They need to race at least once at USAs for USATF to allow them to use their bye, so the scenarios are: a) They get a medical exemption from racing at USAs due to injury so they can show up to Worlds b) They race the full 3 rounds at USAs c) They race 1 or 2 rounds then pull out of the final at USAs
True, I guess, but I think scenario a) is super plausible.
I remember Muhammad had a bye last year and didn’t race at USAs because she had a hamstring injury.
"Bob Kersee, who coaches McLaughlin-Levrone and Mu in Los Angeles, described the pair’s reasons for missing the meet as 'nothing serious.'"
Great. So instead of one of the most anticipated races of the year -- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone running the 400 in LA against reigning World/Olympic silver medalist Marileidy Paulino -- she's withdrawing from the meet and we don't even have a reason. And Athing Mu, who was never listed among the entrants to begin with, isn't running either.
Will SML and Mu race at all before USAs? If they're not running a meet in their hometown that their coach is promoting, I'm not sure what kind of meet they would compete at.
I can’t decide if I’m sad about this or outraged. I like to give a lot of deference to these supremely talented athletes, but at the end of the day pro sports is just another form of entertainment, and pro running is no different. If the best athletes don’t compete or rarely compete, then they are not doing their jobs as entertainers and in the long run it’s very damaging to the sport. Lots of people say the athletes don’t owe the fans anything, but no, indirectly we pay their salaries.
so who will be the next to withdraw from this meet? My money is on Hocker. He will do the press conference and then the night before or early in the am will announce he is withdrawing
We were told all last year how SML and Mu are the faces and the future of track in the USA. They are doing more to damage the sport then help it. Why should anyone put money into the sport there is no return for your investment with how so many of US athletes simply never compete
"Bob Kersee, who coaches McLaughlin-Levrone and Mu in Los Angeles, described the pair’s reasons for missing the meet as 'nothing serious.'"
Great. So instead of one of the most anticipated races of the year -- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone running the 400 in LA against reigning World/Olympic silver medalist Marileidy Paulino -- she's withdrawing from the meet and we don't even have a reason. And Athing Mu, who was never listed among the entrants to begin with, isn't running either.
Will SML and Mu race at all before USAs? If they're not running a meet in their hometown that their coach is promoting, I'm not sure what kind of meet they would compete at.
"she's withdrawing from the meet and we don't even have a reason."
and "If they're not running a meet in their hometown that their coach is promoting, I'm not sure what kind of meet they would compete at."
2 great points
Great matchups between amazing athletes is what makes a sport popular.
"Bob Kersee, who coaches McLaughlin-Levrone and Mu in Los Angeles, described the pair’s reasons for missing the meet as 'nothing serious.'"
Great. So instead of one of the most anticipated races of the year -- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone running the 400 in LA against reigning World/Olympic silver medalist Marileidy Paulino -- she's withdrawing from the meet and we don't even have a reason. And Athing Mu, who was never listed among the entrants to begin with, isn't running either.
Will SML and Mu race at all before USAs? If they're not running a meet in their hometown that their coach is promoting, I'm not sure what kind of meet they would compete at.
I can’t decide if I’m sad about this or outraged. I like to give a lot of deference to these supremely talented athletes, but at the end of the day pro sports is just another form of entertainment, and pro running is no different. If the best athletes don’t compete or rarely compete, then they are not doing their jobs as entertainers and in the long run it’s very damaging to the sport. Lots of people say the athletes don’t owe the fans anything, but no, indirectly we pay their salaries.
Until track and field has a system in place where you have to actually compete during the year to be relevant on the world stage our sport will never be respected. We can't expect to perform every four years and have a sport that thrives. The pros just want to run and hide from each other until they have to compete. Glad some of the American male sprinters are trying to change that
Until track and field has a system in place where you have to actually compete during the year to be relevant on the world stage our sport will never be respected. We can't expect to perform every four years and have a sport that thrives. The pros just want to run and hide from each other until they have to compete. Glad some of the American male sprinters are trying to change that
i liked old diamond league format that rewarded athletes with most points for year
I think it's time we except regular season track and field will never be popular.
This is the casebook example why.
If Bob Kersee can't get Sydney or Athing to show up to a meet he is promoting in their hometown, then certainly no one can force a high paid star to do anything. He's the meet promoter and would rather have them pull out with something "nothing serious" than run the meet as he knows damn well no one in 5 or 10 years will give a rats ass how some did in the LA Classic. They'll only care about Paris, PRs and possibly Budapest in terms of a body of work.
The regular season is meaningless. I guess we should just view it as like load management in the NBA. All athletes have to do is get in the playoffs. That's all that matters.
Hell USATF and World Athletics have stupidly made the same decision to prove that the regular season is meaningless as they don't even make Syd or Athing qualify for Worlds like all the other Americans.
With all the busts in the sport, not racing at all seems suspicious. It could be a way for athletes to test less. Sorry to say it, but I am wary of runners that don't compete and then appear with blazing times once a year.
WA and USATF could easily make rules changes stating that an athlete must have competed in a minimum of three Diamond League meets or five "elite graded" events to be eligible for World Championships or Olympic competition.
"Elite Graded" = the event must feature at least two athletes ranked in the top 20 for that event during the current season. Most collegiate meets, intra-squad time trials, and small local events would not count.
No more byes for defending champions.
No other professional sport allows you to qualify for the playoffs by beating sandlot teams, groups of dudes from the YMCA, playing minor league opponents, or gaining a berth on reputation. It's long past time for track to start acting like a professional sport.
I think it's time we except regular season track and field will never be popular.
This is the casebook example why.
If Bob Kersee can't get Sydney or Athing to show up to a meet he is promoting in their hometown, then certainly no one can force a high paid star to do anything. He's the meet promoter and would rather have them pull out with something "nothing serious" than run the meet as he knows damn well no one in 5 or 10 years will give a rats ass how some did in the LA Classic. They'll only care about Paris, PRs and possibly Budapest in terms of a body of work.
The regular season is meaningless. I guess we should just view it as like load management in the NBA. All athletes have to do is get in the playoffs. That's all that matters.
Hell USATF and World Athletics have stupidly made the same decision to prove that the regular season is meaningless as they don't even make Syd or Athing qualify for Worlds like all the other Americans.
Get rid of the bye. That would be a start.
Probably going to get roasted, but this is how I feel, and I like Syd, but I don't see why New Balance keeps her. Well, I know why they keep her, she's a World/Olympic champion with a WR and dumping her would be a PR nightmare, I get it, I'm not stupid, but they get nothing out of this deal. After she wins, she thanks God and not New Balance. Her Instagram doesn't even mention New Balance. Very few of her posts have her wearing New Balance - not a shoe, a sports bra, a hat - nothing. She barely has any running content on her IG and what little she does have is in her USA kit. She never races to give them visibility. Where's the upside for them? They could probably sponsor 10 solid athletes that will actually race and do well instead of one mega star Sydney that does nothing... but her nails.
After becoming world champion and crushing the world record, this is what she posted.
“So let us come BOLDLY to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” - Hebrews 4:16 Praise. His. Name.
What a beautiful day yesterday was. Preparing for this meet, the core of my team was centered around faith and belief. The amount of prayer coupled with hard work was divinely culminated in 50.68 seconds. By the grace of God, we accomplished our goal. Thank you so much to my coach, my husband, my team, my family, and all of my supporters. Let’s continue pushing the bounds of the sport, because with God, all things are possible! God bless. ❤️🙏🏽 #GoTeamUSA 🇺🇸"
New Balance???
Anywhere?
Bueller?
Sorry Syd, but for real...
This post was edited 10 minutes after it was posted.
