Article improved with lists

Below is the original article:

Choosing running over college
By Dick Patrick, USA TODAY

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Seven months removed from high school, two of the USA's most promising young distance runners are living in an unusual limbo.

Technically, Galen Rupp of Portland and Caitlin Chock of Roseville, Calif., aren't pros. But they aren't in college. They go to work every day, training with world-class athletes and using world-class facilities at the Nike headquarters outside Portland.

Members of the Nike-funded Oregon Project coached by Alberto Salazar, they are the first participants in a program Salazar hopes will help revitalize U.S. middle-distance and distance running by revolutionizing the system.

He envisions creating a Nike-sponsored U.S. junior team that would enable top prospects to train for a few years before turning pro or entering college.

This weekend, Rupp, 18, and Chock, 19, who both set U.S. high school records in the 5,000 meters last summer, will compete in the U.S. Cross Country Championships in Vancouver, Wash., seeking berths on the U.S. junior team for next month's world championships.

"We feel if we can get this group to do well, it can set the framework for a larger junior project," Salazar says. "I think Galen and Caitlin have the potential to run with the best juniors in the world."

Although the Oregon Project, founded by Salazar in 2001, includes veterans such as Olympians Dan Browne and Adam Goucher, Salazar wants an increasing focus on younger runners: "I believe we've got to go farther back down that pipeline, identify promising kids and train them with world-class methods. The rest of the world is doing that. The Kenyans, Ethiopians and Moroccans are all doing that, and we know how talented and successful their runners are. How can we think we can bypass that source?"

Ethiopian, Kenyan and Moroccan men won 10 of the 12 medals in the four distance track events in the Athens Olympics. Though the USA had success with Meb Keflezighi's silver and Deena Drossin's bronze in the Athens marathons, the last U.S. men's Olympic medal on the track at a distance greater than 800 meters came in 1984 and the last women's medal in 1992.

"They're already so far ahead," Salazar says of the Africans. "The problem is you can't wait until you're 22 and out of college and think, 'I'm going to go all out now, getting the best coach and training like a professional.' You're not going to catch up in four or five years. Five years from now will LeBron James be a better basketball player after going straight into the NBA as opposed to college? He went to the highest level. We've got to do that with our junior runners."

Since 2002 at least 10 track and field athletes have left college before their eligibility expired, led by miler Alan Webb, who left Michigan after his freshman year to sign a six-year contract with Nike worth $250,000 annually. Sprint phenom and 2004 200 Olympic silver medalist Allyson Felix signed with Adidas directly out of high school; she attends the University of Southern California.

Rupp is the embodiment of Salazar's dream. He has trained with Salazar since his freshman year at Portland's Central Catholic, where Salazar was cross country coach. "You can see he has a beautiful stride, quickness, pop," says Salazar, who won the New York City Marathon three times and Boston once. "A lot is God-given talent. But we've been working on that for four years. The earlier you start, the better it is for the final product."

"Galen is eight seconds behind (in the 5,000) the best juniors in the world. He's close. We've got to keep him close."

High school stars

Rupp and Chock are coming off banner senior seasons. Last year at Central Catholic, Rupp set U.S. high school marks in the 2,000 (5:18.5), 3,000 (8:03.67) and 5,000 (13:37.91) and had the year's best time in the mile (4:01.8). Chock's senior year at Granite Bay (Calif.) included two U.S. high school marks in the 5,000 (15:52.88) and the year's best time for 2 miles (10:01.99).

Both have experienced recent disappointments. Rupp developed a foot stress fracture in November; Chock, who has long battled an eating disorder, is recovering from anemia.

She continues to push herself mentally and physically as she is initiated into the Salazar system.

Chock reported to the University of Richmond in August but left a month later. She returned home to California, unsure of the future. Then Salazar called.

"I couldn't believe first off that it was Alberto Salazar calling," she says. "And second of all that this was such a great opportunity to train with such great people under such great coaches at such great facilities. It's something you can't pass up."

In November she moved to Portland, where she lives with Salazar and his family, paying $500 a month for rent, according to Salazar. "We're careful to preserve their (NCAA) eligibility," says Salazar, adding Rupp and Chock pay for travel and the use of Nike facilities.

"My husband and I couldn't be happier with the situation," says Caitlin's mother, Linda Chock. "She clicked with Alberto and his family right away. She has never been healthier or happier. She's found a niche. She's with people who are as serious about training as she is."

