Ashton Eaton.... oh my goodness!

[gh]

Every once in a while you see an athlete who makes a super-monster impression on you. (I think the last time I raved similarly was about Wariner after the '04 NCAA.)

Ashton Eaton did that at the Pac-10 this weekend.

The tricky part in his career now comes: bulking up to make super gains in the throws, while at the same time not sacrificing too much of his impressive speed and spring.

I'm seeing a 9000-point body out there.

[Marlow]

But wouldn't you say that Curtis Beach is even moreso?

[Half Miler]

Somebody on another thread mentioned Toomey's venerable deca 400 record (45.6).

Eaton's the guy who could take that down.

[gh]

But wouldn't you say that Curtis Beach is even moreso?

The key to my post was that I said I saw Eaton. Meaning in action.

Have never seen Beach. But I would be very unlikely to shower any prep with that kind of encomium. Too much weird stuff happens to teenagers for me to get overly excited.

[Marlow]

oo much weird stuff happens to teenagers for me to get overly excited.

True, but Eaton's only 21 (or to look at it another way - he's already 21) and he has to improve 900 points to be a 9000 pt man. I'd say right now that Beach is the greater prospect. But I don't want to rain on Eaton's parade either. It'll be fun watching both of them develop.

[gh]

You're changing the parameters of the thread. I'm not talking about who's a better prospect based on looking at numbers. I'm talking about watching somebody perform, up close, and being blown away.

[Marlow]

You're changing the parameters of the thread. I'm not talking about who's a better prospect based on looking at numbers. I'm talking about watching somebody perform, up close, and being blown away.

Indeed - sorry - Eaton IS a great prospect!

[gm]

Seen them both several times in multis action. Eaton is the better prospect unless something goes horribly wrong.

[proofs in the pudd'in]

Here is some good articles on him.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/trackandfield/ashton_eaton/

http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/si ... /story.csp

[mike renfro]

I was quite impressed with Eaton at the trials last year. I havn't seen Beach, so can't really comment, exept to agree with Garry, I have to see him, and shit can happen to HS phenoms. Can anyone say Donovan Kilmartin? He really turned out to be a world beater :shock: As I will be attending neither the NCs or nationals this year, guess I will probably see neither this year

[Marlow]

Ya gotta like the raw material in this pic!

[yes, too bad it's somebody else's copyrighted material]

[bad hammy]

Seen them both several times in multis action. Eaton is the better prospect unless something goes horribly wrong.

Have never seen Beach and not much of Eaton, but I would bet on a proven 21 year-old deca guy over a HS senior deca guy pretty much every time. That said, I love what I have heard about Beach and wish him all the best. As an ex-mid-distance guy I have to root for any serious deca guy running a 4:09 1500 in HS.

[gm]

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Beach as a talented decathlete. He is a competitor, has a great range of ability in a number of events. But Eaton has that little something extra that I think O'Brien had, too.

[Barto]

It's called speed.

[gh]

Yeah; his speed on the LJ runway was stunning. Even w/ stutter stepping and poor extension he PRed. He should be a 26-footer with regularity. (that's 8m-man for our other brethren)