LSU-Nit, you mentioned that VU is recruitng a runner from Australia, but you were not at liberty to reveal his/her name. Have they been successful? Any hint at all? Male or female? More than one? Australia or NZL?
Posted on 12/10 6:59 AM | IP: Logged
Well, Sebastian, I can somewhat cryptically say that -- yes -- there will be a January addition from Perth. 18 years old. 3:48.2 with 14:50-ish 5000 talent. From those numbers, obviously a male. Looks to be in the Blincoe/Curtis mold: 1500/3000/5000. Add him to Ryan Sheridan and Marcus will inject a much needed shot of adrenaline into a squad that most observers categorized as under-achievers during XC season.
Now for the bad news: I spoke with someone in Ireland today who is very well informed about all manner of T&F happenings on the Emerald Isle. He told me that the odds of Ciara Mageean coming to the States in 2011 are virtually zero. This based on a personal conversation that he had with her within the last week. Over time, she has become less and less interested in leaving Ireland and her support network. Mageean-to-Villanova is now officially a pipe dream. Alas and Alack.
Posted on 12/11 12:13 AM | IP: Logged
LSU-Nit, thanks for the hint. Figured it out. He is as you suggested - a 1500 / 5000 guy. I see him more as a 5000 guy who runs a leg on 4xmile. But it is hard to say without more information - i.e., speed. What is his 800 time?
One should view him as an incoming freshman like the other 2010 HS grads. Compared to other incoming freshmen, this year, the numbers look very good. If this is the guy, recently ran 3:47+ without being pushed and a nice 3000 against older competition. An apt comparison would be Alex Hatz (who was not interested in VU).
Again, if this is guy, he was a soccer player, which bodes well. There seems to be some correlation between kids who start out playing soccer and then become successful runners.
Ciara Mageean? That one seems strange - almost unhealthy. Don't know why. Most kids are excited about getting away from home - a sense of adventure. This one seems more like those close to her are unable to let her go - like a princess prevented from leaving the castle. Coach's statement was off the wall. But it is her life. Time to move on.
My point (as mentioned in another post): unless there is great improvement in Morrison and Hogan, VU needs to recruit two outstanding women if they want to be competitive in XC. And the best American girls seem to have already committed. Burroughs, Chapman and Schappert seem to be a couple of years away.
Posted on 12/12 12:10 PM | IP: Logged
Seb Coe, yes, the kid just ran 8:21, and the 3:47 was indeed solo, about two weeks ago or so. The only 800 time I saw was perhaps old, but it wasn't great. Leads me to believe that he's on the longer end of things: 1500/3000/5000. My sense is that he sees himself now as a 1500 guy, but, like Curtis, I could see him actually be better at 3000/5000. Very nice addition. Indoor will have some good young guys: Fitzsimons is a 800/1500 blend: a 1:45 guy before it's all said and done and will flirt with 3:42 in a couple of years. The new guy from Australia will do 1500/3000 and he's hitting 3:47, 8:21 as an 18 year old. Ryan Sheridan has already won an NCAA regional at 5000 and made AA outdoors at that distance. Add these pieces to Mildenhall, Gibney, Mackenzie, Kane and the rest. Should be interesting. Lots of competition within the squad.
Agree that Gina's squad needs to add 1 or 2 kids to vie for the 5th spot. There was, as you say, a big drop off in 6 and 7 after Lipari at 5. The women were able to repeat the title this year because they were able (via Lipari) to replace Nicole Schappert. How will they deal with losing Marino, who was running at 2, not 5 as Schappert was? Tall order, and losing Cuffe adds more pressure, recruiting-wise. Time for some divine intervention in the form of another fast Serb?
Mageean is pulling a Ryan Gregson, I guess. So good that she doesn't need to come to the USA to develop her talent. Gregson's strategy (staying in Australia) has paid off big time, to be sure. If Mageean falters at all, she may reconsider her decision and be back in play in a year or two. But it sure is hard to imagine a scenario in which things go South for her.
Posted on 12/13 12:17 AM | IP: Logged
LSU-Nit, the reason for two women is that I believe VU loses both Marino and Smith - #2 and #3 runners. #5 is pretty far back and #6 and #7 aren't even in the conversation. You're hoping for SERB; I am hoping for SERB & NZL. Pull that one off and it gets real interesting. This is very serious talent.
