It Just Became ALMOST Impossible For Galen Rupp To Medal In Moscow

in a race in june (WCs in August) in the heat where he just has to qualify and was pushed somewhat a few nights before in the 10K...mmmkay...

SPMBLNPF wrote:

If Galen cannot outkick a 38 year old man,

2012. Recognize anyone?

Can I post a runnerspace link?

Seen both Gebrhiwet and Alamirew get beat this year

On top form Rupp can still medal

Only three medals are awarded but I'd like to see Galen run a race to his true potential. If he finishes 4th in 12:50 to a runner who closes the last 400m in 51 point that would be a good result.

Future Alcoholic wrote:

SPMBLNPF,

You are a sick, sad man if your idea of fun is trolling this website by trashing the USA's best distance runner.

america baby wrote:

I agree that there is no reason to bash our runners, but Galen Rupp is not the USA's best distance runner. Bernard Lagat is.

Future Alcoholic wrote:

Lol. Maybe 5 years ago.

Lagat is 2-0 against Rupp this year, about 20-1 against him lifetime, and won a gold medal at a World Championship last year - something Rupp has never done in a WC or Olympics. It's not even close, even currently in Lagat's old age.

It is not entirely clear to me what Gebrhiwet is up to at this point. He is on the start lists for a 10,000m on June 27 in Sweden, then he is also scheduled to run a 5000m on June 30 in Birmingham and another 5000m on July 4 in Lausanne. He may do all of this, but it wouldn't surprise me if he pulls out of one of these races.

The author of this thread is a complete joke.

HELLOOOOOOOOOOO, Rupp got a silver medal last summer. SILVER. You just added one person to the field.

SO many things wrong with this thread.

a)No one is unbeatable, even Farah could lose to Rupp.

b)Current or early season form does not indicate who will be racing well in Moscow.

c)Championship races are much different than time trials, which 90% of the races leading up to Worlds are. Rupp has more speed than almost all of the other 10k guys, and is more tactically savvy than most.

Don't know how you could even entertain that a guy who got SILVER wouldn't have a chance to medal. If everything played out the exact same way AND Gebrehiwet beat Rupp, that would still have him in position for BRONZE.

Oh ya, have you seen Gebrehiwet lose in a kick this year? I have.

If you were Salazar, would you really peak a guy like Rupp for the US Nationals. Do you think he cares that 7 weeks before the Worlds Rupp got outkicked in a 5000? They haven't even started to sharpen him up. If the 10,000 is his big race, what 3 Americans were going to beat him at the nationals. The same with the 5000. He will be ready to kick and maybe out-kick Lagat off a fast pace when it is needed, in August, not June. If Lagat still out-kicks him, then he earns it. The 10,000 and 5000s are two different races.

This is the correct answer to the OP.

Olympic silver medallist...no chance at a medal one year later? You clearly don't know much about track.

A healthy Rupp will be right where he was a year ago, in good position and ready to kick over the last 800m.

This.isthesh-t wrote:

I love quotes like this. Rupp is criticized for not attempting to gap a 10000 field. Have you ever seen Bekele, Haile or Sihine try to break a field? Maybe once as a three man unit. Usually, they wait until the end and never on their own. They follow their teammates or cover moves by guys like Tadesse or Masai.

This is good speculation but let's see if HG actually does break a 10000 field on his own before we lionize him. I hope he does go for it. They would be fools to let Farah take control over the last 800 ]

As a three man unit like you note in 2003. 12:57/12:58. To. Close down a 10k.

For what it's worth:

1992 10000m Silver Medalist - Richard Chelimo

1993 result: Bronze

1996 10000m Silver Medalist - Tergat

1997 Result: Silver

2000 10000m Silver Medalist - Tergat

2001 Result: DNR

2004 10000m Silver Medalist - Sihine

2005 Result: Silver

2008 10000m Silver Medalist - Sihine

2009 Result: DNR

However, these silver medalists didn't have the GOAT allegedly rounding back into form (except Geb in 2001).

Rupp was in peak form in February and Hagos Gebrhiwet was in May.

