Highs: Monson killing it, Nuguse astoundingly impressive, Beamish with oceana record in steeple, klecker on 10k team and a pair of sub 13’s, romo sub 3:30 at Oslo, Raess pr 13.13
Lows: Hoare out for season injured, andrews completely underperforming, Hurta flop at usatf, Romo outclassed at Spanish champs, McDonald perpetually injured, klecker weak as a kitten in usatf 5k, Carmela 36:16 best this year
Meh: Vissa results outdoor
I had no idea Cardama Baez was still with OAC. I guess Ritz still sees potential in her?
Klecker came 4th and looked good enough to make the team. He just sat on Woody instead of focusing on the front of the race. He looked really strong imo, just a tactical miscalculation.
Klecker doesn’t deserve this cop out. Just didn’t have the wheels to make the 5k team on the day plain and simple.
Now that you have me thinking about it, do we think OAC is the highest funded IS based group right now.
Id argue the Bowerman and UAC definitely have better facilities etc, but contract wise, Nike is known to lowball people if they are not going to immediately make a difference on the worlds seen.
So in terms of yearly contract size/salary bonuses, based on the past year of recruits, I’d say OAC might be taking the cake
On the coffee club podcast, they kept mentioning last year how they couldn't access the CU indoor facility. They go to Florida in the winter for training and are basically miserable there. Correct me if I'm wrong but I also never hear them talk about going to a proper gym/facility for strength training (probably Ritz's approach to training maybe).
In terms of money, look to other sports like baseball right now where the Mets and Padres are top 3 in salary cap and probably won't make the playoffs and don't have a winning record at the moment. This stuff happens in sports.
On the coffee club podcast, they kept mentioning last year how they couldn't access the CU indoor facility. They go to Florida in the winter for training and are basically miserable there. Correct me if I'm wrong but I also never hear them talk about going to a proper gym/facility for strength training (probably Ritz's approach to training maybe).
They discussed their strength routine on an episode of the podcast when Josette Andrews joined. I believe they do their lift on their easy/recovery day, but I could be remembering it wrong.
Said it in the London thread, Andrews being pushed into the 5000 was the biggest waste of a year for someone that is still in the 1500 mix. She had some interesting interviews during the year, said she was going to go with it and put full faith in Ritz, and was so let down post usatf. They’re a speed team, why are we rushing to give up on the 1500? By extension I think George dropping the 1500 this early to steeple focus is ridiculous.
She’s completely overrated. Inconsistent and isn’t doing well in any event. The 1500 has passed her by with lots of great under 4 now in the mix. She no longer is.
Said it in the London thread, Andrews being pushed into the 5000 was the biggest waste of a year for someone that is still in the 1500 mix. She had some interesting interviews during the year, said she was going to go with it and put full faith in Ritz, and was so let down post usatf. They’re a speed team, why are we rushing to give up on the 1500? By extension I think George dropping the 1500 this early to steeple focus is ridiculous.
She’s completely overrated. Inconsistent and isn’t doing well in any event. The 1500 has passed her by with lots of great under 4 now in the mix. She no longer is.
No longer in the mix? She never was. Chokes constantly. Shocked Ritz even has her and Hurta on the team
Highs: Monson killing it, Nuguse astoundingly impressive, Beamish with oceana record in steeple, klecker on 10k team and a pair of sub 13’s, romo sub 3:30 at Oslo, Raess pr 13.13
Lows: Hoare out for season injured, andrews completely underperforming, Hurta flop at usatf, Romo outclassed at Spanish champs, McDonald perpetually injured, klecker weak as a kitten in usatf 5k, Carmela 36:16 best this year
Meh: Vissa results outdoor
I mean I think what I’m learning is that no coach is going to get perfect results. Right now, I imagine Mike Smith has probably the highest approval rating with a very small team of pros. It might be different if he was coaching 10 pros.