Indoors, I want to see how Sam Ellison develops. I am also curious about Matt Winkler. Ran XC and just broke Tully's 1000 record at Jack Pyrah invitational. Where is Chris Williams?
I tend to view VU through the lens of the Penn Relays. Where are the guys who will win those relays? So in looking at recruits, I am thinking 400 - mile. If some of the distance guys can run a decent mile, so much the better. There a number of kids out there who fit this VU profile, but who is actually coming? Fitzsimons was a real plus. Ellison has possibities. Who is on the horizon? I like this kid froom Ireland (here we go again), Mark English - 1:49.7 (800). I suspect Marcus has at least inquired. He worked really hard with Mageean and I believe is very disappointed.
This post was edited on 12/13 9:07 PM by sebastianc
I have wondered about her all XCountry season since she has been outstanding, but her times in anything less than distances have not been very good. Gina has been able to find these young ladies who seem to have the ability to develop. I couldn't get up your link, but th signing was on the NJ mile spit board. The junior from Delaware Pierce is another one who must be on our radar. I wonder if our resident experts LSU-nit and/or sebastianic think she could help us next year.
Posted on 1/14 8:50 PM | IP: Logged
I talked to one of the top track coaches in the area. He had mentioned Rob Andrews to me when he was early in his high school career. Many of his athletes have received scholarships to major colleges, so this coach's opinion is usually very accurate.
He is very high on Venables and has been for several years, having watched her progress throughout high school. He says her mile time is very deceiving, and she is capable of running much faster. He also thinks her 800 time would be surprising for primarily a distance runner.
Posted on 1/14 9:31 PM | IP: Logged
Megan Venables is a wonderful distance recruit. Fits one of the XC holes created by the graduations of Marino and Smith. Unfortunately there is little indication that she has the “speed” to run miles or lower. However, I want to believe excattyguy’s comments that she has deceiving speed at the mile and is capable of running much faster. That would be great. Then she would run a solid leg on the 4xmile.
The fact that she has received a full scholarship suggests VU is no longer in pursuit of either the Serb or NZL runners - who would have been better fits. In that case, it is disappointing. However, if one thinks somewhat differently, Venables satisfies an immediate hole in the distance program. Hogan and Morrison can take care of the mile at least for another year because the following year they get Agee Wilson (NJ) and she is the real deal.
Whtecat, that sort of addresses your question. Holly Pierce would be a wonderful addition. She is outstanding both at XC and mile. Check her stats at MileSplit. Agee Wilson is just a lot better. She is outstanding from 400 to mile - i.e., she can win at any of those distances. Think 2:04 (800) as a soph. She is a must sign.
The beauty of both Pierce and Wilson, they are both in VU's recruiting territory. There is a girl in Ireland I know is real good (in the Mageean mold), but I think she is two years away.
This post was edited on 1/15 12:43 PM by sebastianc
Posted on 1/15 10:18 AM | IP: Logged
not my comments, sebastianc -- I'm relaying the comments of one of the area's top coaches. So far his analysis of other high school runners projecting to college has been on target, ie he spoke very highly of Amanda Marino's potential long before she committed to Villanova.
Posted on 1/15 11:53 AM | IP: Logged
Ms. Wasik (Medina, OH) will compete in pole vault and heptathlon. Is also an outstanding gymnast. Go over to MileSplit (OH) and check-out her stats for the various events she competes in.
Venables ran a 1600i PR last night in Toms River: 5:06.92. Let's call that a 5:08 low mile. That makes her about as fast at that distance as Villanova freshman Nicky Akande (5:07.21 mile this indoor season), maybe 3 seconds slower right now than Sarah Morrison (5:05.72 mile this season; 5:10.39 best mile last year indoors).
Look, she's no Emily Lipari (4:47.03 last month) at the mile, but this girl was ranked #2 in the USA in cross country all season long by MileSplit, broke the 27-year old course record at Holmdel, and crushed by 47 seconds the course record at Belmont Plateau. As long as she's studly at 3000, 5000, and XC that's fine with me. Perhaps her mile time will get better, but if not, so be it. Thinking back, Eamonn Coghlan couldn't run XC worth a damn but he was nice to have around. Let someone else do the mile.
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