Let's see who is going to arrive in Moscow in peak shape. I'd picking Mo and Rupp.

Running great early in the year does not put you on the medal stand in August.

rekrunner wrote:

Did Ethiopia plan to field a weaker team last year at the Olympics? Every year, every country plans to field the strongest team possible.

Obviously I am responding to somebody who either doesn't follow the sport closely or isn't very bright, or both. Ethiopia is not run by intellectual giants, and its sports federations in particular are not. But that notwithstanding, last year both Bekeles were relatively mediocre, especially Kenenisa, and I am not certain if he'll ever run very well again. However, their top talent was not in the 10,000m last year, and it appears as if that will not be the case this year, with the exception of Alamirew and maybe one other. IF Gebrhiwet contests the 10,000m in Moscow, that is one runner that Galen cannot beat, barring bizarre circumstances. Galen cannot defeat his training partner, and if a reasonably fit Gebremeskel is in the 10,000m, game over. You do understand how Galen races, don't you? Galen does not lead. This generally works well for him, so I am not criticizing it at all. But Galen cannot outkick the Ethiopian studs who ran the 5000m last year, and if some of them contest the 10,000m in Moscow, then Galen is, for all intents and purposes, screwed, because his typical tactics won't work against these guys. I hope I have dumbed this down enough for you.

america baby wrote:

Future Alcoholic wrote:

SPMBLNPF,

You are a sick, sad man if your idea of fun is trolling this website by trashing the USA's best distance runner.

america baby wrote:

I agree that there is no reason to bash our runners, but Galen Rupp is not the USA's best distance runner. Bernard Lagat is.

Future Alcoholic wrote:

Lol. Maybe 5 years ago.

Lagat is 2-0 against Rupp this year, about 20-1 against him lifetime, and won a gold medal at a World Championship last year - something Rupp has never done in a WC or Olympics. It's not even close, even currently in Lagat's old age.

If you think Lagat has a chance at beating Rupp in this year's WCs, you're out of your mind. For that reason, and that reason alone, Galen Rupp is CURRENTLY the USA's best distance runner. Forget about lifetime statistics.

Future Alcoholic wrote:

If you think Lagat has a chance at beating Rupp in this year's WCs, you're out of your mind. For that reason, and that reason alone, Galen Rupp is CURRENTLY the USA's best distance runner. Forget about lifetime statistics.

Obviously you are not very bright. Galen Rupp will be running the 10,000m final on August 10th. Then on August 14th he will be running in the 5000m heats. If he advances, Galen will be running the 5000m final on August 16th. There is no guarantee that Galen will be 100 percent for the 5000m final. Even with Lagat being past his prime, he is superior as a racer to Galen Rupp, such that a less than 100 percent Galen Rupp is likely to finish behind Lagat at 5000m. Galen has NOT proven himself to be a great 5000m runner, as he currently stands 6th on the U.S. list, and it is not certain he will ever climb higher.

I expect Galen to medal. If he doesn't get top three it should be considered a disappointment.

So if anyone has followed Galen's history closely they will know that he has struggled anytime the temp gets too warm.

Check the current Moscow weather forecast and you will see temps mirroring Des Moines. Now certainly by mid-August there could be a cool few days but this is typical Moscow weather.

http://www.holiday-weather.com/moscow/forecast/fourteen-day/

It was one thing for Galen to beat a bunch of Americans in the 10k last week in the heat but quite another to defeat Africans. I say he medals if temp is sub 70 and not too humid at race time but not in top 6 if above 70 or very humid.

A few facts on Rupp.... wrote:

It was one thing for Galen to beat a bunch of Americans in the 10k last week in the heat but quite another to defeat Africans.

If he couldn't take what Bernard's La-got, he'll never handle the Gebrhi-sweat.

Future Alcoholic wrote:

If you think Lagat has a chance at beating Rupp in this year's WCs, you're out of your mind. For that reason, and that reason alone, Galen Rupp is CURRENTLY the USA's best distance runner. Forget about lifetime statistics.

No, YOU are out of your mind if you think Lagat has NO CHANCE of beating Rupp at WCs this year, given that he's already beaten him twice this year.