The altitude discussion is kinda funny. There’s no correct answer obviously. If you recruited Reynold Cheruiyot to run an all-out mile at Flagstaff I bet he runs 3:52 +\- 2 seconds. But that doesn’t mean the conversion is that bad, just very subjective.
So Colin has now reached the level of HS Alan Webb. It is a good step in the right direction.
lmao HS Webb was finishing right behind Lagat for 5th place in the Bowerman Mile, and he beat the NCAA champ at USAs that year. If Colin's at that level, he's the favorite for the title.
Think about that. We spend a week arguing about conversions. Then we get the beginnings of a huge validation of those conversions and you don't want to talk about them. This is the most rational time to talk about them, the time to settle the dispute for good. The conversions look like they are actually very good. This is just two athletes, so we need to see more athletes run, but it is a really good start. As for this race, it is what it is, a really good time and a very solid drop for Sahlman. That doesn't mean it is not the best time of all to look back at the conversions.
Same thing happened with Christian Soratos from Montana State back in the day. Really enjoyed watching that kid run.
Non-track people are going to use this to say Nico could run 3:47.
‘Cuz he can. You people who take the debbie downer view until forced to admit you’re wrong, sheesh.
This is NOT an emotional assessment so “Debbie downer” has nothing to do with it. Please tell me you can grasp that the truth shall set you free, and emotions have nothing to do with it. Nico cannot and will not ever run a 3:47 mile unless it is downhill. Please understand that. Even if he ran 12:55 or something extraordinary tonight it would mean nothing in terms of his ability to run 3:47. Solinsky and Rupp couldn’t do it. Nico cannot either.
I didn’t know that and it’s pretty crazy. The conversions are imaginary and it’s not like schools at altitude are prevented from traveling to meets at sea level.
If you didn’t know, then why were you giving out all the black pearls? I mean, look how adamant you were with completely false information. Ridiculous, dude. It has been that way for a long, long time. I think the whole works just talks out if its @ss these days, and expects no one to call them on it…
That was a really solid field he just took down, he’s definitely in the conversation for a title this NCAA’s
The reason that I voted your post down was that there are multiple guys capable of low 3:50s already, and a 55.80 close (28/27) usually doesn't do it. He is not at the level yet of, say, Essayi, Waskom, Messaoudi, Nico Young (likely running 3k/5k at nationals), Spencer, and others. Title contention is in his future, definitely, just not in his present.
And you don't have to be on their level to win NCAAs. All you have to do is get through the trials and cross the line first. How many times has the guy or gal with the fastest time not won NCAA finals? Heck, guys have made the Olympic Trials Finals that did not have one of the 9 fastest time or however many they put on the line. There's racing and there's time trialing and it is appearing Sahlman can do both.
I am high on Sahlman but it’d be skipping the line to say he’ll just win NCAAs or even go All-American. Liam Murphy for instance ran 3:53 with a 54 last 440 at Penn State. There’re a host of 3:50-3:52 guys who are more seasoned. Sahlmans talent and ceiling are exciting, but the NCAA is loaded.
Colin Sahlman of NAU put on a show in the men's mile as he posted a winning time and new school record of 3:53.17 at the 2024 BU John Thomas Terrier Classic....