She's had a great career and should be proud, but she's in an event where if enough injuries stack up with age, it's awfully hard to comeback to the level she once was. Any event above the steeple, her age of 33 is still considered prime and I’m curious if maybe the best thing to do is pivot towards the 5000/10000.
Valby should actually give some serious consideration to the SC this year. I don’t think she has a chance in heck at the 5000 given the way she runs (like pre, without limits and without tactics), front running and hoping she runs away with it, but Coburn made her entire career doing just that because the nature of the steeple allows it. It would a chance for Parker to make an Olympic team earlier than expected.
Valby is an injury-prone runner who has no business running the steeplechase. She has a decent shot at making the team in the 10000.
Really depends on what type of "injury prone" she is. If her bones break easily, maybe? If it's soft tissue, I don't think the SC would be that bad (could even strengthen stuff).
That said, she hath not the standard in the 10,000 and a good, paced 10,000 I see no place for her to get it.
What's particularly remarkable is that she achieved all this despite having rather modest PRs in flat races (4:03.8 in the 1500 and 15:24 in the 5000). It is a testament to her excellent hurdling form as well as her ability to compete well in high-pressure situations.
That's because the steeple is a weak event (and also because steeplers don't run other events all that often outdoors). 4:03 is actually comparatively fast for a steepler. Beatrice Chepkoech's 1500 PR is just 4:01 despite running 15+ seconds faster than Emma in the 3000sc. Yavi's 1500 PR is 4:05. Yavi's 5000 PR is 15:15.
And you know for sure she doesn't? You have nothing better to do than hate on a person you don't know? I'm assuming you haven't met her, at least.
You ask if know her, hen without any input, you then come to the conclusion that I don't, then readily admit you have absolutely no knowledge or evidence to come to that conclusion other than an assumption you pulled out of your a$, and you do it all in less than a minute.
Arguing with this type of person, is pointless.
So answer the questions, then. Unless it's pointless because, again, you've got nothing else going on. I suppose posting on a forum and complaining anonymously is a type of hobby, however useless. If you stand by your business, post your name. Come with facts, evidence. Otherwise you're just pissing in the wind.
Emma won a bronze medal at the Olympics in 2016, gold at the world championships in London in 2017, and silver at the world championships in 2019. She won ten national titles in the steeple. Absent this injury, she had a excellent shot at making another US Olympic team (her fourth).
Even if she never runs competitively again, she has had a long and storied career. Indeed, she was the most accomplished US female distance runner (1500 meters and up) of the last 15 years.
What's particularly remarkable is that she achieved all this despite having rather modest PRs in flat races (4:03.8 in the 1500 and 15:24 in the 5000). It is a testament to her excellent hurdling form as well as her ability to compete well in high-pressure situations.
Valby should actually give some serious consideration to the SC this year. I don’t think she has a chance in heck at the 5000 given the way she runs (like pre, without limits and without tactics), front running and hoping she runs away with it, but Coburn made her entire career doing just that because the nature of the steeple allows it. It would a chance for Parker to make an Olympic team earlier than expected.
Absolutely no time to learn to steeple in 2 months.
Yes. A some good flat MD runners can run a very respectable 3KSC with ZERO s/c 'education'. Maybe not the best they could be, but plenty of athletes can do the hurdle/WJ technique (myself included) right away just copying what they see on TV.
Yes. A some good flat MD runners can run a very respectable 3KSC with ZERO s/c 'education'. Maybe not the best they could be, but plenty of athletes can do the hurdle/WJ technique (myself included) right away just copying what they see on TV.
Valby should actually give some serious consideration to the SC this year. I don’t think she has a chance in heck at the 5000 given the way she runs (like pre, without limits and without tactics), front running and hoping she runs away with it, but Coburn made her entire career doing just that because the nature of the steeple allows it. It would a chance for Parker to make an Olympic team earlier than expected.
Absolutely no time to learn to steeple in 2 months.
I really hope she is able to make a strong recovery - and frankly just run (or maybe walk) pain free. But, this kind of fracture with cartilage damage and a screw to hold the joint in place - she is going to have trouble simply walking on uneven surfaces and balancing on one foot for quite some time. Get well Emma, you are a class act and an inspiration for all of us young and old.
Yes. A some good flat MD runners can run a very respectable 3KSC with ZERO s/c 'education'. Maybe not the best they could be, but plenty of athletes can do the hurdle/WJ technique (myself included) right away just copying what they see on TV.
It seems there are (at least?) two techniques used by pro women, the standard hurdle technique, and the two-legged-side-hop that some east-Africans use.
I guess one big thing a new hurdler needs to get accustomed to is how the jumps can take their lactic toll in the latter part of the race?
I think if Valby were to absolutely go all-in focusing on steeple, and only steeple, until the day of the Trials, she would have a shot, at least, of making the Paris team….in either the steeple or 10000m. That would be interesting to watch, but would it be worth the risk?
Emma won a bronze medal at the Olympics in 2016, gold at the world championships in London in 2017, and silver at the world championships in 2019. She won ten national titles in the steeple. Absent this injury, she had a excellent shot at making another US Olympic team (her fourth).
Even if she never runs competitively again, she has had a long and storied career. Indeed, she was the most accomplished US female distance runner (1500 meters and up) of the last 15 years.
What's particularly remarkable is that she achieved all this despite having rather modest PRs in flat races (4:03.8 in the 1500 and 15:24 in the 5000). It is a testament to her excellent hurdling form as well as her ability to compete well in high-pressure situations.
Great post but Jenny Simpson is the distance GOAT of the last 15 years.
Valby is an injury-prone runner who has no business running the steeplechase. She has a decent shot at making the team in the 10000.
Really depends on what type of "injury prone" she is. If her bones break easily, maybe? If it's soft tissue, I don't think the SC would be that bad (could even strengthen stuff).
Seems obvious that jumping over those barriers (especially the water jump) would be harder on the body than a flat race.
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