This kid competed in xc/track all through high school and then started his lifting. Nothing wrong with that especially since he "only" ran 4:43 and likely wouldn;t have been as succesful in college. So, he didn't give up on the sport any more then most of the runners who stop running after high school or college. A lot of people in his shoes probably went off to college and put on 40 pounds of fat. I give him credit for contining to work out to improve himself.