Ritz says he's back in 12:56 shape

What's wrong with reporters? wrote:

Who are the top 10-15 competitors? I looked at the 2012 OT site, but could not find lists of those qualified.

You didn't look hard enough.

Status of entries:

Where's Curtis?

4th to the bottom on the list. He's qualified, but apparently not entered at this time.

If you don't think Rupp and Ritz will work together why not think of the following:

1 - The A Standard would be considered a tactical race in London, so the team at the trials that places 1-3 at that pace is best for London, so if Rupp wants the best US team we can field, and he has the capacity to make that happen why not make it happen

2 - It's not that unusual for this to happen, or for it to even be broadcasted. Didn't Shalane say her race would be dictated by Lisa's (i.e. she would be helping Lisa if needed)

3 - A shared load will likely make the race faster and easier for both Ritz and Rupp, and make it easier to turn around for the 5k. If it's a sit and kick type of race, I have always found that my legs are toast for a couple days, where a even paced race with a faster finishing time is pretty easy to recover from.

They'll be trading 800's and negative split to a 27:30 or so and Rupp and Ritz will be comfortably 1 and 2 at the trials.

Every time that he spouts off, he fails to deliver. I expect nothing less from him this time.

Apparently Lagat has not officially declared to the 5,000, yet. I remember Meb was a really late entry for Houston this past January. I'm not sure what's to gain by waiting, but who knows?

orbitboy wrote:

And looking forward to the 10,000 at the trials.

http://dathanritzenhein.competitor.com/2012/06/15/what-does-it-take/

WHAT?!!! BACK in 12:56 shape. I thought Ritz didn't have the speed to ever get under 13:00. Oh wait, yes he did. My bad.

In my opinion, anyone who thinks that Ritz won't make the team is down right crazy.

He's one of the toughest competitors we have. He has been injury free. He will place 2nd in an Olympic A time.

The real question is whether he doubles back and how that effects the 5k. Lomong kills his chances in both events by doing the 1500 before the 5k finals. Bad BAD call by him and his coach. Lomong will not make either team.

So that leaves Lagat, Rupp, Ritz and Bumbi.

Rupp and Ritz could very well be on the 10k and 5k teams for London. No one is calling Ritz to make the team in the 5k as everyone debates his chances in the 10k.

My cal:

10,000: Rupp, Ritz, Curtis

5,000: Lagat, Rupp, Ritz (if he runs). If he doesn't run, Bumbi

1500: Monzano, Centro, Torrence/Wheating/Brown... too tough to call

WHATyO wrote:

My cal:

10,000: Rupp, Ritz, Curtis

5,000: Lagat, Rupp, Ritz (if he runs). If he doesn't run, Bumbi

1500: Monzano, Centro, Torrence/Wheating/Brown... too tough to call

Those are all pretty good picks. I think we'll know a bit more going into the finals of the 1,500 once we've seen who looks good, and who doesn't. There might be some surprises there. (Centro and Wheating, for example--how hard do they have to work? Do they glide into the finals, or really have to scramble?) But I'm gonna keep picking Manzano until the day comes when three other people beat him out. It's been a while since that happened.

Lomong's choosing to double is worse than "bad BAD"--it is inexplicably bad BAD! Unless he gets nicked up in the 10 Ritz will be doubling. In the 10, I think Teg will beat out Curtis for the third spot. If this were simply an invitational meet, Curtis might be the choice, but, to state the obvious, this is the Olympic Trials, and experience under fire matters.

Via Facebook, Abdi is calling it Rupp, Teg and Ritz, "in no particular order."

I can see his point. This race could go a lot of different ways, and Rupp doesn't "need" to win by any means.

Should be an interesting race, no matter how it shakes out.

So Strange. wrote:

Ok, let me try again. By the way I really resemble that remark. I wrote it real fast. I meant we have had the Kenyans and Ethiopians all down sub 13:00 forever. Finally we get guys like Galen, Ritz and Solinsky who have ventured under 13:00. Just meant we don't get many white dudes down there. Mo of course in ahead of them all. I was joking about Salazar as I have always thought he is amazing. I meant he has done what he said his runners would one day do. He has taken alot of negatives for a long time.

You do realize that Mo Farah is a British citizen, is black, and was born in Somalia, making him African?

When you say "we get" are you referring to the world or American track fans?

orbitboy wrote:

Via Facebook, Abdi is calling it Rupp, Teg and Ritz, "in no particular order."

I can see his point. This race could go a lot of different ways, and Rupp doesn't "need" to win by any means.

Should be an interesting race, no matter how it shakes out.

Abdi was right on, even the order.

What does "no particular order" mean to you?

Perspectivation wrote:

Abdi was right on, even the order.

My take on the race: Ritz is not in 12:56 shape. Not yet. I'd say 13:08 at best, judging from what I've seen since January. (Still, he ran under the previous OT record. Not bad!) I'm not surprised that Teg made the team, but I'm surprised that he beat Ritz and looked pretty strong in doing so. Well done! Lastly, Rupp is the man. He looked well within himself the entire way. Right now, he's a solid medal contender, but things change fast.

ps--I was extremely impressed with Derrick's effort. I thought he would be gassed from the long season; but boy, he was a lot closer than I thought he possibly could have been.

clown response bro wrote:

What does "no particular order" mean to you?

[quote]clown response bro wrote:

What does "no particular order" mean to you?[/

Sorry that went past you, it's called joking.

orbitboy wrote:

Perspectivation wrote:

Abdi was right on, even the order.

My take on the race: Ritz is not in 12:56 shape. Not yet. I'd say 13:08 at best, judging from what I've seen since January. (Still, he ran under the previous OT record. Not bad!) I'm not surprised that Teg made the team, but I'm surprised that he beat Ritz and looked pretty strong in doing so. Well done! Lastly, Rupp is the man. He looked well within himself the entire way. Right now, he's a solid medal contender, but things change fast.

ps--I was extremely impressed with Derrick's effort. I thought he would be gassed from the long season; but boy, he was a lot closer than I thought he possibly could have been.

If I remember right , ritz ran a very similar race to this the year he went on to get the AR didn't he? He was racing with a lot of pressure and doing a lot of work in less than ideal weather tonight. I bet he'll sit in the field patiently in London thru 6k and then slip up behind mo and rupp or close to them with 2k to go. I still won't be surprised if he's in the medal chase with 2 laps to go.

Its going to be a very exciting 10k at worlds.

In 2009 Ritz ran 2:10:00 at the London Marathon, 27:58 in the USATF meet, then 27:22 in the heat to get 6th at WCs. Less than 2 weeks later he ran 12:56 running down just about everyone in the field.

So far in 2012, Ritz has run 2:09:55 for the marathon, 27:50 in Hengelo, now 27:36 at the trials. It seems that he might well be in sub 13:00 shape.

I predict Ritz for a near 27:00 10000m if conditions allow for it, and if not, a post Olympics PR or near PR in the 5000m.

Scary to think of what Rupp may be capable of if Ritz is in fact on track for this kind of season.