Running is my first and true love. So much that I read Lukas’ results from his freshman XC season. I then studied them like a private detective, as I was fasinated. When I found out that he was also a multisporter, I reached out to him while visiting Chicago (Xmas) a few years back, while holidaying at Noreen’s parents.
Back then, he insisted that he was a triathlete first and did the running as it is one of the 3 sports. He expalined how he will never win an Olympic medal agains the east Africans on the track, while his chances were much greater in the sport of triathlon. Later that spring, he ran 14:18 and 8:53 for 5000m and 2 miles.
I believe he is either being influenced by his parents or someone else to discourage Lukas from running or he wants to be different and be a cool triathlete insead of a geeky runner.
Let’s take his high school performances and then compare to Meb Keflezgi. Meb runs 4:06 for 1600m and 8:51 for 3200M. Lukas runs 3:59 for the mile and 8:29 for a full 2 miles (3200m is approx 3.2 seconds short of 2 miles)
Lukas is about 8 seconds faster over 4 laps and 25 seconds faster over 8.
Meb was not a late bloomer. His efforts ranked him at the top of the US list his senior year. He continued to get stronger as scheduled in college at UCLA. Meb progessed post collegiatley to earn a silver medal in the Athlens Games in the marathon.
Lukas has the tools and talent to be as good as he wants. We can also use Rupp, Solinsky, and any other American that has come through the system in the past 10 years…for that matter, ever. Other than Fernandez, he is light years better than anyone else we have seen in a while.
Lukas leaving Oregon? Unreal. Maybe Oregon was not the right choice for the kid. When you have such a unique training regiment, a powerhouse school may not be the answer. There is no way a kid with such a unique method of training could melt into a program of a Lanana, Wetmore, or even John McDonnell. While these coaches may say “yes” to the crazy cross training when recruiting a kid, the rules change as soon as he steps onto campus in August of the freshman year. (we had a runner come in as a freshman while I was a year older, who had a coach that had him on the bike a ton. When he was on his recruiting trip he boasted of this innovative training, he was told that he could continue this if he came to be a Razorback…you guess what happen to poor Iana Alsen!)
I guess that his lackluster performances blew Lukas’ confidence, where he then pulled the plug. If I remember correctly, he competed hard core in traithlons until September. I could not imagine finishing off a stellar high school career, race triathlons all summer long, then show up and get thrown to the wolves just as your energy systems are calling for an off season. At some point an athlete has to rebuild their system. The kid was fried.
At the end of the day, it is hard to be the best kid in your city, state, country etc, then come to a powerhouse like Oregon where there are a handful of badasses…some 4 years older. I bet there weren’t very many Ducks that could have matched Lukas when he smoked that 8:29. However, the daily hard training and new environment surley crossed the wires oof Lukas. Lukas is a kid that can make it in running. I think he should have went to a program that he molded the program to him rather than the program molding him. I hope he gives running a shot, assuming there is a program at whatever the school in in Colorado. I have never studied his traithlon. If he believes or really is as talented of a triathlete as he is a runner, the Brownlees are going to have some new competition. I find it hard to believe that his triathlon has the potential as his run. I hope I am wrong.
For the rest of us, make sure you think before making a decision. Whether it be quiting your job to qualify for Kona, or not getting outa bed to ride your bike because you think it might rain.
This is coming from a guy that made poor decisions for the bulk of my golden years, only to get it right in his 40’s… I am going to log off to see if I have any NCAA eligibilty left!