Is Lukasz Verzbicas better than Steve Prefontaine was as a high school fresman?

MileSplit United States Discussion

  • william windham jr
    User
    williamwindhamjr
    I am really excited about the future of this kid Lukasz.He broke the 5k indoor record,and ran under 9 minuts for 2 miles,running a 8:57.This is why I pose this question.Prefontaine is tracks equivalent to Michael Jordan for basketball,but never won an olympic medal.Oh for desert Lukas ran a 4:15 mile indoors also!
  • User
    scud Edited
    I think Lukas is very gifted and has a great future in running but as he and several have noted, he actually is already 16 and should be a sophomore by US standards. This does not take away from anything he has done, but I hate to see all the freshman records fall when he is actually older. Again, I think he is an incredible runner and I look forward to watching him in the future!
  • User
    Subscriber
    chicago
    Pre wasn't that great his freshman year, I don't think he broke 4:45 for a mile. So right now Lukas is better than Pre was
  • User
    PorkChop
    williamwindhamjr
    I am really excited about the future of this kid Lukasz.He broke the 5k indoor record,and ran under 9 minuts for 2 miles,running a 8:57.This is why I pose this question.Prefontaine is tracks equivalent to Michael Jordan for basketball,but never won an olympic medal.Oh for desert Lukas ran a 4:15 mile indoors also!


    Prefontaine was the Karl Malone of High School Running. Gerry Lindgren was the Wilt Chamberlin and Jim Ryun was Michael Jordan.

    By the way, Michael Jordan has two Olympic gold medals.
  • Jarrett LeBlanc
    User
    runner430mile
    for Pre's high school accomplishments...first of all how can anyone say that a 13:57 for 3 miles is legit... did he run this on track or an un accurate cross country course?.. if he did and it was legit than his prs should have been way faster for the mile and 2 mile... for example him going through 2 miles in his pr of 9:42 he would have to had dropped a 4:15 last mile to run a 13:57 3 mile... so as of right now if the 13:57 is legit pre and lukasz are close but if its not then lukasz blows him away
  • User
    PorkChop Edited
    runner430mile
    for Pre's high school accomplishments...first of all how can anyone say that a 13:57 for 3 miles is legit... did he run this on track or an un accurate cross country course?.. if he did and it was legit than his prs should have been way faster for the mile and 2 mile... for example him going through 2 miles in his pr of 9:42 he would have to had dropped a 4:15 last mile to run a 13:57 3 mile... so as of right now if the 13:57 is legit pre and lukasz are close but if its not then lukasz blows him away


    You're logic is so flawed it hurts. Perhaps he ran a new pr when he ran the 3 mile time?
  • carlos(injured) vega
    User
    vegacarlos
    first off. i dont think this should even be a topic. Lukas Verzbicas is 16 and a freshman. Ok i know it sounds like im a lukas hater but im not. i relize he has potential but come on you guys comparing lukas to steve, would be like comparing alan webb to roger bannister. they were all extroadinary in their given time. plus theres the extra factors- faster mondo tracks, new spikes, and plus theres those vitamin pills.

    so again like i said im not a lukas hater, but come pre was a beast....for the 1970s...
  • User
    RunningJoke
    There are too many variables to make a meaningful comparison. Its like comparing Tyson to Ali. I am not sure what is hoped to be gained by the comparison. If there was something to be gained, you cannot, simply compare times to answer the question that is posed- of course this statement refers to comparing runners from different eras.
  • User
    mediocrity
    pork chop ur logic is no better if jim ryun was the michael jordan...then who is alan webb...and if u look and see around on merchandise and who has the most important track meet in the nation...it will definitely be pre...no record will stand the test of time...so u cant measure people by pr's...i mean people paid attention when steve ran...the only way i know who the hell gerry lindgren is is from a book about pre...ryun...was a beast dont get me wrong...and is a one of the greatest milers ever...but pre could go down to the mile and giv ryun a run for his money any day...also...pre died at 25, he didnt even hav a chance to finish his career...and obviously verzbicas is better so far if we are comparing times
  • User
    PorkChop Edited
    Prefontaine is the most important meet in the country because of the athletes that are there. Not the name.

    Jim Ryun ran 3:51.1 on a cinder track closing in 53. Pre ran 3:54.6 on a rubber track. I guarantee Pre didn't have the wheels to close that short of a distance that fast.

    Of course, we're talking about what was accomplished in high school, so....back to the high school talk. I'll try to explain this in simple words.

    Ryun ran 3:58 in a high school meet. Yes, a high school meet. Nobody else has ever done that.

    Ryun made the Olympic team in high school. Your man-crushes (Webb and Pre) didn't do that.

    When Ryun set the then high school mile record, he beat Peter Snell. Snell was the defending Olympic 1500m champ. Webb beat Bryan Berryhill. Whoop dee do.

    Jim Ryun = Michael Jordan of high school track

    Furthermore, you prove your lack of intelligence by stating you only know who Gerry Lindgren is because of a book (and I'll assume you've watched the movies hoping each time that Pre won't die). Lindgen, too, is worlds apart from Prefontaine in high school. The dude ran 8:40 indoors on a tiny track and was considered a favorite to win a medal in the '64 Olympic 10k as a high schooler.

    Read up, Johnny.