How have I never heard of Mark Croghan?

Ya know...Ran against him in high school as he was in the same conference and he didn't seem to be the most social but then he was far and away better then anyone else in NE Ohio whilist I was usually tossing a football around with my teammates waiting for a CC meet to start while he was actually stretching or striding or doing something important...If I remember correctly, he had a smoking-hot sister as well

I prefer Marc Davis

Wasn't Mark coaching distance with Russ Rodgers (sp) as Head of Men's T&F. Not the most positive situation. He might have moved on out of frustration opening the door for Robert Gary.

Harvsauce wrote:

I prefer Marc Davis

What about Mark Coogan?

I know why we don't remember them... too many Mark(c)s. They needed original sounding names like Bob and Todd.

Wasn't Croghan from Green? Any relation?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_vYxfJBKsU

I was just hoping to find a video of the amazing 1992 Olympic Trials Steeplechase final but sadly nothing is out there of Croghan running the steeple. The guy was feather smooth. 4:10 1600 runner who was running 14:45 for 5000 and placing 50th at the Big 10 Cross meet. When he ran 8:45 in 1989 I was pretty surprised. A year later he was down to 8:22 and placing second at the U.S. Championships to Diemer and the rest is history.

I first saw Mark run at Dogwood Relays (or was is Sea Ray then) in Knoxville, late 80s or early 90s. Had no business trying to hang with John Gregorek, but that's exactly what he did. At least until toward the end when Gregorek put it away. Overhead Mark talking with his coach a little later, on top of the world. Said something about knowing he was in over his head, but felt great and went with it. Maybe he was a sophomore, but I'd never heard of him...but knew I would hear more. Seem to recall that after a big breakthrough, perhaps 8:09 in Europe, he didn't know his time until boarding the bus when someone told him. He also mentioned that Kenyan's started calling him "Mark", another breakthrough.

And speaking of US steeplers, how about Brian Diemer (another Big10er)? With Marsh getting all of the (deserved) hype leading up to the 84 Olympics, it was Diemer who medaled (bronze).

Meet Mark in passing once with Keith Dowling, Marc Davis few other runners were there. we were in Philly I think Keith got married the next day, i was only down for Keith\'s bachelor party. Known Keith for years \"great guy\". Marc Davis was one of the coolest guys i have ever meet i believe he was retired at the time before he tired a comeback was driving limo\'s out west somewhere. Anyways I had heard Mark was a pretty wild guy, Mark ended up getting kicked out of the hotel the folloing night. Kinda sucked i wish i would have gotten in town the night of the bachelor party I would liked to hear some of his running story\'s. ( Yes i know i was name dropping).

Don't forget Bob Kempainen.

Pa wrote:

Meet Mark in passing once with Keith Dowling, Marc Davis few other runners were there. we were in Philly I think Keith got married the next day, i was only down for Keith's bachelor party. Known Keith for years "great guy". Marc Davis was one of the coolest guys i have ever meet i believe he was retired at the time before he tired a comeback was driving limo's out west somewhere. Anyways I had heard Mark was a pretty wild guy, Mark ended up getting kicked out of the hotel the folloing night. Kinda sucked i wish i would have gotten in town the night of the bachelor party I would liked to hear some of his running story's. ( Yes i know i was name dropping).

Wow sorry, wrong guy it wasn't Mark it was John Trautmann. Never Meet Mark. Not sure how i mixed that up.

You haven't heard of him because he never won anything...just like the rest of the 90's guys. Some incredible runners who would be competitive today, but the rest of the world was so much farther ahead.

nightline wrote:

You haven't heard of him because he never won anything...just like the rest of the 90's guys. Some incredible runners who would be competitive today, but the rest of the world was so much farther ahead.

