8:54 and 2 mile was 8:56. So let's call those 8:20. The point of the thread is that 8:5x is a great HS time but you can't assume that the best high school kid will be the best in college. Appreciate that it is a great time fir his age but we get too excited about youngsters' times. Think Finn Gessner at 8:4x vs Tyler Day at 9:2x for 3200 in HS. Day could run 8:15 today and Gessner can't match his 8:4x.

Predictor wrote:

Not often but the fastest indoor 3200 was 8:54 and 2 mile was 8:56. So let's call those 8:20. The point of the thread is that 8:5x is a great HS time but you can't assume that the best high school kid will be the best in college. Appreciate that it is a great time fir his age but we get too excited about youngsters' times. Think Finn Gessner at 8:4x vs Tyler Day at 9:2x for 3200 in HS. Day could run 8:15 today and Gessner can't match his 8:4x.

In high school you also often end up with age differences of 12-18 months (i.e. had a kid that turned 17 the week after XC states. Also had a kid that turned 19 in spring track) and most importantly training backgrounds.

An 8:56 is a great time. But you still need to make 2 or 3more jumps (i.e. the 8:40 in HS to be the top guy in the nation, and then the 8:30ish to be a NCAA or the 8:20 to be a title contender). Not many people do that. You just have to hope he stays injury free and we get to see him progress over the next 6 years.

I believe this board is dominated by former D3 guys who don't realize what it takes to score at a P5 school or what it takes just to earn a roster spot or especially a scholarship. They get more excited about age group records for 13 year olds.