Do guys thing Ben True will make both teams?

no

Is he in transition? Run as woman for one event, a man the other??

InjuredReserve wrote:

http://theaosn.com/2016/06/23/the-aosn-interviews-ben-true/

Came across this interview today, its short, but I am excited to hear that he is doubling. Do you guys think he will make both teams.

Semantics aside, I think he should make the team at 5k if he performs to his best. I don't think he'll make the team for 10k. There is still a chance that the 5k spot could be in question, however, since statistically, we are talking about one man versus the field. At the trials, recent marks may not necessarily predict performance. Someone with less impressive marks may bring their A game and someone with great marks may falter. Or the ones with good marks could bring their A game. The point is, he is up against a field in both events that, in general probability, will have someone come out with their A game and a great performance. imo he is much better and more competitive at 5k.

If he does make the team for both 5k and 10k then I will be deeply impressed. Should be good for his career and national respect but, from an Olympics competition standpoint, he should save his energy and focus just on the 5k. I don't think he has a realistic shot at a 10k medal or even a very good finish. I think he has a long shot at a 5k medal.

The complicated issue for him is that he has to balance a number of considerations. Generally speaking, if he were younger, there could be a case for him to compete at the Olympics (granted he qualifies) at both 5k and 10k, because the experience in both and especially 10k would be good for him. 4 years from now, if he is still doing distance on the track and he has that 10k experience under his belt, it could fare well for him. I don't know 4 years from now if he'll be competitive as he is now at 5k but one could imagine him becoming good at 10k in this era of relatively weak 10k track fields. So there could be a trade off to consider, of experience that could benefit his competing at 10k in the future versus his very strong shot at a very competitive event, the 5k, right now.

Yes. He is our most consistent performer outside of Rupp, Jager, and Centro.

Pretty certain he will only run the 5k in Rio, even if he qualifies in both. Just as he did last year. Hard to believe there is anybody who will come out of left field to make the team in either race.

Rupp is a lock in the 10k but it will be fight between Mead and True with Kipchirchir, Chelanga and Lagat hanging on for dear life. It will not be a 27:40 Stanford type race and Rupp is the only one who can run away from True over the last 1k. Just watch last years 10k. The 5k will be a dog fight but no way anybody runs away from True over the last 600. Hill is the only guy who has those legs. Lagat dropped out of Pre and looks to be at the end of his rope. Hill ran really poor there as well so he doesn't get a free pass. Not sure who else belongs in this conversation. Jenkins and Heath would be my bet for 3rd/4th.

West Of The Rest wrote:

Is he in transition? Run as woman for one event, a man the other??

Beat me to it.

He will qualify in both, and only run the 5K in Rio. No one has shown themselves in either event (except for Rupp in the 10K) to be out of his reach. Rupp is peaking/going all in for August, too. I know Mead has ran faster this year, and Hill was very good indoors, but True races sparingly and doesn't seem to over-train or get ahead of himself. I think he'll be fresh and he'll be strong at the Trials. No reason he doesn't make the team. 75% chance he makes both, 10% he goes home devastated and doesn't make either.

Star wrote:

West Of The Rest wrote:

Is he in transition? Run as woman for one event, a man the other??

Beat me to it.

You are in transition?

There's still time to beat him to it, since the Trials are in two weeks! The men's 10000 is July 1 and the first round of the women's 5000 is July 7th, so he is making the change in there somewhere. Boy some poor woman is REALLY going to be in tears for fourth!

Star wrote:

West Of The Rest wrote:

Is he in transition? Run as woman for one event, a man the other??

Beat me to it.

10K: Rupp, True, Lagat, Mead, Jenkins - True opts out and Mead makes team but then opts out to run the 5k so Jenkins makes the team

5K: Mead, True, Hill, Jenkins

Yeah id like to see Jenkins make it.

Ben will make the 5k team, none of those other guys have run better than his 3:36.05 this year