I caught up with an old HS track buddy on-line recently, and got to wondering about what ever happened to some of the people who one might have assumed would be WR holders and Olympians – based on prep and early university marks.
Some of the ones I wonder about include (but am sure everyone else has names to add)
1. Obea Moore – I saw he was on some Gatorade Reality TV challenge – bc I just googled him.
2. Michael Granville – Seems like he ran a 1:46 or something in HS and then disappeared
3. Marcell Almond – I ran against him through HS and still think he had the most raw athleticism of anybody I’ve ever seen (ran Deca, HH, and Football at USC). Younger brother Tony has been a perennial LJ contender.
4. Quincy Watts – Gold in ’92 I think but then just disappeared..
5. JaWarren Hooker – Finalist in 400m in 2000 OT and mid/low 44 guy (10.2, 20.x, 46.x in HS) – ran and played Football at UW. I once ran a 400m against him – took second with a 52.x to his 47.x – and he ran with me for the first 200m before starting to run 🙂 !!!
6. Donovan Kilmartin – Prep Phenom in multis and jumps – was a HS all-American in all 3 jumps, plus Deca. Never improved in college, despite great training partners (Trey Hardee) and Coach (Sategna).
7. Mike and Peller Phillips (plus sister Kim) combined for 40 state titles in HS. Peller had a 27’+windy long jump in HS.
8. Megan Franza – Heptathlete and Bball player at UW – I believe she ended up playing in WNBA
9. Chris Hercules – I remember seeing him triple jumping in Houston when I made JO nationals. I had won my region with like 40′ as a 14 year old. And he went like 52′ – if I’m not mistaken. I thought he was going to be the best ever.
10. Darion Powell – Great Decathlete in HS and college – never seemed to put it together – I think he ended up at LSU and a couple time all american. Had great talent but never seemed to work as hard as he could/should have. Older brother played pro football for Redskins, I think.
11. Those BIG pole vaulters from Texas – Jacob Davis and Eric Eshbach (SP?)
That’s a start list. I’d love to hear if anyone knows what became of these folks. But, the more important question is – why did such talent never see its realization??? Or did it and they all just developed early??