Wait now...slow down. To imply that he was never heard of because he never won anything is absurd. As others have mentioned, the 90's did have a few shining lights in spite of the pervasive slump. Mark Croghan was one of them. He was VERY competitive internationally. No, he didn't win any global championships, but I can't think of ANY American distance runner who has won a global championship race over the last 35 years. Yes, US distance is experiencing an incredible upsurge right now (except for the 800 I believe), but there are several fast guys who simply haven't won any global champ races...yet.

Bringing back an old favorite from 2008. His bedtime story still gives me chills.

Nappy Roots wrote:

nightline wrote:

You haven't heard of him because he never won anything...just like the rest of the 90's guys. Some incredible runners who would be competitive today, but the rest of the world was so much farther ahead.

Wait now...slow down. To imply that he was never heard of because he never won anything is absurd. As others have mentioned, the 90's did have a few shining lights in spite of the pervasive slump. Mark Croghan was one of them. He was VERY competitive internationally. No, he didn't win any global championships, but I can't think of ANY American distance runner who has won a global championship race over the last 35 years. Yes, US distance is experiencing an incredible upsurge right now (except for the 800 I believe), but there are several fast guys who simply haven't won any global champ races...yet.

lol - You just made my point for me!

Sileshi Sihine was also "VERY competitive" but he hasn't won anything either. You'll soon see a thread just like this one asking, "Why haven't I ever head of this Sihine guy? His times are sick".

Mark called me about one of my kids a few years back. He started out explaining who is and where he coaches like he is apologizing.

I kinda felt bad for him as I knew exactly who he was and I kept thinking, does he have to explain himself as if no high school or JUCO coaches know him or KSU?

He definitely came off as someone very humble.

Yes, you were surely mistaken in names. I certainly won't confirm whether it was the Fish who got kicked out or not. But I can absolutely confirm it was not Croghan. The guy is all class, and I often wished I was a better runner because of guys like him in the sport. I still tell the story of when Croghan ran 3:39 one night, and made me realize I took for granted the times I sat on him.

MD

Marc I could imagine taking Croghan for granted in a flat race since he raced so rarely outside the Steeple, a lot like Henry Marsh, they both only had a pr. of 13:48 or so for 5000. I never heard Croghan ran a 3:39 though. But if you are running a load of 8:09-8:13 steeples that's probably what you would expect for a 1500 time.

Was the steeple your favorite race even though you always sinced you were 19 had potential to be among the best U.S. in the 5000? You had early steeple experience in high school but did you ever consider yoursef a steeplechaser and did you like the event?

You belong right up there with Croghan, Kennedy, Williams, and Bob Kempainen as the class of my generation for U.S. runners. I think your victory over Kahlid Skah when you broke the U.S. 2 mile record was the only major international victory for an American aside from Joe Falcon's 3:49 at Oslo that whole decade.

He did in fact coach Gary in college for a couple years but OSU was awful and Crogan only showed up to coach practice becauseI don't think Russ would've hired someone otherwise.

I have heard Gary speak on a variety of topics and he seems to always mention Crogan. There is no doubt he holds Mark in the absolute highest regard. Gary gave this great talk about Diemer and Croghan and how awesome they were, but too humble for most in the room to even know!

My friend was standing right there at the Trials in 1996 when Gary who PR'd by a ton to get 2nd and hugged Mark while telling him he never would've done this without him. Only classy guys have presence to thank someone when the impulse is to just celebrate.

Davis can tell you great story about Gary not wanting to take any Olympic gear the next day because he thought he had to pay for it; true story straight from Crogan's mouth.

physical therapist wrote:

Harvsauce wrote:

I prefer Marc Davis

What about Mark Coogan?

Dude, you beat me too it.

i was looking at # of performances out of the all time top 1000 (#1000 is 8:14.78) and here is the list.

1. mark croghan has 13 of the top 1000 permances all time.

2. henry marsh has 6

3. dan lincoln has 3

4. marc davis, brian diemer and dan huling have 2 each.

that is # of times americans who have run 8:14.78 or faster.

USA has 6 runners and 28 performances.

croghan has more than double any other american, and almost as many as every other american combined.