As a runner, Chock resembles her coach, whose determination exceeded his form. "When Caitlin came here," Salazar says, "her form was almost painful to watch and she had no power."

Chock continues to address her eating disorder, which became critical when she was a high school freshman. In Portland she sees a therapist regularly, with Salazar attending some sessions, and consults with a nutritionist.

In two-plus months, the 5-6 Chock has gained 7 pounds, to 109, consuming 5,500-6,000 calories a day, triple the recommended amount for someone her size.

Says Chock: "Since coming here, I'm the healthiest I've been. I've seen that by eating better, my workouts improve. I feel better, stronger."

Little middle-, long-distance success

If Rupp and Chock choose to compete collegiately, it's likely to be at Oregon, where there is behind-the-scenes maneuvering to supplement the coaching staff. Oregon track and cross country coach Martin Smith has improved the Ducks' track fortunes, thanks to field events and the decathlon.

But Smith, who won an NCAA cross country title at Wisconsin, has not produced many middle-distance and distance successes at Oregon, where coaching legends Bill Bowerman and Bill Dellinger turned distance running into an identity similar to Penn State being Linebacker U. This has disappointed fans, alumni and donors, including Nike founder Phil Knight, a former Oregon miler and one of the school's biggest benefactors.

Salazar says Pat Tyson, a successful coach at Spokane (Wash.) Mead High and an ex-Oregon runner and roommate of running legend Steve Prefontaine, has been mentioned as a cross country coaching candidate. "Pat Tyson would be a great distance coach at the University of Oregon," Salazar says.

Salazar has a good relationship with Tyson and might entrust Rupp and Chock to Tyson because Salazar would have great input into their training and racing schedules.

The coach of one of Oregon's Pacific-10 Conference rivals says he isn't worried about a possible recruiting advantage for Oregon.

"If everything is legal (under NCAA rules), then welcome to Oregon," UCLA's Art Venegas says. "If there's anything illegal, then it needs to be addressed. That's in the NCAA's lap. I'm not concerned with advantages — hey, I've got great weather — as long as they're legal."

Bringing 'the mountain'

Salazar insists the only advantage his young runners have is access to cutting-edge coaching and supplemental training usually not available at colleges.

To help design and supervise workouts for Oregon Project athletes, Salazar hired former George Mason University track and field coach John Cook, who developed NCAA and world champions in the middle distances. Vern Gambetta, a former track and field coach turned speed guru for baseball and soccer teams, devises strength and flexibility programs.

Typically, Chock's and Rupp's schedules include a morning run, an afternoon nap at simulated altitude or in an oxygen-rich hyperbaric chamber to enhance recovery and an afternoon workout.

For the dozen or so Oregon Project runners, the day often ends with a visit to the Nike House, home to some and a meeting place for all.

Most of the rooms contain machines that reduce oxygen to simulate altitude. Hurdles are lined up in the garage for drills.

On a recent night, three therapists massaged and treated runners in the living room. Just outside the kitchen, runners were readying the whirlpool by filling it with ice from a restaurant-sized ice machine. Other runners were hooked up to a laser machine to treat injuries and soreness. On the patio, Rupp was chest-deep in water, running in a tank containing underwater treadmills.

When healthy, Rupp uses the tanks to supplement mileage but reduce the risk of injury. After suffering a right foot stress fracture in November, he spent even more time in the tank.

For pleasure and performance, the tanks are equipped with headphones attached to a sound system — so the neighbors don't complain about loud music — and a special mask to simulate altitude.

"The Ethiopians and Kenyans do all their training at altitude," Salazar says. "If we can't get to the mountain, then we bring the mountain to us. This is what's missing at colleges. They spend millions on football and basketball but won't spend $50,000 for one of these tanks."

If Rupp is to be among the elite, he knows the advantages at the Nike House are more necessity than luxury.

"People say, 'All you're doing is running?' " Rupp says. "Look at the training we're getting. Look at the people we're meeting. It's great experience.

"It's nice right now to not have to worry about school or homework. I can focus solely on training."

"Running nirvana," Chock says.


Below is the article improved by adding two lists:

Choosing running over college
By Dick Patrick, USA TODAY

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Seven months removed from high school, two of the USA's most promising young distance runners are living in an unusual limbo.

Technically, Galen Rupp of Portland and Caitlin Chock of Roseville, Calif., aren't pros. But they aren't in college. They go to work every day, training with world-class athletes and using world-class facilities at the Nike headquarters outside Portland.

