Your Biggest Disappointment For the Trials?

The rain and that our sport continues to be trapped and hidden in this small town

Eugene has great fans, don't get me wrong, but our sport needs to grow and reach out the new fans and communities so that it doesn't die with the old-timer Eugeneans

The USATF needs to not just wait for bids and leave it entirely up to the willing cities to "pull it off"; they need to go out and seek out larger cities that can help grow our sport that may be looking for events like this that are located with more consistent and better weather that will rally around this event and embrace it...Sacramento, San Jose, Phoenix, San Diego

Alan Webb was about the only dissapointment I can think of. Our only dudes with shots at medals in distance events are Rupp Lagat Teg and Ritz (if Solinsky would've been able to run he would as well).

The 1500m field is weak as well as the 800m field, I see us having to be lucky even to make it to the finals in either of those. 5k will probably be somewhat weak as well, steeple is a joke, and the 10k is the most unpredictable and probably our best bet at pulling of a billy mills style underdog win. Those 3 dudes are all very strong - Rupp Teg and Ritz.

The US 1500 team is well represented by a 3:50 miler, a WC bronze medalist, and a 3:30 1500 meter runner. Granted we don't know what shape Wheating is really in. Lets hope before London he is back in 3:30 condition.

Chris Solinsky missing the Trials.

Brian Clay.

Walter Dix / Tyson Gay not in the 200.

Ritz not running the 5k.

No run-off.

Alan Webb not even coming close enough to be entertaining.

I heard Paris Hilton was going to tag along with Symmonds and demonstrate her track prowess by running a 3:00 800. It never happened and I want my money back.

alan webb flopping. i was hoping for much more.

1. Robbie Andrews - not that he didn't make the team per se, but that he continued to run like an idiot from the back against tier 1 competition even after the LRC sages expressly told him to work himself into position before the bell lap so that he could take advantage of his finishing prowness.

2. Jeremy Wariner - not that he didn't make the team per se, but that he stupidly and inexplicably let up during his semifinal that cost him a decent lane in the final. Experienced runners aren't supposed to do that.

The biggest disappointments for me are those whose talent level indicated that they'd be medal contenders or at least among our best three historically. Dwight Phillips, Batman, Bryan Clay, Jeremy Wariner (he sounded like he was going to have a good season: it did not pan out), Huling (an 8:14 guy), Andrews (that 3:34.8 made him look like a fast rising star), Webb (couldn't recapture the old magic, or stay healthy), Jock (possibly injured? healthy, he should have been able to run mid 1:44.), Tyson Gay/Justin Gatlin skipping the 200m for injury or other reasons, Walter Dix out, David Oliver not in his 2011 shape when a WR seemed imminent (What was wrong with him this year?). That's a lot of potential medals to leave on the table.

Bobby Curtis, the only shot in the 10k from a non-Nike runner.

Jordan Mcnamara, could have made top 3 if he had standard.

Maggie Vessey, won't get to see that piece of ass in London.

As someone who spent four days sitting in the uncovered grandstands watching the track action, the biggest disappointment has to be THE WEATHER. Practically no sun the entire Trials, and way too much rain and drizzle.

I watched the 2008 Trials in person and I think it was sunny every single day then. 2012 was a huge weather change from 2008 - Eugene felt like a different place this time.

People complaining about the trials being in Eugene realize that before 2008 it had been 30 years since the last time they were here. The trials had been moved around the country and had larger cities to bring more attention to it. Let's think about what's happened to track in the last 30 years. Oh that's right it fricken died and besides us on letsrun no one cares about it. I live in Eugene, and yes I have loved the fact I haven't had to travel to attend the trials. Do I think other cities should have a shot at hosting them, yes. But I also don't think Eugene should be ruled out because people are ignorant enough to think that the sport itself is going to gain from being moved around. That's already proved to not work. So my biggest dissapointment is hearing people act like Eugene has had the trials for the last 50 years and are responsible for the sport dying.

I hated to see Jeremy Wariner run as if it is all over for him. I hated to see Bershawn Jackson fail to make the team and Walter Dix being hurt and unable to perform anywhere near his fitness level.

shawn crawford and alan webb. gotta pull for my old heads

Maggie Vessey in the 800 final. Goes right to the back of the pack and stays there on auto pilot.

Paris Hilton not showing up ( even though I doubt she has the slightest knowledge of T&F ).

Her and Maggie getting into a cat fight over caveman Nick.

pukegene wrote:

The rain and that our sport continues to be trapped and hidden in this small town

Eugene has great fans, don't get me wrong, but our sport needs to grow and reach out the new fans and communities so that it doesn't die with the old-timer Eugeneans

The USATF needs to not just wait for bids and leave it entirely up to the willing cities to "pull it off"; they need to go out and seek out larger cities that can help grow our sport that may be looking for events like this that are located with more consistent and better weather that will rally around this event and embrace it...Sacramento, San Jose, Phoenix, San Diego

My view is entirely the opposite. We should encourage USATF to continue to hold the Trials in Eugene - a community that completely embraces the event. For those watching the Trials on TV that aren't die hard fans they see a meet with packed stands and enthusiastic crowds. How does an empty backstretch at the NY Diamond League meet help track & field?

Although there were certainly some old timers in attendance at the Trials, I saw people of all ages enjoying the meet. I certainly didn't think the crowd was old. It was very diverse including families with younger children. If anything, we gain fans by exposing them to the sport in Eugene.

As another poster pointed out, since '80 (Eugene's last time hosting before '08) how did the Trials in LA, New Orleans, Indy, Atlanta, and Sacramento help track & field?

For those complaining about the rain, I would much prefer the cool, wet weather any time over sitting uncovered in the heat of Sacramento (boy, that was fun). Another plus of Sacramento was seeing 75% of the crowd leave before the distance races. At least it opened up some front row seats. I can't wait for the Trials to be once again held in a city (New Orleans, Indy, Atlanta) that is both hot and humid (please note the heavy sarcasm). Disclaimer: I am not from the NW and actually live in an area with very little rain and abundant amounts of sunshine. In addition, no one can argue that the weather effected performances: we witnessed a WR during the 2 worst weather days, we watched Felix run the fastest 200 in 14 years, and we saw a number of athletes (in field AND running events) earn A standards for the 1st time.

I understand the rain wasn't ideal, but as someone else mentioned, there was no rain in '08. I've attended the last 2 Trials and numerous US champs in Eugene and this was the first time it has rained during the meet that I can remember. Despite the conditions, many athletes (field, sprints, distance) commented about Hayward Field being their favorite place to compete.

Eugene in '16!!!

Webb like Andrews suffers from the "born in America distance running syndrome". It doesn't matter how fast or talented you are crushing disappointment will also be there haunting you. It really started when Jim Ryun tripped in the 72 games. There was also Joe Falcon's (strangest of all) 4 consecutive falls down in as many races. Webb is on course to the be first 3:46 miler in history without either a WC or Olympic medal. The curse is to blame not Webb. We are dealing with supernatural forces here.

USATF

Not being able to watch them online!!!

Was there for it all & had NO disappointments. Wanted some specific athletes/friends to make team, but overall experience was AWESOME X 10!!