We're about to see the reemergence of Tony Smoragiewicz. Tony was the bronze medalist at Junior Worlds in Beijing in 2011 and won the PATCO (now CAMTRI) Junior Champs in 2013. He's racing the EDR in Clermont in 10 days, looking to earn his pro card back, he's announced a new wetsuit sponsor on social media....and, more to the point, he's finished with his run commitment at Michigan and ready to come back into triathlon full time.
I spoke with him on the phone mid way through his time in Ann Arbor and he explained it was his intention to swim & bike a bit while running at school. The coach was amenable too, but Tony found himself simply exhausted by the whole shebang: run + school + other workouts. He decided to only run while at Michigan and pick up triathlon when he was finished. This is pretty much the same path that Hunter Kemper chose when he walked-on and ran at Wake Forest. As it happens, Tony, like Hunter, is an extremely likable guy, polite, presents well, and is potentially another phenomenal representative for the US in Triathlon.
Here's what I'm waiting (and wanting) to see...can an athlete now, in today's level of triathlon, commit to single sport for 4 years then return to multisport and be great. I curious not only because of Tony but also because both of the 2016 Junior World Champions are for the USA and are now running full time for universities: Austin Hindman (Mizzou) and Tylor Knibb (Cornell).
I'm eager to hear the speculation from the ST readership.
Ian
Ian Murray
http://www.TriathlonTrainingSeries.com
I like the pursuit of mastery
Twitter - @TriCoachIan
I spoke with him on the phone mid way through his time in Ann Arbor and he explained it was his intention to swim & bike a bit while running at school. The coach was amenable too, but Tony found himself simply exhausted by the whole shebang: run + school + other workouts. He decided to only run while at Michigan and pick up triathlon when he was finished. This is pretty much the same path that Hunter Kemper chose when he walked-on and ran at Wake Forest. As it happens, Tony, like Hunter, is an extremely likable guy, polite, presents well, and is potentially another phenomenal representative for the US in Triathlon.
Here's what I'm waiting (and wanting) to see...can an athlete now, in today's level of triathlon, commit to single sport for 4 years then return to multisport and be great. I curious not only because of Tony but also because both of the 2016 Junior World Champions are for the USA and are now running full time for universities: Austin Hindman (Mizzou) and Tylor Knibb (Cornell).
I'm eager to hear the speculation from the ST readership.
Ian
Ian Murray
http://www.TriathlonTrainingSeries.com
I like the pursuit of mastery
Twitter - @TriCoachIan