With the PR's listed - do you mean possible pr's? Because those are not the current PRs
I tried to go off actual prs, I guess I missed on Howell and rounded up for Flockhart. Won't change my thinking though.
Ok. This field is very competitive and in a way it is anyone's race. The only three I think are a lock are Howell, Flockhart and Thornton-Bott. But, there could easily be upsets. Ayyildiz, Jepkirui, Riggins, Maatoug, Penn seem like strong contenders to me as well. Maatoug just needs better tactics.
The weather forecast looks pretty rough. High 80's, 'feels like' 90's with the humidity for 1500m/5k despite being moved later, for all rounds. Every day expected to reach into the 90s during the day.
In the 5k this is a really good omen for Valby. I have a lot of confidence in her ability to run in the heat and humidity. She has interviewed that they practice in 100 degree weather in the afternoon in Florida and she ran very well in Texas during XC.
Mountain region runners should also do all right because coming from altitude will help them, plus it can get very hot there.
The weather forecast looks pretty rough. High 80's, 'feels like' 90's with the humidity for 1500m/5k despite being moved later, for all rounds. Every day expected to reach into the 90s during the day.
In the 5k this is a really good omen for Valby. I have a lot of confidence in her ability to run in the heat and humidity. She has interviewed that they practice in 100 degree weather in the afternoon in Florida and she ran very well in Texas during XC.
Mountain region runners should also do all right because coming from altitude will help them, plus it can get very hot there.
Starts talking about training in heat at 8:00. I guess in school they practise in the afternoon, thinks of it as poor mans altitude. She has discussed it a few times in different interviews
Someone else may have mentioned this already, but I was looking at the OK state IG and Jepkirui actually lost a shoe with 200m to go in the quarterfinals! Amazing finish for missing a shoe. My hunch is she makes it through next round.
I rewatched the video and my guess is it happened with her interaction with Whittaker. Whittaker might have nipped her heel but it is really too hard to tell.
I wonder if kt is gonna go all out in the 1500 to point that she scratches the 5000?!
by the rules she would have to be checked by the local medical staff and verified to be unfit to run.
Technically yes but in reality no.
Rule 14, Sections 2d, f, and g state:
d. A failure to participate is considered an assumption that the competitor in violation has abandoned the competition and, therefore, shall be barred from all remaining events in the current meet.
f. The referee, upon proper protest, based upon all authorized evidence and considering circumstances beyond the competitor’s control (including documented severe medical conditions), shall determine whether circumstances clearly demonstrate that a violation of this rule has occurred. The referee shall disqualify competitors for violating the failure to participate rule. g. This rule shall not preclude conferences or championships games committees from creating additional restrictions published in handbooks and manuals.
If she tried to skip the 1500 to focus on the 5000, she would need medical documentation. If she has already run the 1500 and decides to skip the 5000, she would be barred from her remaining events - none. They cannot go back and delete the 1500 result. Now 2g does state that the games committee can create additional restrictions. If the NCAA T&F Championship Games Committee decided that ALL results (even previously contested events) would be disqualified, they can do that. I have NEVER seen something like that happen at any level.
hence why I said "by the rules" In reality of course they could not force her to run the 5000 (I guess she could accidently not show up at the startingline), but I think that would be poor sportsmanship on her part in any case.
The rules also specifically state
"Medical Scratches after First Round Championships. Medical scratches must be reported by email to Sean Laughlin () and Jeff Mlynski () before the deadline by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, June 4. Every possible effort will be made to replace a competitor in events not contested at the First round championships competition (Heptahlon & Decathlon). A First round championships qualifier, who has earned advancement as prescribed in the NCAA Cross Country/Track & Field Rules Book, cannot be replaced. The reporting of a medical scratch facilitates more equitable seeding in the event affected. If the medical scratch occurs before arriving on site, then the scratch must be verified by the institution’s team doctor. If the scratch occurs after arriving on site, the scratch must be verified by host medical personnel.
No reason to degrade herself. Just be a normal college runner, join OAC or another pro team that can look out for her upon graduation, and go from there.