To me, Ritz has done great work with Monson/Klecker who were good NCAA athletes, but not sure Id think they were otherworldly talents. Mario maybe down a bit of late but a big PB this year and such. Morgan seems to have freak injuries unrelated to Ritz and now is improving. Beamish has improved steadily in the Steeple and I think the move is correct for him. Maybe in the tactical era of 1500s he could go all in and try to kick for medals. Nuguse awesome work obviously. Vissa just won an Italian title, and seems to be pointed in the right direction. The Hoare injury stinks and if 4/5 athletes are getting hurt sure it’s time to point fingers. Andrews obviously you hoped she’d make it but the top 2 are in a different stratosphere and Natosha Rodgers is in monster shape. Overall, I’m not sure how OAC would he considered anything but a big success because nobody bats 1,000.
This post was edited 1 minute after it was posted.
Highs: Monson killing it, Nuguse astoundingly impressive, Beamish with oceana record in steeple, klecker on 10k team and a pair of sub 13’s, romo sub 3:30 at Oslo, Raess pr 13.13
Lows: Hoare out for season injured, andrews completely underperforming, Hurta flop at usatf, Romo outclassed at Spanish champs, McDonald perpetually injured, klecker weak as a kitten in usatf 5k, Carmela 36:16 best this year
Meh: Vissa results outdoor
I mean I think what I’m learning is that no coach is going to get perfect results. Right now, I imagine Mike Smith has probably the highest approval rating with a very small team of pros. It might be different if he was coaching 10 pros.
To me, Ritz has done great work with Monson/Klecker who were good NCAA athletes, but not sure Id think they were otherworldly talents. Mario maybe down a bit of late but a big PB this year and such. Morgan seems to have freak injuries unrelated to Ritz and now is improving. Beamish has improved steadily in the Steeple and I think the move is correct for him. Maybe in the tactical era of 1500s he could go all in and try to kick for medals. Nuguse awesome work obviously. Vissa just won an Italian title, and seems to be pointed in the right direction. The Hoare injury stinks and if 4/5 athletes are getting hurt sure it’s time to point fingers. Andrews obviously you hoped she’d make it but the top 2 are in a different stratosphere and Natosha Rodgers is in monster shape. Overall, I’m not sure how OAC would he considered anything but a big success because nobody bats 1,000.
I think McDonald was often injured before he changed to OAC.
Lows: Monson losing both the 5 and 10k at USAs despite having the ar in one of them and getting it in the other a week later
This is only literally a product of Schweizer/Cranny never doing the hard work in the middle/later stages of the race. Monson still makes these races a race by sacrificing some energy to lead and keep it quick. If she keeps progressing through next year she's just going to run away from everyone cranny included 2017 Paul Chelimo style.
Highs: Monson killing it, Nuguse astoundingly impressive, Beamish with oceana record in steeple, klecker on 10k team and a pair of sub 13’s, romo sub 3:30 at Oslo, Raess pr 13.13
Lows: Hoare out for season injured, andrews completely underperforming, Hurta flop at usatf, Romo outclassed at Spanish champs, McDonald perpetually injured, klecker weak as a kitten in usatf 5k, Carmela 36:16 best this year
Meh: Vissa results outdoor
Said it in the London thread, Andrews being pushed into the 5000 was the biggest waste of a year for someone that is still in the 1500 mix. She had some interesting interviews during the year, said she was going to go with it and put full faith in Ritz, and was so let down post usatf. They’re a speed team, why are we rushing to give up on the 1500? By extension I think George dropping the 1500 this early to steeple focus is ridiculous.
George needs to show 3:30 1500m promise plus his kick still. I think they want to be as competitive as they can be and that's the steeple right now for him. Does he medal in a 8:15 race or a 8:10 race?
How is the corporate owner any more repugnant than any corporate owner of any other team?
Google him
There were three founders and there now are a number of other 'owners'. There is a CEO who isn't one of the founders but presumably is an owner as well. So it isn't clear who you mean by "owner" or "him".
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