Pre Classic Announces Loaded Men's 5K Field Separate from Cheptegei WR Attempt

They're having financial difficulties and are trying odd things to thwart the rumored inevitable layoffs after July world's champs.

The Saturday 5k field has to stay saturday to be during the TV window and be part of Diamond League points.

I think this decision is Nikes and not Cheptegeis. They want the world record run on their track and no that adding the field to the race hurts Cheptegeis chances.

This is embarrassing for the sport and going down a slippery slope. Doing a time trial every now and then is not inherently bad, but running a personal TT the night before all the best runners run a 5k on the same track is a joke.

When was the last time a track distance WR was set in a race with actual competition? El G in the mile and then probably Komen vs Geb before that. Need more races like that, and less robotic time trials with pacing lights.

When you guys write a title, does it automatically add the word “loaded” or do you have to type it?

Ayana in Rio, Dibaba in Monaco, and Bekele's 5 and 10 WRs were in actual races even if there was no one else near him. TT records are quite recent and driven by the pacing light tech. But I agree with your broader point: I'd rather see Cheptegei race against that strong field than mindlessly follow lights around an oval on his own. What a waste of an appearance fee. The Pre organisers have totally misjudged this

Cheptegei apparently saw this thread, and has cancelled his trip to Eugene.

It’s silly, I assume that Cheptegei doesn’t want people drafting off him, potentially ”stealing” his WR. Only way it makes sense right?

Chep should go up against Jake in the Sound 5K.

Oops, forgot he'll lose 6 seconds on the final lap. Lame.

If Cheptegei is at the top of his game, no one will be stealing the WR. If the races are combined, it will be a TT and a race about 100m back.

There should be a rule revision that would not allow runs like these to qualify as a wr. Just as Kipchoge’s breaking 2 was not counted, these solo, wave light efforts should be deemed to artificial to count. Braking the record should require a race, a real race. Either that or lower the marathon record to 1:59:40 if it’s just about running the distance in the fastest time.

Marc Scott and MO are running the US trials??

I agree. What’s so different about having a non human wave light pacer all race, clearly not a natural race set up, and what went on during Kipchoge’s 1:59?

Sorry thought it said us based

Yeah. And Cheptegei signed a deal to run the 5k Friday before the Saturday schedule was finalized. It's too bad the Saturday afternoon TV window isn't ideal for long distance records.

Whole thing is a joke but I can see how it happened.

Good to see the 5000m back in the Diamond League, and they know it's so popular they have to have one race and one time trial.

We will get that at the World Championships

Pace lights should be band but the joke is on Hysteric Heyweird Field unless the new design got rid of the wind factor. Won't set any records.