Un-freaking-believeable what Nike pulled to get Hasay to worlds

Link here:http://www.usatf.org/News/0-(6).aspx

"During the women’s 3,000-meter final contested Saturday evening, a meet official raised a yellow flag, indicating a possible field-of-play infraction by a runner. A review of the official’s report by the Women’s Running Head Referee and subsequently by the Jury of Appeal led to a ruling of no infraction. The Jury of Appeal then reviewed additional video evidence and reversed their initial ruling, disqualifying Gabriele Grunewald for a field-of-play infraction impeding Jordan Hasay. Protests and appeals were filed by representatives of athletes during the process. In accordance with USATF Competition Rules 111 and 119, the Jury of Appeal is a three-person panel appointed by the USATF Games Committee. Protests and appeals are governed by USATF Competition Rule 146. The decisions of the Jury of Appeal are final.

Jill Geer

Chief Communications Officer

USA Track & Field

317-713-4654

Jill.Geer@usatf.org

"

Send your emails boys and girls!

I watched this video a number of times. I really can't see how anybody watching the same tape I did, wouldn't think Grunewald was cheated out of her clear victory.

I would be amazingly embarrassed to be involved in this travesty.

I watched this video a number of times. I really can't see how anybody watching the same tape I did, wouldn't think Grunewald was cheated out of her clear victory.

I would be amazingly embarrassed to be involved in this travesty.

It's funny how everyone on Grunewald's side doesn't have the story quite right... Hasay was running around the turn in good position, Grunewald would have easily blew past Jordan without bumping into her. Lets remember this also isn't Gabe's first incident with being a dirty runner.

It is even funnier how NOP/Nike folks show up out of the blue to post crap here.

Halle wrote:

It's funny how everyone on Grunewald's side doesn't have the story quite right... Hasay was running around the turn in good position, Grunewald would have easily blew past Jordan without bumping into her. Lets remember this also isn't Gabe's first incident with being a dirty runner.

Having run hundreds of indoor races. many at International level on boards and synthetic, if this DQ stands all respect is gone for the enablers. Just watched the entire race and what no one has mentioned before that I've seen is the complete abandon or racing protocol of Hasay. Gabe stayed right down on the rail a lot of the race while Hasay went up high many times in lane 1, which normally a trick a leader does to get a runner to go inside and then getted trapped when the leader came back down before the runner could get by. Yet Hasay was not leading and just running on her shoulder but Hasay would come back down willy nilly when she pleased and forced Gabe to run jerky trying to avoid a runner that had no [NO] regard for where she was on the track. For that disregard of Gabe's position I would have DQ'd her long before the point under discussion. When someone repeatedly tried to herd me, they almost never finished the race.

Having watched the full race a couple of more times two more things became abundantly clear to me.

First, Jordan was following a plan or simply would not do any of the work and was simply watching closely that she was in good position near the end of the race and raced accordingly even though they were dawdling along like a person who is following the car ahead because they know where they are going then at the incident just came right down to the bottom of the track to save ground forgetting or not caring that someone else might be there [over-focused?].

Second, Gabe ran possibly the dumbest race ever for someone that had that much left at the end. The situation set up for her because she passed another girl near the end by tip toeing up the rail not too long before their final kicks and must have thought I can do this to Jordan because she's always moving up high on certain sections of the track. Just when Gabe was going to try again to spurt through, Jordan, uncharistically, went right down to the rail on top of Gabe who had to break hard and then swing out to avoid both of them going down. The brush was really, really minor for a couple of runners who absolutely no nothing about indoor tactics.

I was at the meet this weekend. Spoke to a couple dozen folks today, all discussing this nonsense. Nobody - nobody - that was at the meet is seeing the sense in or taking the side of the USATF or Salazar's actions. Nobody. Yet, one reads the boards and apparently there's this sizeable minority that sees things entirely the different way? A bunch of runners and coaches somehow feeling perfectly justified supporting the USATF (the USATF!) over a runner that won her race handily. Not even remotely believable, and I'm pointing my finger at Indianapolis on this. This federation and the folks that work for it are a joke. They openly disregard their own rule book at direct cost to their own athletes? Just shaking my head here. Blatant abuse of power. If this matter isn't corrected it erodes any legitimacy the organization has left.

thefactofitall wrote:

Jenny and Kim pulled out because they didn't want to get lapped by Dibaba at Worlds. Which will happen to Hasay. Maybe if Grunewald didn't run like a blithering idiot, she too could go get lapped by Dibaba.

