TrackCoach wrote:
Lisbon is a big time race and this is definitely a good result for Shalane. However, there are about a half dozen of the top women who weren't in that race and these are the same women Shalane will face in the OGM. With that said, I think Shalane is amoung that half dozen or so medal contenders.
With a 2:25 marathon??
There are a lot of dreamers on this thread.
The Kenyan and Russian teams are going to be very strong. I have a hard time favoring Shalane for a medal up against them.
If Keitany goes hard at the start, though, a lot of people are going to falter and that may open the medals up to a lot of contenders.
If Shalane earns a bronze, I will be absolutely thrilled. Hell, I'd be happy with a top 5 finish. But Olympic gold is asking for A LOT.
If you are saying that Shalane and Kara are medal contenders how is Desi not a contender, too? She was the one battling for a major marathon win in Boston last year.
categorically wrote:
If you are saying that Shalane and Kara are medal contenders how is Desi not a contender, too? She was the one battling for a major marathon win in Boston last year.
Don't know if you are specifically thinking of my post, but I did leave Desi out and I probably shouldn't have. Shalane's win and Kara's NY performance (beating Desi by a fair amount) just left me thinking about those two. Desi could very well be in the mix too.
americuh wrote:
Seriously, the way she ran down the best the Ethiopians and Kenyans could muster, you got to figure Flanagan is the favorite going into the London Olympics. She hurt the Ethiopian so bad she dropped out. They're running scared now. America #1!
Ha Ha Ha Ha! (from a Vulcan).
Thanks for the link! Incredible race! Flanagan seems to have that magic combo of natural ability, work ethic, and competitive fire that is necessary to be a medalist. Fingers crossed she stays healthy between now and London!
runnerdave wrote:
BTW, loading all this crapola on Flanagan ("lock on the Olympic gold?") is, well,.... poop! Of course, anything can happen in the Olympics. Did anybody predict we'd get two medals in Athens? But let's not load all this garbage on the Americans running in London.
If you haven't watched Flanagan place 3rd at the World Cross Country Championships, it's on Universal Sports: starts at about 2:05 in the video. One gutsy runner!
http://www.universalsports.com/video/assetid=ee15d1ec-cb9f-4a7a-8b51-8b726fce411c.html
J.R. wrote:
TrackCoach wrote:Lisbon is a big time race and this is definitely a good result for Shalane. However, there are about a half dozen of the top women who weren't in that race and these are the same women Shalane will face in the OGM. With that said, I think Shalane is amoung that half dozen or so medal contenders.
With a 2:25 marathon??
There are a lot of dreamers on this thread.
Meb was the 38th fastest runner at the Athens starting line.
J.R. wrote:
With a 2:25 marathon??
There are a lot of dreamers on this thread.
Excepting Sidney, the only Olympic Games where 2:25 would medal is all of them. In her limited marathon career Shalane has shown good closing speed in tactical races and certainly has a shot.
For that matter Desi and Kara have a shot though more remote in my estimation.
The selection process is fuc* up. Caroline Kilel didn't get selected. There are 5 men who get to race olympic road cycling but in the marathon there are only 3. Why can't the olympic marathon have everyone who qualify get to run.
nightline wrote:
Bill Huntington wrote:Has an Olympic half-marathon been added to the schedule?
Exactly.
And it is a 10k long.
There's an Olympic half marathon this year? Awesome. Bout time too.
kevins da azn wrote:
The selection process is fuc* up. Caroline Kilel didn't get selected.
Have the teams been selected? I've been hoping Lucy Kabuu will get in.