Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Eugene Hamilton withdraws from state meet

It is with great sadness that I announce my decision not to participate in the upcoming CIF State Track Meet. I have been unable to train since my last race at the 2013 Arcadia Invitational, due to a number of persistent injuries to my left leg dating back to the week of April 8th.

In an effort to support my team, regardless of my fitness, I made the decision to compete in the WACC League Championships, Bayshore and the NCS Meet of Champions. I worked with my coaches to run tactical races designed to optimize my abilities and lessen the chances of further injury. Unfortunately, the back-to-back efforts at MOC worsened my injury and after consulting with my physical therapist last night, competing would only risk further complications to my left leg.

My commitment to the University of Arizona is now paramount and I will focus my efforts on reporting to school healthy and fit. I hope the timeliness of my announcement will allow another NCS athlete to compete in my stead.

I am thankful to the community for your support as this has been both a wonderful and yet very challenging year. I believe it will only make me a stronger competitor. I will work with a great team this summer to prepare me for the rigors of NCAA competition and look forward to reporting to a world class coach, James Li, with the goal of bringing home an NCAA championship.

Eugene Hamilton III

31 comments:

Jered said...

This is a smart move for Eugene. It's a loss for the state meet, but he will be better as a result.

I have to wonder if completely losing your weekly base and then just running at mind-blowing paces in competition (where you're already pressed to go a little bit above and beyond what you'd normally do in training) might have exacerbated his condition.

It's easy for us to second-guess all of this, too, but considering the value of his collegiate career and scholarship, a CIF state title at the risk of his overall health would not be a good gamble.

Anonymous said...

So if he was hurt why would he double at league AND bayshore, then move UP to the 1600?

Doug Griffith said...

Another loser here is the young man who finished 4th in the 1600 at the NCS MOC. Hope I'm wrong, but I believe any scratches and alternates have to be determined immediately after the MOC. The final list of state qualifiers was published late Sunday. I don't think any alternates can be added at this time.

Anonymous said...

What? That's Louis Rodriguez and he was .02 away from the at large time! This is like another disappointment!

Anonymous said...

ohmygodohmygodohmygod!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Phil Jensen article:

http://www.contracostatimes.com/high-school-sports/ci_23346886/hamilton-iii-withdraws-from-state-track-championships

Anonymous said...

mad respect for this kid.

NCSftw said...

Wow that stinks. But really mature of Hamilton t0 make this decision as well- must be tough

Anonymous said...

i find the part about literally doing no training except for jumping in races at the end to be a little odd. that seems highly improbable, even at his enormous talent level, that he could put on a performance like the one at MOC without doing ANY running. not saying I'm doubting what he's saying, I'm just saying it's a little odd.

Doug Griffith said...

I think the NCS should be pulling out all the steps to get Rodriguez into the state meet. The kid deserves to represent the Section at the state meet.

Doug Griffith said...

stops...oops!

Jered said...

Tell me again why Oakland and San Francisco each get their own section with automatic state meet berths?

Jered said...

Or 3 for LA for that matter. Almost all their qualifiers are in the bottom 5-6 in their respective events. Almost every exception to this are kids who would have made it anyway by virtue of at-large performances.

Take nothing away from the kids there and the experience they get, but it certainly doesn't seem that the berths are equitably distributed.

Anonymous said...

"Tell me again why Oakland and San Francisco each get their own section with automatic state meet berths?"

They don't have completely automatic berths. SF and O have minimum standards in order for their section champions to go to the State Meet.

Jered said...

But geographically why aren't they grafted into NCS and/or CCS? SF section has just 14 schools, and Oakland is just 12. Sorry I know this is kind of a sidebar.

Anonymous said...

NCS should really let Rodrigues run the guy deserves it

Anonymous said...

No stops to pull. Right move but he should have done it earlier. Sad.

Btw, does James Li coach anyone who isn't Kenyan? Your going to be coached by the grad assistant kid. Best of luck!

USA Track and Field said...

James Li is Bernard Lagat's coach.

Anonymous said...

Bernard Legat is from Kenya.

Anonymous said...

Hamilton=young Noah Ngeny. Same skill set and racing style.

Anonymous said...

Let Louis run! He deserves it. .02 from making it.

Jered said...

He DOES deserve it, you're right. Just the same, I would not be surprised if CIF denied any request to allow him in. But I would be disappointed.

Anonymous said...

What I don't understand is why Hamilton decided to pursue the 1600 at the State Meet over the 800. If he knew that he has had limited training since the beginning of April, I would think it makes more sense to pick the shorter race (the 800) because he could probably be more successful in that race with his limited fitness. He would've struggled more in the 1600 without the mileage to back it up.

Coach Tim said...

This is sad news. I was fortunate to see him race at Stanford and Arcadia, and was looking forward to seeing him again at state. Best wishes to him, and I hope that the next runner gets in.

Anonymous said...

His mom (donning a "University of Arizona Mom" hat) was filming stuff for Bishop O'Dowd on Friday at MOC prelims and she said the coach pulled him from the 800 to save him for a national competition sometime in the summer. It doesn't match up with the reports this week, but that is what she said last weekend. He's obviously an incredible athlete, but it sounds like he either wants to compete without training or has poor coaching that allows him to do this.

Anonymous said...

What are you all talking about? The only way is clerical error, it is clearly stated in the state handbook.

I've even seen clerical errors not fixed. Sucks but it is what it is. "Deserves" is not in the equation here.

Anonymous said...

Athlete being pulled in too many direction by way too many adults. Sad.

Anonymous said...

Louis Rodrigues deserves to run at state, but, obviously, hasn't been training this past week. He finished his season healthy and with strong PRs - enjoy grad night and graduation, Louis - let this one go.

Anonymous said...

Louis Rodrigues deserves to run at state? The top three runners at MOC advance to the state meet. Louis was 4th ( LAST YEAR FOUR ADVANCED ) The at-large standard was .02 faster than he ran. All scratches have to be done at the end of the meet for an individual that did not make it in the top three to be place into the advancing position ( Spencer Moore for example ). That's the rule live with it.

Anonymous said...

yes, of course; live with it doesn't mean you have to like it.

Anonymous said...

Dont believe this story, it is not true. Why didnt the coaches speak??? The Tribune story was from the mom, this one was from the kid, it stinks!

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