Possibly the best reply I've read yet on LR.

/thread

Maybe Gabe deserved to be DQ'd, maybe she didn't, but that was a decision for the officials to make without interference from Salazar or Nike. The ends do not justify the means.

I will no longer be buying any Nike gear. They may not think they care whether a 15:00 5k, 2:30 marathon guy is buying their stuff. But I had a talk with my other runner friends on our long run yesterday. None of us will be buying Nike gear. Guess what that means? Nobody finishing in the top 5 in races within 100 miles of here will be wearing Nike gear. The unsponsored guys winning local races are Nike's best source of publicity based on return on investment (they pay us nothing). Let's be honest, do you think the average Joe is more aware of who sponsors Galen Rupp (who they only care about every 4 years), or what the guys the see winning local races every weekend are wearing?

I'm with you, we had the same conversation during our Sunday long run. I'll even take it a step further and buy a pair of Brooks the next time I need shoes.

I haven't bought any Nike gear since the crap they pulled at the 2008 trials. I don't understand Nike's purpose here. I'm assuming they're goal is to have athletes put up amazing performances while wearing the swoosh so that they can sell more stuff. The only great performance I saw in the Woman's 3k was Gabe's. Then Nike pulls strings to get the results changed. Will that sell more Nike gear? Back in college, we had two goals when we went to meets. 1. Run fast and 2. do not embarrass the school. Salazar broke rule #2. He brought down Nike's image instead of boosting it up. Nice job Al.

Yep those Brooks Adrenalines are looking MIGHT FINE right about now.

Brooks shoes are terrible. Might as well just tie a dish sponge to each foot.

I believe that Grunewald impeded Hasay by running up on her, and kicking Hasay. You really don't want runners clipping other runners heels and legs. It can turn quickly to a fall, e.g., Morgan Uceny. At the time, this was 100% avoidable. Grunewald was not boxed in and could have easily passed Hasay instead.

Morally, I think Grunewald should have been DQ'd. I hope that the USATF has new conclusive evidence of the imeding.

Halle wrote:

It's funny how everyone on Grunewald's side doesn't have the story quite right... Hasay was running around the turn in good position, Grunewald would have easily blew past Jordan without bumping into her. Lets remember this also isn't Gabe's first incident with being a dirty runner.

The DQ is based on this race and its merits alone. Any history of one of the runners being "a dirty runner" is totally irrelevant. Based on the video of the race there is no way one could justify a DQ. Many of us are not on "a side". History of cancer in a runner is also irrelevant. I am surprised that there are runners and ex-runners out there who think the DQ was legit.

Horatio Hornblower wrote:

The issue is not whether or not there was a foul at this point. Personally, I think there was no foul. However, the real issue is whether the appeals process was compromised by Nike interference and influence. The irony is that (despite all of the Nike employees posting on this thread)NOP would be popular (because the runners are fast)without all of this drama. In the long run, it doesn't matter whether Jordan makes the indoor team; what does matter is that if this DQ holds up she (through no fault of her own)will lose any chance of being a popular figure in the running community. I expect Nike marketing to consider whether or not to fire Alberto, but ultimately make the wrong decision.

Bumby rabbiting the 3k was TOTAL BUSH LEAGUE, btw. F! Jerry and his crew, too.

I do agree there is irony in that their efforts to advance their runner may cost them sales in negative public relations.

I disagree with your view on Bumbi's pacing.

Making the race faster is a good thing.

Bush league would be sending someone to the front to jam on the brakes and slow things down.

Or slowing down and trying to box someone in.

Fast is good.

Horatio Hornblower wrote:

The issue is not whether or not there was a foul at this point. Personally, I think there was no foul. However, the real issue is whether the appeals process was compromised by Nike interference and influence. The irony is that (despite all of the Nike employees posting on this thread)NOP would be popular (because the runners are fast)without all of this drama. In the long run, it doesn't matter whether Jordan makes the indoor team; what does matter is that if this DQ holds up she (through no fault of her own)will lose any chance of being a popular figure in the running community. I expect Nike marketing to consider whether or not to fire Alberto, but ultimately make the wrong decision.

Bumby rabbiting the 3k was TOTAL BUSH LEAGUE, btw. F! Jerry and his crew, too.

Wow. Bush league???

I saw it as Galens' best opportunity to win. It reminded me of old-fashion international team race tactics, e.g., Ethiopian and Kenyan.

And old-man Lagat still won!

Been seeing stuff like this for awhile from that Nike company. What a joke.