Agreed, why can’t we all applaud Graham for his sportsmanship and altruistic view toward US distance running? Honestly, how can any of you hate on Graham?
Based upon Parker’s last 600m or so, I am not sure if Blanks has a higher ceiling.
They are both really good. Graham dominated all of fall and ran 13:03. Graham was injured. Parker dominated outdoor. Graham is a more of a strength guy but did close in 54 in heat 1. He think he will be completely back after spending 3 weeks in Switzerland before Paris.
I'm counting four missed opportunities for Wolfe's coach to help him get the standard:
1. BU Terrier - This was eight weeks after the BU Season Opener, probably a long enough wait to make another attempt.
2. BU DMR challenge - could have brought the DMR team here instead to knock out a qualifier with professional pacers, then have them cheer on Wolfe in the 5000
3. Wake Forest Invite - Cole Hocker, Cooper Teare & pro pacers? But it sounds like some college coaches didn't want their kids racing pros and so Hocker, Teare and their pacers ran all by themselves. Wolfe's coach should have been apoplectic and got him in the fast heat.
4. LA Grand Prix - timing would have probably worked well as Wolfe was coming into peak form. Could have run easily won the 5k at ACCs the week before then easily gotten through the NCAA regional the week after. But his coach had him double the 5 and 10 in a failed effort to win ACCs.
You expecting a North Carolina coach to match wits and chess with a HARVARD coach? Come on, bro.
Just rethinking this. I’m thinking that that UNC coaches didn’t realize how good Parker was before the trials. I honestly think they didn’t believe he would be top 3. If they did it was was a major screw up. For Parker to make the team he needed to run 13:05 in the trials. That has never happened ever in the 5k Olympic trials. Second, for him to make the team without the standard he would have needed to win the race. If he finished 3rd, it didn’t matter if Graham was 4th. All 7 guys with the standard would have advanced over Wolfe if they were 4th. Maybe I’m missing something, but someone on the UNC coaching staff majorly dropped the ball and had him believing he had a shot. I feel for him and know he’s going to be stronger for it but as he said himself, he can blame the coach forever.
Nothing against Blanks here but what a disgrace. If the US can send 3 it should be able to choose the 3 it wants. And how is blanks higher and qualified but Wolfe not able to qualify. Not only did Wolfe beat him at the trials but he won NCAA'S when Blank wasn't top 3, beating several top runners in the process. Are they counting Blanks indoor times? Definitely not the right result.
Nothing against Blanks here but what a disgrace. If the US can send 3 it should be able to choose the 3 it wants. And how is blanks higher and qualified but Wolfe not able to qualify. Not only did Wolfe beat him at the trials but he won NCAA'S when Blank wasn't top 3, beating several top runners in the process. Are they counting Blanks indoor times? Definitely not the right result.
100% agree. Neither of them has a realistic chance to medal, but Wolfe's recent body of work, especially against Blanks, feels wrong to just discount. And, yes, I know that the rankings apply to all, it just sucks for Wolfe.
Blanks is a time trial merchant with little racing brains. Go back and watch his performance in the NCAA 5k if you think that's crazy. Wolfe beat the brakes off of him twice in a month- feels like that should count over AN INDOOR 5K
Nothing against Blanks here but what a disgrace. If the US can send 3 it should be able to choose the 3 it wants. And how is blanks higher and qualified but Wolfe not able to qualify. Not only did Wolfe beat him at the trials but he won NCAA'S when Blank wasn't top 3, beating several top runners in the process. Are they counting Blanks indoor times? Definitely not the right result.
If you would just read the qualification rules it would make sense to you. It’s not difficult. The USA can not send a runner without the world standard or world ranking. Period. If Graham stepped down, Parker wouldn’t go. McGorty would. How many times does this need to be explained? Parker was ineligible for the Olympics.
Nothing against Blanks here but what a disgrace. If the US can send 3 it should be able to choose the 3 it wants. And how is blanks higher and qualified but Wolfe not able to qualify. Not only did Wolfe beat him at the trials but he won NCAA'S when Blank wasn't top 3, beating several top runners in the process. Are they counting Blanks indoor times? Definitely not the right result.
100% agree. Neither of them has a realistic chance to medal, but Wolfe's recent body of work, especially against Blanks, feels wrong to just discount. And, yes, I know that the rankings apply to all, it just sucks for Wolfe.
Blanks is a time trial merchant with little racing brains. Go back and watch his performance in the NCAA 5k if you think that's crazy. Wolfe beat the brakes off of him twice in a month- feels like that should count over AN INDOOR 5K
Nothing against Blanks here but what a disgrace. If the US can send 3 it should be able to choose the 3 it wants. And how is blanks higher and qualified but Wolfe not able to qualify. Not only did Wolfe beat him at the trials but he won NCAA'S when Blank wasn't top 3, beating several top runners in the process. Are they counting Blanks indoor times? Definitely not the right result.
100% agree. Neither of them has a realistic chance to medal, but Wolfe's recent body of work, especially against Blanks, feels wrong to just discount. And, yes, I know that the rankings apply to all, it just sucks for Wolfe.
Blanks is a time trial merchant with little racing brains. Go back and watch his performance in the NCAA 5k if you think that's crazy. Wolfe beat the brakes off of him twice in a month- feels like that should count over AN INDOOR 5K
How about the 5k at BU? how about Nuttycombe. how about Charlottesville? I think one of Graham major strength’s is that he knows how to race. This is a really bad take. What is even dumber is all this back and forth when Parker and Wolfe are good friends and are both class acts.
A lot of hand wringing for a third and fourth place finisher in the US trials who have no chance of medaling in Paris. They are college kids who, if as talented as those on this board believe, will certainly have another chance in four years. They would do equally well in a month and still likely not even make the final. Great careers both but let’s keep it in perspective.
A lot of hand wringing for a third and fourth place finisher in the US trials who have no chance of medaling in Paris. They are college kids who, if as talented as those on this board believe, will certainly have another chance in four years. They would do equally well in a month and still likely not even make the final. Great careers both but let’s keep it in perspective.
100% agree. Neither of them has a realistic chance to medal, but Wolfe's recent body of work, especially against Blanks, feels wrong to just discount. And, yes, I know that the rankings apply to all, it just sucks for Wolfe.
Blanks is a time trial merchant with little racing brains. Go back and watch his performance in the NCAA 5k if you think that's crazy. Wolfe beat the brakes off of him twice in a month- feels like that should count over AN INDOOR 5K
How about the 5k at BU? how about Nuttycombe. how about Charlottesville? I think one of Graham major strength’s is that he knows how to race. This is a really bad take. What is even dumber is all this back and forth when Parker and Wolfe are good friends and are both class acts.
I'll agree he is a solid cross racer.
His decision to try and outkick Nico and Wolfe at NCAAs from 900m out was...dumb. To be frank, he was never really in the conversation to finish top 3 at the trials even. Kudos to him for earning the standard- that can't be taken away.
A lot of hand wringing for a third and fourth place finisher in the US trials who have no chance of medaling in Paris. They are college kids who, if as talented as those on this board believe, will certainly have another chance in four years. They would do equally well in a month and still likely not even make the final. Great careers both but let’s keep it in perspective.
Yeah no big deal to represent your country.
If Kazakhstan offered citizenship to Cooper Teare (pre-2022 so he wouldn't have to sit out 3 years) I wouldn't be surprised if he took it. Or any other perennial 4th - 6th place guy who hits the Q standard
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