St. Pierre moves to the 5000 and opens a spot for her 2 teammates (and others) in their best event.
Elle is a talent, no doubt, and I believe her best event is likely the 5000. She could be amazing if she went back to the Steeplechase. That's not very likely to ever happen.
I don’t find her 2023 or 2024 baffling given she’s a 3:58 runner. Last year she was injured and barely raced. This year it seems she’s run sparely as she gets into form ahead of a planned peak at USATF. Not everyone plans to peak like top collegians in November, in March, in June (early and late). Now that is baffling.
There is nothing baffling about a young high schooler or collegiate on an upward performance trajectory, or entering an injury cycle(s).
To clarify, I didn’t mean baffling to imply anything nefarious. I just genuinely don’t get the way the US system expects distance runners to peak at XCNats in November, start indoors in December, peak at indoors in March, start outdoors that month or April, run conference, regionals, peak for nationals in June, and then for top performers turn around and try to get ready for USATF later that month or in July. It seems too demanding a schedule and yet the best US distance runners over the past couple of generations appear to be the ones who worked their way through that challenging cycle of seasons.
Why would she ever do that? She’s the fastest 1500 American woman and can def improve on the time she ran at pre. She still had the 5000 in her legs or she would have easily broken SH time.
Why would she ever do that? She’s the fastest 1500 American woman and can def improve on the time she ran at pre. She still had the 5000 in her legs or she would have easily broken SH time.
Elle has entered the Trials 5K as she should. Hopefully Kelati will too. Would love to see the two battle it out for the win.
Elle’s best race is likely the 3000 which combines her strength and speed. She’s the second fastest US 1500 runner in history and may be able to break Shelby’s record of 3:54.9. But getting a medal in the 1500 is a huge challenge. We’ll have to see what events Tsgay and Sifan pick for the Olympics and if Faith is healthy. I think Elle has a better chance at getting a medal in the 1500 than the 5000.
I agree Heather's trajectory is baffling. I thought she was injured last year. According to WA, she only ran three races last summer. As I recall, she was supposed to run a couple of DLs before USAs, and then scratched. Does anyone know the details?
I don’t find her 2023 or 2024 baffling given she’s a 3:58 runner. Last year she was injured and barely raced. This year it seems she’s run sparely as she gets into form ahead of a planned peak at USATF. Not everyone plans to peak like top collegians in November, in March, in June (early and late). Now that is baffling.
Time to revive this thread now that Oly Trials women's 1500 quarterfinals are in the books.
Only concern about a Team Coogan sweep has been Heather MacLean's fitness. That concern has been put to rest.
Semi heat #1 looks like a killer featuring ESP, MacLean, Hiltz, Johnson, Hurta-Klecker, and McGee competing for the five Qs.
Semi heat #2 looks to be a much cleaner ride for MacKay, Cranny, Jones, Wiley, and Schlachtenhaufen.
However, still interested in seeing how MacKay performs without having ESP and/or MacLean helping her along.
Expecting the two qs coming out of heat #1 given ESP will likely push the pace at some point.
People coming back from giving birth faster than ever before and beating world record holders, people who can't even come close to making US teams are suddenly winning world medals, people just effortlessly running away from strong fields like they are high schoolers. This is just too ridiculous for me to believe. I feel probably less than 5% of distance runners at the international level are not clean, but (N)ick (B)are Boston is taking up nearly the entire US quota. They are putting Bowerman TC to shame.
I am starting to feel bad for Shelby that she got caught after witnessing this charade. They just ought to let her run.
Help us build the best running shoe review site for a chance to win a LetsRun t-shirt.Help us build the best running shoe review site for a chance to win one of 10 LetsRun t-shirts.