Members of the Nike-funded Oregon Project coached by Alberto Salazar, they are the first participants in a program Salazar hopes will help revitalize U.S. middle-distance and distance running by revolutionizing the system.

He envisions creating a Nike-sponsored U.S. junior team that would enable top prospects to train for a few years before turning pro or entering college.

This weekend, Rupp, 18, and Chock, 19, who both set U.S. high school records in the 5,000 meters last summer, will compete in the U.S. Cross Country Championships in Vancouver, Wash., seeking berths on the U.S. junior team for next month's world championships.

"We feel if we can get this group to do well, it can set the framework for a larger junior project," Salazar says. "I think Galen and Caitlin have the potential to run with the best juniors in the world."

Although the Oregon Project, founded by Salazar in 2001, includes veterans such as Olympians Dan Browne and Adam Goucher, Salazar wants an increasing focus on younger runners: "I believe we've got to go farther back down that pipeline, identify promising kids and train them with world-class methods. The rest of the world is doing that. The Kenyans, Ethiopians and Moroccans are all doing that, and we know how talented and successful their runners are. How can we think we can bypass that source?"

Benefits of the Oregon Project

• Members are able to maintain NCAA and Olympic eligibility
• Members can focus on training rather than academics
• Facilities and equipment are much better than that of top universities
• Coaches are given the opportunity to work with younger athletes
• On-site housing available for athletes

Ethiopian, Kenyan and Moroccan men won 10 of the 12 medals in the four distance track events in the Athens Olympics. Though the USA had success with Meb Keflezighi's silver and Deena Drossin's bronze in the Athens marathons, the last U.S. men's Olympic medal on the track at a distance greater than 800 meters came in 1984 and the last women's medal in 1992.

"They're already so far ahead," Salazar says of the Africans. "The problem is you can't wait until you're 22 and out of college and think, 'I'm going to go all out now, getting the best coach and training like a professional.' You're not going to catch up in four or five years. Five years from now will LeBron James be a better basketball player after going straight into the NBA as opposed to college? He went to the highest level. We've got to do that with our junior runners."

Since 2002 at least 10 track and field athletes have left college before their eligibility expired, led by miler Alan Webb, who left Michigan after his freshman year to sign a six-year contract with Nike worth $250,000 annually. Sprint phenom and 2004 200 Olympic silver medalist Allyson Felix signed with Adidas directly out of high school; she attends the University of Southern California.

Top-ranked Male Marathoners according to Race Results Weekly

1. Gezahenge Abera of Ethiopia
2. Abdelkader El Mouaziz of Morocco
3. Khalid Khannouchi of the United States (Moroccan-born)
4. Antonio Pinto of Portugal
5. Josephat Kiprono of Kenya

Top-ranked Female Marathoners according to Race Results Weekly
1. Naoko Takahashi of Japan
2. Lidia Simon of Romainia
3. Joyce Chepchumba of Kenya
4. Catherine Ndereba of Kenya
5. Esther Wanjiru of Kenya

Rupp is the embodiment of Salazar's dream. He has trained with Salazar since his freshman year at Portland's Central Catholic, where Salazar was cross country coach. "You can see he has a beautiful stride, quickness, pop," says Salazar, who won the New York City Marathon three times and Boston once. "A lot is God-given talent. But we've been working on that for four years. The earlier you start, the better it is for the final product."

"Galen is eight seconds behind (in the 5,000) the best juniors in the world. He's close. We've got to keep him close."

High school stars

Rupp and Chock are coming off banner senior seasons. Last year at Central Catholic, Rupp set U.S. high school marks in the 2,000 (5:18.5), 3,000 (8:03.67) and 5,000 (13:37.91) and had the year's best time in the mile (4:01.8). Chock's senior year at Granite Bay (Calif.) included two U.S. high school marks in the 5,000 (15:52.88) and the year's best time for 2 miles (10:01.99).

Both have experienced recent disappointments. Rupp developed a foot stress fracture in November; Chock, who has long battled an eating disorder, is recovering from anemia.

She continues to push herself mentally and physically as she is initiated into the Salazar system.

Chock reported to the University of Richmond in August but left a month later. She returned home to California, unsure of the future. Then Salazar called.

"I couldn't believe first off that it was Alberto Salazar calling," she says. "And second of all that this was such a great opportunity to train with such great people under such great coaches at such great facilities. It's something you can't pass up."

