David Klech Not Returning To UCLA [to Oregon]

[bad hammy]

The Duck PR machine is on board. Funny who the SF Chron scooped the world on this in the Sports Digest section . . .

http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml ... OEM_ID=500

[bad hammy]

The rich grow richer - Oregon it is:

Klech transferring to Oregon

Former prep track star David Klech of California High in San Ramon has decided to transfer to Oregon following an unhappy freshman season at UCLA. Klech, a multi-talented athlete, was injured much of his freshman season in Los Angeles and limited to three outdoor competitions. He will have to sit out the 2007-08 academic year before becoming eligible in fall 2008. Although he is proficient in a number of events, Klech has decided to concentrate on the 400-meter hurdles, his best event.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f ... RE5KP1.DTL

[mrbowie]

Yes but a historical 13.3 is not a circa 2007 13.3.. so while historically you are right, I stand by my claim. I think this fellow has the tools for 13.3 second 110s.. I dont think that is a terribly big claim in todays event... and lastly if we had reasonable levels of participation in the 110H we would have near 100 guys a year at that level.

Actually Klech is probably worth better than 13.3 but I dont want to really poke the bees nest here...

I don't see him an a high hurdler on an International level, but he is a real prospect in the 400 IH.

Just look at the kid's body for goodness sakes alive.

[bad hammy]

Klech hasn:t improved his sprint speed -- he hasn:t run a sprint race in 2007, has he? You want to go down the scale rather than up it?

Obviously everything that has happened since he injured his leg on day one of the 2006 CA State Meet is a lost year. He's young and if he can regain health (and there is no reason to believe he cannot) he can improve in many aspects of T&F. But even with good health he is no lock on 13.3. While an excellent HS HH guy, he was not exceptional by any means.

He was exceptional both in the 300h (with a great chance to take down the 300h record if not injured at the state meet) and in his overall versatility. His natural event, by all appearances, is the 400h. As a college guy, he'll continue to run the highs, long jump, etc., but assuming good health returns his potential future in the big-time is almost assuredly in the 400h.

[EPelle]

Klech hasn:t improved his sprint speed -- he hasn:t run a sprint race in 2007, has he? You want to go down the scale rather than up it?

[paulthefan]

headline 21 months hence; Kletch goes 13.3X, must now decide whether to challenge for 110H crown.

Paul, you:ve changed in the past 51 weeks?

Change is a necessary thing.. I reserve the right to change my mind again before the 21 months are up.

[tafnut]

X-man ran a 19.63 once but he isnt a 19.6 guy yet.........hes a legit sub 20 guy. WHile his time is legit he isnt conisitent enough to be called a 19.6 guy atleast with any definity.

There are only TWO "19.7 men" - Johnson and Gay.

Here's all the people who have run under 19.80 more than once:

19.68 Gay
19.70 Gay
19.77 Johnson
19.79 Johnson
19.79 Johnson
19.79 Gay

(not even counting MJ's Atl. and alt. times)

[EPelle]

headline 21 months hence; Kletch goes 13.3X, must now decide whether to challenge for 110H crown.

Paul, you:ve changed in the past 51 weeks?

The range Epelle reminds us of above is simply mind-boggling.

now about the list of performances from the 110h to the 5k... no one will ever get credit for having mediocre talent in that broad an array of events... it is unique, it is interesting.. BUT it is not worthwhile or of value in any sense because the deca does not test that kind of versatility, and there is no other multievent besides the decathlon... plain and simple those numbers and 2 dollars gets you a coffe at starbucks....

if he does not focus completely on one event (most likely the 400H or 800) he will have no future in international track and field competition.

[richxx87]

headline 21 months hence; Kletch goes 13.3X, must now decide whether to challenge for 110H crown.

paul, I can't figure out why you're harping on this 110H thing. Klech (no 't') is really quite far away from being a great 110H guy. You DO realize that his high school PB was done with high school hurdles (39") and that a rule-of-thumb conversion for the Senior Men's Hurdles (42") is about +.40~.50, right? His season best in 2007 on the big hurdles is a smoking 14.82. Get this into perspective, Klech is not, and will never be, a 110H specialist. He may end up being a solid 48.xx long hurdler and able to score a point or two in the HJ in conference meets, or even a solid decathlete, but a 110H guy, he is not. He just does not have the foot speed. I'd be very surprised if he could break 11.00 in the 100m dash.

BTW, you can rule out USC as his transfer destination:

[message-board character assasination link/quote cut by mods]

[paulthefan]

headline 21 months hence; Kletch goes 13.3X, must now decide whether to challenge for 110H crown.

