Which old guy: Ritzenhein, Abdi or Lagat has best shot of making 2020 Olympic Team?

How crazy it would be if all three makes the team and all youngsters go home devastated

US.OT’THON.NATTIES_26.2!!!! wrote:

wejo wrote:

It might be unfair to group Ritz who is only 37 and will be Bernard Lagat's age (45) when the Olympics are in LA in 2028 but we did.

Our picks are here, plus some classic old LRC photos.

What do you all think?

https://www.letsrun.com/news/2020/02/which-old-guy-dathan-ritzenhein-bernard-lagat-or-abdi-abdirahman-does-the-best-at-the-olympic-marathon-trials/

^^^ Cool pic but swap out Ritz for Meb.... PAC 10 ‘90s!

Then have another pic with Hall, Ritz, and Webb!!! Maybe 2024????

Big fan of all of them! YOURE ALL WINNERS!!!!

Remember when Wejo beat Abdi in the 10k? That was cool!

2020 ‘THON NATTIES IS GOING TO BE 4D CHESS!!! 2:0??????

Cagey vets, hard new comers! YES!

Should I watch in my Jasaris, Eldorets, Kennedys??? Maybe Vaporflys and 1/2 tights???? Mom knows not to knock on my door during race time!!!

Chill out, nerd.

I don’t know if it will affect the outcome but lagat seems to have directly countered your assertion. Abdi’s results seem to make him the logical bet. I want ritz to make it. I think lagat has the best chance. I guess I’m a nostalgic person and just want all three to make it.

reed wrote:

From what I've read about Lagat's past marathon training, he might have overdid it in Kenya this year. I bet he blows up at mile 20

david monti rrw article:

Ironically, Lagat ended up doing much of his running alone, he said. At 45, he needed to be careful not to push too hard and wanted to stay with the program he had worked out with his longtime coach, James Li. “Here’s the thing, most of the training I did by myself,” Lagat said. “I wanted to be smart. Six weeks is not enough to train with people full-time, people who live there. Either I could hurt myself, trying to catch up with them. So, I thought I would keep what I’ve been doing all the time.”

I really think the top-3 slots will go to the Big 4: Korir, Rupp, Fauble, Ward. I think there are a ton of 2:10-2:13 types who will be around with 10k to go. It wouldn't surprise me if Abdi, Lagat, or Dathan, is right there too. Will make things very interesting for sure.

If I had to pick one of those three, I guess I would somehow say Lagat. Ritz always takes a lot of heat but did run a 1:01 a year ago. & Abdi is still putting together decent finishes at majors.

Ditto.

I'm thinking Lagat's consistency and speed will carry him past the other two in the last stretch.

I don’t know if anyone of them will make it, but I think Lagat will be the best one. He is the most talented runner between the 3!

ontheedge wrote:

I don’t know if anyone of them will make it, but I think Lagat will be the best one. He is the most talented runner between the 3!

Agreed. Training at a high level and staying injury free and consistent is one of the biggest talents of all. Ritz just hasn't had that recently.

What about Ritz's shoes? wrote:

Something to consider ... the Hansons Fb page recently notes Ritz is the only runner at the trials who has been under 2:08 without carbon-plated shoes (as well as his 2019 half result), and he will be wearing the Hyperion Elite in Atlanta. ....

https://www.facebook.com/HansonsBrooksDistanceProject/posts/2830208093682243?__xts__[0]=68.ARAtWtB_5_ZFTMA-0cefYgcDhEzSih4iGvERojvnT3ImyruJCsJYwgBHT8hc2lM9JUpGhsCVjy_qzACkjhCcgC4j3FXbwwyYd0W-AbiTT1UkS9wGGFC6guWV3cHpq_dRu8mW3D9dT17Zoj4zWhHDQ9OjxkOd44nnUv5UhHUqMCp1xCXj0f8A8byIE1BtZeJ17Jv5HQdqfJaWTfZZBBuyoyyiVQ1Hn5JVnn2SBj_NcTuTVtY1OALAnpTRshICgoqG3RAVVjSjYGlld2yuXOKDHRQCZZy-2SRg9OLZc5ByOCEHEk3L6CojJSr3GWhbke3N5duHRGOfkwX1Wjmskn0N8w&__tn__=-R

I don't know why this is something to brag about.....

Its like a Nascar team saying "we got 20th place but that is impressive because our car was the slowest because our research and development sucks."

THOUGHTSLEADER wrote:

I don’t think any of them make it, but I’ll put Lagat as no. 1. Most talented runner of the 3, has had a very good buildup, and higher ceiling than Abdi for me. Ritz I just can’t trust to avoid injury.

above is correct.

if Ritz has the good training block, the Ritz, it's his last shot at the OG.

it is a very shaky bet, Ritz

Bernard Lagat is a lock to make the 2020 US Olympic marathon team.

I’m not qualified to offer an opinion as to who will do better, but I’ll be cheering for Bernard Lagat. In, I think, 2017, I was a volunteer at the Peachtree Road Race. Bernard placed third that year, and overall master. While all the other elites walked with us down to their hospitality area, he ran down the street shaking hands and thanking the volunteers handing out bananas and water. Later, in the elite hospitality area, he spoke to and posed for pictures with everyone who asked; and in his award speech, he made a point to thank the ATC volunteers who gave up their day to make the race possible. A gracious, humble, decent man – he made me a fan that day.

I’m volunteering as a course marshal at the Trials, and I’ll be yelling my throat hoarse for him. Would be absolutely thrilled to see him make the team.

Ritz is hurt now. Giving Trials a shot but I wouldn't bet the farm on him. Hopefully he has something left in him for one last go.

wejo wrote:

It might be unfair to group Ritz who is only 37 and will be Bernard Lagat's age (45) when the Olympics are in LA in 2028 but we did.

Our picks are here, plus some classic old LRC photos.

What do you all think?

https://www.letsrun.com/news/2020/02/which-old-guy-dathan-ritzenhein-bernard-lagat-or-abdi-abdirahman-does-the-best-at-the-olympic-marathon-trials/

Ritzenhein should have retired forever ago. He has been FINISHED.

Everyone is gonna feel the BERN

The black cactus strikes again!