American Steeplechase outlook

Well Cheever made a huge move up in class from good to likely to make the team.

Nicole Bush almost hit her PR, which was probably set before the Trials steeple disaster (in Eugene of all places; where they should have enough strong officials so that they would not make such a disastrous mistake). I may be mis-remembering it but I thought that it was Bush who broke her leg when the water jump barrier was set too high (mens height).

Franek did open - didn't she set the "AR" in the 2000SC? It was not a great pace, and got too much play because it was the best mark in an event run primarily by high school/junior athletes and even they rarely run it.

Others that have been in the same general ballpark for a number of years would seem to have less up side (DD, Sara, etc).

As for the men, Leslie made a big breakthrough in the Big Ten race last year (along with Forys and others). His 8:20 was a nice continuation of that path, and then he added a 3:37-high 1500, and his coach was a very good steepler (by US standards). Given that Cabral did not look super in his first outing I think that two slots are up for grabs.

I think Coburn takes down Jenny Simpson's steeple American Record this year.

Coburn is a different level for sure. Cheever may be set with 2nd place if Payton Jordan is good enough. Bridget was an Olympian and has been running well enough. Sara Hall will be there when it counts. Nicole has been running very poorly the last 3 years (since her injury), but ran a PR in Puerto Rico steeplechase finishing right behind Australian Olympic steeplechaser.

Jager is obviously class of field. Huling is close. Year he ran 13:24 for 5000, he went on to run under 8:15 steeple (nobody else is running close to that lately). He went 13:18 at Payton Jordan. Cabral is just getting going and will be down under 8:20 by USATF easily. He was an Olympic Trials finalist! Not seeing Olympian Alcorn racing anywhere, I assume injured or retired. Everybody else is stuck at 8:30 or thereabouts. Leslie went 8:20, but got dragged to that time. he has had good mile results, but the steeple is a strength event! Thought Forys would be better along (always beat Leslie last year).

Wetmore, Rowlands, and Jerry are only steeple coaches worth mentioning.

Cabral is not set on the team at all. He is having a really rough season and has not gotten the A standard.

Ashley Higginson should be in the mix to make the team. Opened with a 9:45 at Oxy. Should be interesting to see her and Franek head to head at the New York Grand Prix.

I do like that Wetmore and Rowland's coaches men and women studs.

Jerry has done great with Jäger, and Huling comes to him as an 8:13 or 14 steeplechaser, but I am sure he will improve. Rowland's has Franek, but nor a guy really. Who else is there? Who coaches Cabral?

I'm surprised there's no mention of Billy Nelson. He beat Cabral at Oxy. I think he's in the mix of possibilities.

As an older athlere and a runner who seems to be taking the coaching profession seriously,I think Billy has done well to get back to relevancy, but those 3 athletes are just too far ahead.

Wetmore doesn't have enough magic to pull that off. He has hands full trying to get Kip back to her Olympian form because Franek and Higginson have gone by her.

Lombardi like wrote:

I do like that Wetmore and Rowland's coaches men and women studs.

Jerry has done great with Jäger, and Huling comes to him as an 8:13 or 14 steeplechaser, but I am sure he will improve. Rowland's has Franek, but nor a guy really. Who else is there? Who coaches Cabral?

It is not just Jerry. Former Badger 3000SC Olympian Pascal Dobert has a hand in the coaching of the steeple (and is probably helping out with commentary for Wisconsin, although that is a complete guess). [a lot of Badgers on the all-time US steeple list: Jager, Dobert, Jackson (8:22 at Wisconsin in 1980) Donovan Bergstrom, Festa, Larsen (8:35 1972), even Brill at 8:37 is pretty good for a 4:16/9:05 (1/2mi) guy).

There are a couple of more good steeple coaches out there who don't have a current talent to train. Chick Hislop has produced quality steeplers for decades now. Tom Kloos in San Francisco, who was an 8:3x steepler and AJ Acosta's high school coach, knows the event and how to coach it. There just aren't that many talented American runners who are drawn to the steeple as their primary event.

what happened to Brian Olinger? Is he update?

Certainly appears like the women's team is set with Coburn, Cheever, and nor Franek.

Men's side has Jager and Huling way out there with Cabral scrambling into form. Pre will show us a lot especially whether Ben Bruce can make the team. Any college guys capable?

After Jager and Coburn it can go in a million directions.

Nice return to form for Nicole Bush with PR steeplechase. Hasn't done much since injury at nationals, but she might be able to get a spot of Coburn, Franek, or Cheever's falters.

Will Kip make it back to 2012 form at nationals?

Jerry and Dobert are just too good a coaches and also have the best flat runners in Jager and Huling. They just ran 13:14,3:36 and 13:18,3:37. No other steeplechaser is even close to that. They will both run well under 8:20 at Pre.

After that, not in order, Turner, Poore, Forys, Cowart, Leslie, Bruce, and Olinger are all pretty interchangeable and just who has the best day at Nationals.

The women's race is no no contest for Emma winning, but after that, many people are in running. WonderiÑg where Delilah is after such a strong cross country showing?

What about Sarah Vaughn ? 2nd at Oxy and 15 seconds ahead of Kipp in only her 2nd ever steeplechase attempt. She is the real deal and with a bit more experience will be a big contender.