Shaq Walker appeal

I should have read the rest of the thread.

One more point.

Walker was pulling ahead after he forced Engels over, so if he'd had enough room to cut in, Engels would not have been close enough to clip him.

rojo wrote:

I exchanged text messages with Engels coach at Ole Miss, Ryan Vanhoy. Vanhoy told us that both Walker and Engels appealed but only Engels appeal was upheld. Vanhoy says they believed that Engels "was impeded by Walker in the last 50m while Craig was passing him on the inside" and the officials agreed with that. Vanhoy added that "Walker cut inside while Craig was coming up on him. They got tangled as a result and Craig fell."

The only reason, and i mean the ONLY REASON Engels was advanced to the final (even though he was the guilty party) is because the head coach at Ole Miss is Connie Price Smith who is also the women's Olympic coach. A deal was made you can count on it.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is how the first place runner at the time (Johnson?) drifts to the outside of lane 1 in the final straight (illegal, right?) Walker kept a fairly straight line, then had to move inward to avoid running into the back of Johnson. It all started with Johnson. This whole situation is just so messed up for a few people.

I can't believe Engel's said he thought he could win it... there was no way he was gonna get around everyone from the inside of lane 1.

What I can't believe more is Let's Run's one-sided story! Just cuz you're friends with the dude's HS coach or whatever doesn't mean you should defend his story! Where is walker's side of the story in your recap?

We've added a few photos to our story.

In one, it's clear that Walker is on the inside of lane 2. Then farther down the straightaway he's moved to fully inside lane 1.

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2016/07/chaos-continues-mens-800-semis-well-9-person-final/

I understand those two pictures together look pretty damning. However, if you watch a replay of the footage (some people have posted it onto Shaq's Facebook page), you watch Johnson drift to the outside.

Is it possible that your first picture is immediately after Johnson drifts? Walker was on his shoulder so he could have been forced to move out with him, then tried to correct. I think the replay gives a different perspective. I'm not saying it wasn't unfair for Engels too. I think this whole disaster begins with Johnson impeding Walker by moving out.

Regardless, your recap seems a little biased and one-sided.

Just watched it again. The camera angle changes as they're moving into the final straight, but you still see Johnson moving to the outside. I'll admit I don't perfectly know all of the rules... but I thought that drifting out in the final straight (to keep people from passing) was illegal. Walker was getting blocked and ready to accelerate. Had he gone to the outside, he would have gotten tangled up with Jock. To the inside, well we saw that result. Is he just supposed to let himself get cut off by Johnson? I think Walker was wronged and if anyone is to be DQ'd it should be Johnson.

The dude was gonna win the heat if shaq wasn't in his way. Who doesn't wanna see a kid with a mullet and handlebar mustache in the finals anyways?

I'm still scratching my head over that call. The 800 is a different beast, with runners often needing to weave through the debris fields caused by fatigue. Walker may have moved slightly from the inside of lane two to the outside of lane 1 to try and negotiate past a fatiguing Johnson who was running wide, but he had successfully established himself in lane 1 for several strides before Engels attempted to pass on the inside of lane 1 where there was no room. The risk of trying to pass on the inside is that there may not be enough room and your open door often gets slammed in your face.

We have now encouraged runners to just run into the athletes in front of them under such conditions, thereby ending their Olympic Dream. Also, make sure you tumble to the ground and have your head coach, who is one of the Olympic coaches, present to grease the skids for your reinstatement to the final.

Great adjudication USATF! You have eliminated a 1:44.99 800 meter runner from possible contention in Rio. No worries, only 4 years to Tokyo!

Watch again wrote:

I should have read the rest of the thread.

One more point.

Walker was pulling ahead after he forced Engels over, so if he'd had enough room to cut in, Engels would not have been close enough to clip him.

No, Walker was trying up and beginning to fade, so as a last ditch attempt to prevent Engels front passing him, he dove into lane 1 and cut him off. He initiated the move that lead to contact.

After watching it way too many times my initial remarks were wrong- Walker had established position without impeding Engels. It's that simple. Was it tight? Yes, but he did not impede him and Engels does not chop a stride. Engels then runs up on inside of Walker then tries outside and clips Walker.

I wonder if more footage from fans will show up. The camera angles aren't helpful, but someone likely has the angle USATF needs (directly to side) to reinstate Walker.

Regardless- Walker is a 1:44 guy that had a shot with some rest. Engels doesnt belong anywhere near that final field.

Engels was in top gear and would have easily been 2nd had he not been impeded. The multiple camera angles provided by meet management clearly show this to be true. The correct decision was made.

This^^^^^ Nailed the whole situation, no one need bother to read any other posts on the matter. For the record I think they should have just let the results stand, encouraging runners to police themselve (i.e. make moves that avoid contact), as it is now if you to want move on, get a connection and make sure to fall no matter how far behind you are.

Watching a different race? wrote:

I saw it as Walker did come down to lane 1 rail when there appeared to be a small window. The one guy put out his arm to brace himself but realized the move was made and was successful. Even though that guy wasn't putting down a strong finish, he made the attempt, after a few steps, to make a hard move to get around Walker. Walker was tripped when that runner decided to cut hard across the lane behind him, when he clearly didn't have the room to make the move.

Seems pretty clear cut that Walker should be in the finals.

Engels in. Walker out. Don't seem right.

rojo wrote:

We've added a few photos to our story.

In one, it's clear that Walker is on the inside of lane 2. Then farther down the straightaway he's moved to fully inside lane 1.

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2016/07/chaos-continues-mens-800-semis-well-9-person-final/

and that is his right to move into lane one. He did not impede Engels in doing so. That was his best track to the finish. Engels was fading and found himself in a box and tried to get out of it by going behind and then hits the guy's heels in front. It was his own tactical error and fading finish that got him in that position. He then did the wrong thing and tripped up two people (including himself) in the process. Should not have been put in the final. Ole Miss (Olympic coach) got him in that final, no doubt.

The true fact maniac wrote:

Engels was in top gear and would have easily been 2nd had he not been impeded. The multiple camera angles provided by meet management clearly show this to be true. The correct decision was made.

If Engels was in top gear, as you say, then why were so many people passing him at the finish?

Crazy how they always advance people who fail to race themselves into the final.

If this happens in the final they won't be then handed a medal or a spit on the team.

Is there no further appeal process for Walker?

N3twork wrote:

Watch again wrote:

I should have read the rest of the thread.

One more point.

Walker was pulling ahead after he forced Engels over, so if he'd had enough room to cut in, Engels would not have been close enough to clip him.

No, Walker was trying up and beginning to fade, so as a last ditch attempt to prevent Engels front passing him, he dove into lane 1 and cut him off. He initiated the move that lead to contact.

You're joking, right?

Did you watch the race?

Dove?

ummmm no wrote:

N3twork wrote:

No, Walker was trying up and beginning to fade, so as a last ditch attempt to prevent Engels front passing him, he dove into lane 1 and cut him off. He initiated the move that lead to contact.

You're joking, right?

Did you watch the race?

Dove?

Walker moved into lane one because ; 1. He had passed Craig Engels, 2. It was open and was his quickest way to the finish. The fading Engels now found himself blocked and tried to get out by going to the right. Unfortunately, he clipped the heels of the runner in front of him. Note: Engels is the one who moved over and caused the contact, certainly not Walker. Why isn't there an interview with Walker. In Engels' interview he (amazingly) claims he didn't see what happened.