In November she moved to Portland, where she lives with Salazar and his family, paying $500 a month for rent, according to Salazar. "We're careful to preserve their (NCAA) eligibility," says Salazar, adding Rupp and Chock pay for travel and the use of Nike facilities.

"My husband and I couldn't be happier with the situation," says Caitlin's mother, Linda Chock. "She clicked with Alberto and his family right away. She has never been healthier or happier. She's found a niche. She's with people who are as serious about training as she is."

As a runner, Chock resembles her coach, whose determination exceeded his form. "When Caitlin came here," Salazar says, "her form was almost painful to watch and she had no power."

Chock continues to address her eating disorder, which became critical when she was a high school freshman. In Portland she sees a therapist regularly, with Salazar attending some sessions, and consults with a nutritionist.

In two-plus months, the 5-6 Chock has gained 7 pounds, to 109, consuming 5,500-6,000 calories a day, triple the recommended amount for someone her size.

Says Chock: "Since coming here, I'm the healthiest I've been. I've seen that by eating better, my workouts improve. I feel better, stronger."

Little middle-, long-distance success

If Rupp and Chock choose to compete collegiately, it's likely to be at Oregon, where there is behind-the-scenes maneuvering to supplement the coaching staff. Oregon track and cross country coach Martin Smith has improved the Ducks' track fortunes, thanks to field events and the decathlon.

But Smith, who won an NCAA cross country title at Wisconsin, has not produced many middle-distance and distance successes at Oregon, where coaching legends Bill Bowerman and Bill Dellinger turned distance running into an identity similar to Penn State being Linebacker U. This has disappointed fans, alumni and donors, including Nike founder Phil Knight, a former Oregon miler and one of the school's biggest benefactors.

Salazar says Pat Tyson, a successful coach at Spokane (Wash.) Mead High and an ex-Oregon runner and roommate of running legend Steve Prefontaine, has been mentioned as a cross country coaching candidate. "Pat Tyson would be a great distance coach at the University of Oregon," Salazar says.

Salazar has a good relationship with Tyson and might entrust Rupp and Chock to Tyson because Salazar would have great input into their training and racing schedules.

The coach of one of Oregon's Pacific-10 Conference rivals says he isn't worried about a possible recruiting advantage for Oregon.

"If everything is legal (under NCAA rules), then welcome to Oregon," UCLA's Art Venegas says. "If there's anything illegal, then it needs to be addressed. That's in the NCAA's lap. I'm not concerned with advantages — hey, I've got great weather — as long as they're legal."

Bringing 'the mountain'

Salazar insists the only advantage his young runners have is access to cutting-edge coaching and supplemental training usually not available at colleges.

To help design and supervise workouts for Oregon Project athletes, Salazar hired former George Mason University track and field coach John Cook, who developed NCAA and world champions in the middle distances. Vern Gambetta, a former track and field coach turned speed guru for baseball and soccer teams, devises strength and flexibility programs.

Typically, Chock's and Rupp's schedules include a morning run, an afternoon nap at simulated altitude or in an oxygen-rich hyperbaric chamber to enhance recovery and an afternoon workout.

For the dozen or so Oregon Project runners, the day often ends with a visit to the Nike House, home to some and a meeting place for all.

Most of the rooms contain machines that reduce oxygen to simulate altitude. Hurdles are lined up in the garage for drills.

On a recent night, three therapists massaged and treated runners in the living room. Just outside the kitchen, runners were readying the whirlpool by filling it with ice from a restaurant-sized ice machine. Other runners were hooked up to a laser machine to treat injuries and soreness. On the patio, Rupp was chest-deep in water, running in a tank containing underwater treadmills.

When healthy, Rupp uses the tanks to supplement mileage but reduce the risk of injury. After suffering a right foot stress fracture in November, he spent even more time in the tank.

For pleasure and performance, the tanks are equipped with headphones attached to a sound system — so the neighbors don't complain about loud music — and a special mask to simulate altitude.

"The Ethiopians and Kenyans do all their training at altitude," Salazar says. "If we can't get to the mountain, then we bring the mountain to us. This is what's missing at colleges. They spend millions on football and basketball but won't spend $50,000 for one of these tanks."

If Rupp is to be among the elite, he knows the advantages at the Nike House are more necessity than luxury.

"People say, 'All you're doing is running?' " Rupp says. "Look at the training we're getting. Look at the people we're meeting. It's great experience.

"It's nice right now to not have to worry about school or homework. I can focus solely on training."

"Running nirvana," Chock says.