PAC-12 Championship Shelby Houlihan

College Running D1

8 years ago 05/29/2015 7:40pm EDT

I watched the PAC-12 championships on the PAC-12 channel the other day and saw Shelby Houlihan defend her titles in the 1500 and 5000. She gave spirited performances and dominated the field in both events. The announcers commented that she has the potential to make the US team in 5000 for Rio next year. She has good range from the 800 to the 5000 but the US field is stoked at the 800 and 1500. Could she make the Rio US team in the 5000 or will she need more development? Who would be her primary competition outside of Molly Huddle, who is probably the strongest US 5000 meter contender. Of course Shelby wouldn't have to beat Molly to make the team.

8 years ago 05/29/2015 7:41pm EDT

re: kneedeep

Girl should probably cut her bangs though.

8 years ago 05/29/2015 8:12pm EDT

re: WOOF

A) Her bangs are adorable, and B) I disagree with the PAC-12 network announcers.

It's not that I don't think she has a chance and potential in the 5k, I just don't know that its her BEST chance. Her PR is what she ran at PAC-12 right? 15:58 or so? I think anyone that has watched her can guess she is probably capable of better, but I really don't think she even enjoys the 3k, much less 5. That's not to say she can't excel at those events, but her passion right now is clearly 8/15. I don't really know that any event is more open than another...I think the 5k is always looked at as soft(er) than the 8/15 because the US has dominant global runners in those two, but there are a slew of low 15 minute US runners, and if Rowbury does run the 5k next year, that really evens the odds across the board.

Further, championship racing really plays into Shelby's hand. Look at Cory McGee making the US team in 2013. I would make a fair guess that by next year Shelby will be better than Cory was then. She also mentioned at Drake that one of her goals this year is to break 2 in the 800, so she is clearly gunning for the shorter middle distances for the time being.

Either way, as a fellow Iowa kid, I hope she stays healthy and continues to improve like she has.

8 years ago 05/29/2015 10:07pm EDT

re: row row rowbury your boat

row row rowbury your boat wrote:
A) Her bangs are adorable, and B) I disagree with the PAC-12 network announcers.
It's not that I don't think she has a chance and potential in the 5k, I just don't know that its her BEST chance. Her PR is what she ran at PAC-12 right? 15:58 or so? I think anyone that has watched her can guess she is probably capable of better, but I really don't think she even enjoys the 3k, much less 5. That's not to say she can't excel at those events, but her passion right now is clearly 8/15. I don't really know that any event is more open than another...I think the 5k is always looked at as soft(er) than the 8/15 because the US has dominant global runners in those two, but there are a slew of low 15 minute US runners, and if Rowbury does run the 5k next year, that really evens the odds across the board.
Further, championship racing really plays into Shelby's hand. Look at Cory McGee making the US team in 2013. I would make a fair guess that by next year Shelby will be better than Cory was then. She also mentioned at Drake that one of her goals this year is to break 2 in the 800, so she is clearly gunning for the shorter middle distances for the time being.
Either way, as a fellow Iowa kid, I hope she stays healthy and continues to improve like she has.

That means she will probably be running the 800 at the US Nationals. Sub 2 will get the A standard and put her squarely in the mix for Rio qualification. Hope she hits it. She is a feisty competitor and fun to watch bangs and all.

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PAC-12 Championship Shelby Houlihan

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