Understandable why you feel this way, but it should be noted that she was called back from California, where she had already started her retirement in peace, to help the team in the prelims. Not sure why she was called out of retirement to run a leg in the prelims (maybe someone got injured or sick), but she wound up running the fastest split on the team. So, her inclusion was not actually for ratings or ceremony; it was because the team legitimately needed her to help them, and she answered the call.
Please don't think I am disparaging AF in any way. Yes, she could say "enough is enough" and I would have a lot of respect for that. But USATF and NBC are the culprits.
Personally I believe they "called her back," if that is accurate, because USATF thought they could boost ratings and attention. I was at the gym and every TV showed a headline that "Allison Felix will is coming out of retirement." And of course, like the façade mixed-gender relay, she added another world-level medal to her war-chest.
Called her back for a 50.8? NBC bought right in with Ato Bolden stating, "The U.S. NEEDS experience on the second leg of the 4 X 400 heats." Really? I thought they might need a 49.5. Especially in a heat in which advancement was a given without a DQ. There were plenty of BETTER 400 legs already at the meet.
Again, I value Felix's talent and contribution to the sport over her career. It is USATF that is trying to beat a now dead horse instead of grooming the next Allison Felix by getting them experience in a 4 X 400 heat.
This is a very solid "take". 3:20 wins this anyway, right? But come on..and that Mixed Gender thing , is one of THE most contrived events in History of any sport, makes the 3 Point Shooting contest and HR derby look like premier events!! Trust me, I am not the only one who has had enough of the Allison Felix tour..look, it's a nice thing..and she is an Icon..but fading Men are told..move along, It's Time to Go!! Not, let's keep it going as long as we can. Not in Track and Field.
If Diggs is in then Diggs-Steiner-Wilson-Sydney would be my team unless they are confident in Mu coming back. Swap Mu for Steiner or Wilson. Either way barring a drop they should win by a few seconds.
If Diggs is in then Diggs-Steiner-Wilson-Sydney would be my team unless they are confident in Mu coming back. Swap Mu for Steiner or Wilson. Either way barring a drop they should win by a few seconds.
Diggs and Sydney make sense. But would they really put in Steiner and Wilson and leave off Muhammad?
My guess is that the powers that be will want to spread the gold medals around. And since Steiner already has a gold medal from the 4x100, they will most likely use Wilson and Muhammad on the 4x400.
If Diggs is in then Diggs-Steiner-Wilson-Sydney would be my team unless they are confident in Mu coming back. Swap Mu for Steiner or Wilson. Either way barring a drop they should win by a few seconds.
Diggs and Sydney make sense. But would they really put in Steiner and Wilson and leave off Muhammad?
My guess is that the powers that be will want to spread the gold medals around. And since Steiner already has a gold medal from the 4x100, they will most likely use Wilson and Muhammad on the 4x400.
Wilson's 48.6 split is the fastest collegiate split EVER and I believe the 5th fastest American split in history.
I love both Abby and Britton as athletes, but while Britton's split is technically the fastest, Abby's is by far THE BEST EVER, as she was passing a full bend in lane two to break the race open for Kentucky. No one who saw it go down ever saw Abby in the same light again. Not even comparable, and it is epic they both were in the same race, though different legs.
Delilah ran 1.5 seconds slower this year in the 400h than she did at the Olympics. If she does the same in the relay, that would give her a 50.5 split ... about what Felix would do, but very likely worse than what either Wilson, Diggs, or Steiner would run.
I know, I know, that's only a rough point of comparison ... just saying. I think she is the worst bet among that group. But one does never know.
Wilson's 48.6 split is the fastest collegiate split EVER and I believe the 5th fastest American split in history.
I love both Abby and Britton as athletes, but while Britton's split is technically the fastest, Abby's is by far THE BEST EVER, as she was passing a full bend in lane two to break the race open for Kentucky. No one who saw it go down ever saw Abby in the same light again. Not even comparable, and it is epic they both were in the same race, though different legs.
Britton's coach says she's running tonight. Any word on the final two legs?