LOL I think getting thrown off the track prob precluded her from figuring out "how to get it done". You can't just pull yourself up by your bootstraps at that point. She's no blood doped Lasse Viren or something.
One year is unlucky, 4 years in a row is a pattern.
I would rather settle it on the track than back room deals. Track is a dirty enough sport, last thing we need is Nike athletes getting an auto bid and freezing out lesser brands, or sentimental favorites past their prime vs the up and coming athlete.
Let them run. Let them compete for it.
Agreed. I don't want an organization, run by Max Siegel and bankrolled by Nike picking the athletes. I don't see how that would lessen any controversy.
"Best" will always be subjective.
I posted this in another thread on the topic. But the US has 21 athletes with standard in the women's 100.
Good luck coming to a consensus by committee on who the discretionary pick should be when comparing 19 athletes. The depth of the US precludes discretionary picks, as it would be rife with bias/undue influence from specific coaches/sponsors.
Keep the decision in the hands of the athletes - show up and be the best on the day.
I was very happy with the outcome, considering what it could have been given Mu's fall. The last thing I wanted was another Raevyn Rogers rerun. She is the worst of American middle distance running, an athlete who always sits at the back and counts on everything collapsing ahead of her.
I'm an American but have always viewed Rogers' Tokyo bronze as one of the most sickening and undeserved Olympic medals of all time. She risked nothing and should have departed with nothing. She stole it from Jemma Reekie who was the only competitor in that race who actually attempted to defeat Athing Mu.
I despise stretch runners in every sport. It lends toward low percentage and underachieving. For every outlier example where it pays off there are dozens of examples where it has no chance at highest level. Americans need to steer away from that middle school tendency. Run like Ethiopians and medals will follow.
Juliette Whittaker is a delight. She has a square build, just like her 400 sister. No medal opportunity but I'm thrilled she made the team. She is a stalker and has a huge tendency to pull out victories when in contention late.
Akins is in a fight for bronze. She is a delight also. Mu's absence benefits Akins and Sekgodiso. Also Reekie. There also might be others who can enter that 1:56 territory.
I'm not expecting much from Allie Wilson. Late career overachievers aren't my idea of ideal Olympic berths. She will show up and get outrun, just like world indoors a few months ago.
Akins will understand that international 800 heats are now very fast. You need to be prepared to go sub 2 minutes in the first round and sub 1:59 if not lower in the semifinals. Whittaker and Wilson are candidates to get ousted early if not ready for that.
Prior standards mean nothing. The 800 is an evolving event. Not too many below 1:57 but the world is now flooded with sub 2 minute types. I emphasized that months ago. Instead of 30 women dipping under 2 minutes worldwide it's now 60ish. In fact, we're already at 60 right now, still more than a month removed from Paris.
ironically, this is also how Kerr won his Olympic medal.