USATF: Put Mu on the 4x4 Relay Team. Do Not Screw This Up.

I looked over the list for the relay pool at https://www.usatf.org/news/2021/team-usatf-announces-roster-for-2020-tokyo-olympic and thought that, too.

Can the relay pool be changed at this time? It is listed on USATF's site.

I think the likely best team, which is subject to seeing how well athletes recover from their races and how sharp they look, how well they run prior to the relay, would be Mu, McLaughlin, Muhammad, and either Felix, Gabby Thomas, or Quanera Hayes. Felix & Thomas are not looking as sharp as I hoped, and they may not be the best choice but coaches will see. Felix would be perfect for 1st leg due to her experience and if, in the possible event that she does not get her team in the lead on the 1st leg, the first 3 above are such unbelievably fit at running 400m that they could compensate for any potential time loss relative to competitors. I do think the issue is really not so much a gold medal as breaking the world record of 3:15.17 (Soviets). If a 400m hurdler's time for a 400 is 3-4 sec faster than their 400H time, and looking at what Mu has already done in the 400 along with what her 800 time predicts as potential for her 400, we're looking at 3 potential 48.0-48.9's from Mu, McLaughlin & Muhammad, so if Felix can run an opening 50.0, that could be a 3:14-3:16.7, putting them within -2.17 to 1.53 sec of the WR.

You don't understand who is eligible to run the relays. Anyone on the Track and Field roster can run in the relay including all of the individual entrants in all of the individual events and anyone in the relay pool. Theoretically the US could line up with two Javelin throwers and two shot putters.

Felix, if selected would likely run 2nd due to her experience in making her way out of the cut in and out of any traffic issues. Mu should anchor. That leaves McLaughlin 3rd and Hayes first assuming those are the choices.

I think Delilah and Syd just locked up two of the spots. Those two, Mu, and our best open 400 runner.

Don’t make it any harder than that, USATF.

Raysism wrote:

I think Delilah and Syd just locked up two of the spots. Those two, Mu, and our best open 400 runner.

Don’t make it any harder than that, USATF.

It is just this simple. DOn't screw it up.

Can Fred Kerley run on the men's 4x4?

pavement88 wrote:

Can Fred Kerley run on the men's 4x4?

Yup.

high school xc coach wrote:

[quote]Raysism wrote:

I think Delilah and Syd just locked up two of the spots. Those two, Mu, and our best open 400 runner.

Don’t make it any harder than that, USATF.

It is just this simple. DOn't screw it up.[/quote

This is the way

I think everyone is forgetting Raven Rogers. Rewatch her anchor on the NCAA 4x4 for U of O if you doubt, and she did a PR 800 with a massive negative split today. I’d let Felix run the heats, so she qualifies for a medal, and then move to Muhammad, then McLaughlin, then Mu, then Rogers. Unlikely, but a great 4.

Allyson Felix has run around 51 (50.88) this year. She has no business being on the team. It is like putting a 46.xxx guy on the men's team.

kiowavt wrote:

I think everyone is forgetting Raven Rogers. Rewatch her anchor on the NCAA 4x4 for U of O if you doubt, and she did a PR 800 with a massive negative split today. I’d let Felix run the heats, so she qualifies for a medal, and then move to Muhammad, then McLaughlin, then Mu, then Rogers. Unlikely, but a great 4.

has she ever run a 48.xx split, because that's what I think you are getting from the others at this point. Syd and Dalilah are both a second faster in the 400h from 2019

Dr. DETROIT wrote:

high school xc coach wrote:

It is just this simple. DOn't screw it up.

This is the way

100% THIS

Calamity Joe wrote:

Allyson Felix has run around 51 (50.88) this year. She has no business being on the team. It is like putting a 46.xxx guy on the men's team.

She ran 50.03 at the trials.

Id rather put Mu on the mens 4x4 relay than felix on the womens (100% serious)

IT would not shock me if Felix dropped a mid to high 49 in the open and beats out the other Americans. I just hope they choose the people who deserve to be there. I can't stand the sentimental crap. We have a potential record breaking team. DO NOT BLOW IT

Agreed. Unless Hayes sh!ts the bed in the final, you can't deny the US 400 champ running 49s. Put Muhammed in the heats and she still gets a gold. Throw Ellis and Okolo in the prelims to keep everyone fresh...

Men is wide open. I don't think Kerley has the 400m fitness and Ross looked like crap in his heats. Rai and Cherry are for sure in the final. Lots of choices, but gotta get Rai jacked up for the final..

johnboy1981 wrote:

Rogers needs to be on the relay as well.

Would be interesting to see a relay team of 4x4 of hurdlers and 800 runners take on the countries top 400 runners. We did something similar with the sprinters taking on the 800 runners in a 4x400 relay when I was in college. The 800 runners won.

the 4x4 and 400 schedule should be noted here

400 semis: wednesday night (Tokyo time)

4x4 rd 1: Thursday night

400 final: Friday night

4x4 final: Saturday night

Any 400 runner who is not in the finals should run the relay prelims. Rodgers could also run prelims. Mu, with her 800 strength, probably good for both rounds.

If felix makes final for 400, forget about her running in the prelims of the relay.

kiowavt wrote:

I think everyone is forgetting Raven Rogers. Rewatch her anchor on the NCAA 4x4 for U of O if you doubt, and she did a PR 800 with a massive negative split today. I’d let Felix run the heats, so she qualifies for a medal, and then move to Muhammad, then McLaughlin, then Mu, then Rogers. Unlikely, but a great 4.

No.

Maybe Rogers in the heats but not for the final