Blast from the past. 1998 NCAA XCountry. Goucher over Abdi. Lagat 7th.

That's great-thanks for posting! Razorback's dynasty (led by Canadian Sean Kaley) soon to be taken over by Stanford and the Buffs but they were still top dogs then....LOL at '88 Olympian Jeff Atkinson sporting the ponytail 1:00 into the video...amazing that Abdi made the Olympic team 22 years later..

Abdi’s marathon was not credible rather than incredible or amazing.

openyoureyes wrote:

Abdi’s marathon was not credible rather than incredible or amazing.

Literally unbelievable. Lagat's, too, since we're on that.

Pretty insane how Bernard looks the same as he did 22 years ago.

How about another name buried in the standings...

75. Jr Anthony Famiglietti 31:48 Tennessee

openyoureyes wrote:

Abdi’s marathon was not credible rather than incredible or amazing.

You mean because he disappears for weeks on end to ethiopia to train with no Farah?

Woody Kincaid ran a 12:58.10 because he had that perfect pacer type race.

What if you put Goucher as a pro in that sort of scenario when he was in really good shape, I feel like he would've been sub 13

Goucher never got to run to his potential as a pro. He had major health issues for years. I can't remember exactly what the final diagnosis was, but it was something along the lines of chronic fatigue syndrome. I remember him saying in an interview once that there was one 7 year period where he did not feel good on a single run, something like that. He had somewhat of a comeback late in his career setting PRs at 2miles, 5000m, and 10,000m, but his best days were probably behind him at that point. Probably would have run close to 13:00 had he not had his health issues.

Awesome video, btw. Thanks for posting.

justathought wrote:

Woody Kincaid ran a 12:58.10 because he had that perfect pacer type race.

What if you put Goucher as a pro in that sort of scenario when he was in really good shape, I feel like he would've been sub 13

Eh, he got that in Heusden where he ran his 13.12

PRD wrote:

Goucher never got to run to his potential as a pro. He had major health issues for years. I can't remember exactly what the final diagnosis was, but it was something along the lines of chronic fatigue syndrome. I remember him saying in an interview once that there was one 7 year period where he did not feel good on a single run, something like that. He had somewhat of a comeback late in his career setting PRs at 2miles, 5000m, and 10,000m, but his best days were probably behind him at that point. Probably would have run close to 13:00 had he not had his health issues.

Awesome video, btw. Thanks for posting.

And his comeback was when he joined up with Salazar.

I had never seen that race before. That course is awesome! Please bring it back into use!

Paul Bunyan wrote:

Ghost of Jason Rexing's Trainers wrote:

Lagat was primarily a miler in college, he had a far more powerful frame by design. What gets me is how fast Goucher was for having such a long, plodding stride. I can see how that would keep him on the edge of injury later on. Also in the mix was hunched over Keith Kelly, future champ for Providence. And the Hausers, who would have been America's first sub-2:10 twins if not for the downside of the grind of Lannana's program.

Could you elaborate on what you mean when you say "by design"? Was it intentional? Or do you mean that he was simply born with that type of physique?

He was primarily a miler after college too, and becoming more lean only seems to have helped.

Yes, intentional. As with many things, what was a priority in college was probably not a priority after college.

RIP James Madison! And when William and Mary used to be good.

Sigh, those were the days.

shjsf wrote:

RIP James Madison! And when William and Mary used to be good.

Sigh, those were the days.

+1

And aside from the Reebok versions, as a rule uniforms looked much better back then. Probably better tech material today, certainly, but by and large designs haven't improved.

yesteryear wrote:

Some great names of the past in there.

Matt Davis' last race of his career, just ducking into the AA count. He, moreso than Goucher, was dogged by injuries and pulled off incredible performances with little or no training. He and Adam could have been an awesome duo, if healthy, to move ahead into the pro ranks together.

YMMV wrote:

Great coverage and great course. Perfect set up to have the finishers file past the camera.

The best course there is, hands down.

Rim Rock, Lawrence, KS

?? wrote:

Alot of people like to hate on Adam but he was phucking nails back then. Most thought he was going to be the Olympic medalist to break the U.S. drought, as U..S. running was in the dumps in the 1990s.

After a few re-reads of RWTB I have realized that Goucher had some hardcore eye roll inducing quotes. All in all he was a freak talent with the intense competitive drive and work ethic required at that level. That personality can turn people off though.

PRD wrote:

Goucher never got to run to his potential as a pro. He had major health issues for years. I can't remember exactly what the final diagnosis was, but it was something along the lines of chronic fatigue syndrome. I remember him saying in an interview once that there was one 7 year period where he did not feel good on a single run, something like that. He had somewhat of a comeback late in his career setting PRs at 2miles, 5000m, and 10,000m, but his best days were probably behind him at that point. Probably would have run close to 13:00 had he not had his health issues.

Awesome video, btw. Thanks for posting.

WIth 22 years of hindsight one could that argue the training he went through that season destroyed his pro career in the long term.

Thanks for posting.

The quality of the commentating and interviews is unreal compared to present day.