Olympic Fever

If you have been at home at all during the past week you have probably watched some crazy random Olympic events like archery or white water canoeing or handball, but all that I really am pumped for is the great sport of track and field (besides the occasional basketball, volleyball and swimming, I mean I am a sports fan). But I know most of my readers are high schoolers so I figured I'll spin this a little high schooley. Here are some of the high school marks of the future distance Olympians.

Nick Symmonds: 1:53 for 800m, 4:20 for 1600m, he was also a state champion at 3200m and the 4x4. In college he really took off when he dropped times of 1:45.83 and 3:40.91 for 1500m. He went to a D3 school because he didn't get D1 scholarships.

Matt Centrowitz: 8:41 for 2 miles (negative split), 4:04.09 1600m, Centrowitz still had NCAA eligibility when he medaled at the 2011 world championships in the 1500m.

Andrew Wheating: 3:54 for 1500m, 14:55 indoor 5000m, he made the Olympics at 800m as a college sophomore.

Duane Solomon: 1:49.79 for 800m, he was the 2003 CA State Champion at this event. His 1:43.44 is the third best Season Best of the competitors in the Olympics this year. His NCAA PR was a 1:45.69.

Galen Rupp: 4:01.8 for the mile, 8:03 for 3k and 13:37 for 5k. He also ran 29:09 for 10k. He had set high school records in the 2k, 3k and 5k.

Matt Tegenkamp: 15:26 XC 5k, 8:57 for 3200m and 4:11 for 1600m, he went on to run at Wisconsin where he lowered his 5k PR to 13:30.

Evan Jager: 8:47 for 2 miles, 4:05.68 for the mile in the same meet. He was a part of a 7:40.02 4x800m and had a 1:51 open PR. Jager didn't start running the steeple until this season. He is doing alright so far.

Don Cabral: 14:32 for 5k on the track, 8:56 for 2 Miles, 4:09 for the Mile and he also finished 8th at Footlocker Nationals for Cross Country

Dathan Ritzenhein: 4:05 for 1600m, 8:41 for 3200m as a HS Junior, and 13:44.70 for 5k, just missing the HS record (Rupp would break the mark in the years to come). He won back to back Footlocker Championships including a course record time of 14:29 as a HS Junior.

Lopez Lomong: He helped his team New York squad win XC and Track state titles but his career really blossomed in College at Northern Arizona where he was the indoor 3000m National Champion as well as the outdoor 1500m National Champion.

Leonel Manzano: Manzano ran 1:50, 4:06 and 9:07 at his Texas High School.

PS Thanks to everyone for helping me to 150,000 career views on the blog! It is a cool achievement and this experience has been a great one. Hopefully the 2012-2013 season brings even better results!