Carrie Tollefson was the broadcast star today, IMO. Superb job. She basically paused the middle of the women's 1500 to give Diribe Welteji's resume. You never hear anything like that. But Tollefson understood it was necessary after the pre race panel and especially Centrowitz had essentially dismissed Welteji and framed the race as nothing but Hiltz versus Hull.
Centrowitz did a great job overall. He is a broadcast natural. His one flaw both days has been underestimating Welteji. I mentioned that yesterday. That race was anything but an upset. Welteji entered this meet with an 8-2 lifetime head to head edge over Hull at 1500 and 5-1 over Hiltz. Yet somehow she has remained easily the most underrated athlete in track and field for years. I was very pleased for Welteji and hope this boosts her profile. But she should have agreed to a post race interview. They asked her but she quickly said no. That was a mistake, a one common to many Ethiopians. Regardless of language barrier just smile and say anything that comes to mind.
The most disgusting medal result of Paris was Georgia Bell sitting back and picking Diribe Welteji at the line for bronze. Welteji had high ambitions after Budapest 2023 silver followed by defeating Kipyegon a month later in the inaugural road mile. Consequently she tried to win in Paris. Hull and especially Bell sat further back and were content with lesser medals. I always despise it when the bold attempt falls out of the medals completely. I'm American but have always emphasized that Raevyn Rogers picking Jemma Reekie by .01 for bronze was the single most undeserved outcome from Tokyo 2021. That one was even worse than Welteji/Bell.
The consequences this winter have been Hull introduced in every meet as silver medalist and Bell as bronze medalist, while Welteji stands there silently better than either one of them.