Mackay is on an entirely different level than Valby right now. There is not a world where Mackay doesn’t quite easily sit on Valby and absolutely scorch her by 10+ seconds over the final 600m.
Mackay just won silver at the world indoor and just finished 3rd at a DL race. And yes, someone already mentioned Mackay’s USA indoor performance (and championship record) this past winter, as well. She bodied ESP.
It’s nice to have Valby back to where she was, but the bar is much, much higher and right now Valby is still very much just a national class runner without a kick, whereas Mackay is world class and has a world class close.
Valby may get there in the future, but as of the month of June 2026, it’s no contest.
She’s a great runner, but Mackay is not world class and has never run well at the WC or Oympics.
It comes down to the fastest possible 5000m time Mackay is capable of running. If it’s 14:45 and Valby runs that pace, Mackay will not have a kick.
2 Indoor WC Medals, Olympian, 3rd at most recent DL, PBs of 1:57/3:55/8:30/.
If that’s not world class, I’m scratching my head on what is.
Schweizer, Valby, Buchalski, Monson, Vaught have an auto Q time for USATF.
Donaghu is certain to get an at large and Kaylee Delay will probably also get in.
Abbe Goldstein needs to knock off at least 30 seconds to have a chance.
Mackay does not have a time but will certainly run far under the standard.
This is a small field for a 5000m and some runners may find themselves in no-man's-land by the halfway point. Given that there are only three legitimate opportunities left to get a 5000 time for Americans (LA Grand Prix, Portland, and Sunset Tour), I thought the field would be large. I hope they have wavelights at the 15:05 standard.
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