[guruof track]

[quote=26mi235][quote=guruof track][quote=paulthefan]

He is clearly a sub13.3 potential high hurdler and a sub 49 long hurdler.

Potential sub 13.3 hurdler............I HIGHLY disagree with that.

Potenial, yes. Clearly, no.

The guy ran under 13.8 once over 39 inches, he was usually hovering around 14 flat. Anything is possible, but within the realm of reality thats a far stretch.

He is a tall athletic kid with good speed.. that gets him to 13.3 ..... any kid with that frame at that age that is at 13.8Hs has the hardware.[/quote:1d0i2jqp]

He wasnt running 13.8s he ran under 13.8 ONCE!!!!! He was hovering around 14 flat most of the time. Thats not exactly someone I call a 13.8 kid.

X-man ran a 19.63 once but he isnt a 19.6 guy yet.........hes a legit sub 20 guy. WHile his time is legit he isnt conisitent enough to be called a 19.6 guy atleast with any definity.[/quote:1d0i2jqp]

Now name me someone who is or was ever consistent enough to be called a 19.6 runner. It seems to me that until last year all prior occurrences were in a 2-month period in 1996. I think that you need a different metric/standard.[/quote:1d0i2jqp]

point taken...but Gay has to be considered VERY close. At the least a 19.7 sprinter..........low 19.7

The issue regarding 13.3 is 100 speed. What is Klech's 100? You probably are talking at least 10.40 something for a 13.3 and 20.6 or so in the 200. is he that fast?

[26mi235]

[quote=guruof track][quote=paulthefan][quote="guruof track":2fnebtfr]

He is clearly a sub13.3 potential high hurdler and a sub 49 long hurdler.

Potential sub 13.3 hurdler............I HIGHLY disagree with that.

Potenial, yes. Clearly, no.

The guy ran under 13.8 once over 39 inches, he was usually hovering around 14 flat. Anything is possible, but within the realm of reality thats a far stretch.[/quote:2fnebtfr]

He is a tall athletic kid with good speed.. that gets him to 13.3 ..... any kid with that frame at that age that is at 13.8Hs has the hardware.[/quote:2fnebtfr]

He wasnt running 13.8s he ran under 13.8 ONCE!!!!! He was hovering around 14 flat most of the time. Thats not exactly someone I call a 13.8 kid.

X-man ran a 19.63 once but he isnt a 19.6 guy yet.........hes a legit sub 20 guy. WHile his time is legit he isnt conisitent enough to be called a 19.6 guy atleast with any definity.[/quote:2fnebtfr]

Now name me someone who is or was ever consistent enough to be called a 19.6 runner. It seems to me that until last year all prior occurrences were in a 2-month period in 1996. I think that you need a different metric/standard.

[26mi235]

People have said that he is not a candidate for the decathlon. Look at his skills/abilities: speed for 100, 400, and 110 hurdles (didn't he have a good 800, so even the 1500 should be ok. He has a great HJ and LJ. That is 6 of 10. There is the vault, where he has the speed to be at least adequate.

This is the point where everyone says he is too thin/light. I am pretty sure that he weighs more than the #2 in the NCAA decathlon who went to Wisconsin as a walk-on. He is now listed as having bulked up to 160 pounds (my guess is 165). Kelch is NOT too small, he just needs to go somewhere like Wisconsin where they can get the most out of his capabilities, not the least. By the way, Detmer was also an honor graduate in computer engineering, so he did not sacrifice the academics either.

[guruof track]

[quote=paulthefan][quote=guruof track]

He is clearly a sub13.3 potential high hurdler and a sub 49 long hurdler.

Potential sub 13.3 hurdler............I HIGHLY disagree with that.

Potenial, yes. Clearly, no.

The guy ran under 13.8 once over 39 inches, he was usually hovering around 14 flat. Anything is possible, but within the realm of reality thats a far stretch.[/quote:271nh8bg]

He is a tall athletic kid with good speed.. that gets him to 13.3 ..... any kid with that frame at that age that is at 13.8Hs has the hardware.[/quote:271nh8bg]

He wasnt running 13.8s he ran under 13.8 ONCE!!!!! He was hovering around 14 flat most of the time. Thats not exactly someone I call a 13.8 kid.

X-man ran a 19.63 once but he isnt a 19.6 guy yet.........hes a legit sub 20 guy. WHile his time is legit he isnt conisitent enough to be called a 19.6 guy atleast with any definity.