Quigley officially scratched - Alternate Marisa Howard will NOT be competing, never even heard from USATF

rojo wrote:

So Quigley is commentating now on ESPN

She said she has "bone damage" in her hip. The doctor said it could turrn around in two or six weeks so she was hoping it would clear up over the last few weeks (as she was talking about on Instagram 3 weeks ago).

She said she ran 30 minutes yesterday.

I just don't get it. If you are running 30 minutes, then why isn't she racing?

If sh'es fearful of permanent damage, couldn't you make the decision 2 or 3 days ago so someone else could take your spot? I get it she doesn't have to do that but it's not like she's Coburn and the defending champ. She was the third placer at USAs Unlikely to medal.

As for Frerichs Quigley says she Coutney is so consistent in her training.

Why do you care so much about some random broad who wasn’t close to finishing top 3 at nationals? She would get embarrassed in Doha. Quigley did the patriotic thing and kept America from disgracing itself by putting a 940 runner out there.

Keeping emerging elite athletes in this box of non world class or whatever you want to call it is exactly why we can't grow the sport on the home land. Sub- elite athletes spend most of their athletic career unsupported chasing those same standards because it's what they Love to do not because of the pay check obviously.

When you line up ready to go at the starting line, no one asks you which injuries are you dealing with or what circumstances led you here. They could have let Howard chase some underdog glory and actually inspired some youth to stay on the hard road. But instead we get Instagram apologizes and heavy incompetence from USATF to keep everyone in the dark. I dont think that is inspiring.

Frerichs praised Quigley for her team spirit and for cheering them on. I doubt Lawrence feels like that.

Melo seeds wrote:

Why do you care so much about some random broad who wasn’t close to finishing top 3 at nationals? She would get embarrassed in Doha. Quigley did the patriotic thing and kept America from disgracing itself by putting a 940 runner out there.

Ostrander didn't finish close to the top 3 at nationals. Ben True didn't finish close to the top 3. Kenny Bednarek pulled a hamstring in the 200m final and he still gets to go to World's because no one else had the standard in the final. Should we not care about them competing at World's? There's plenty of team USA's members that aren't going to make the final. You're logic is terrible. Colleen makes plenty of money and has already competing in the Olympics. Marisa works a part time job as a nurse. Is that not fascinating to you that she could have a shot at competing at the World Championships?

Also, everyone is blaming USATF and Colleen. I blame Jerry. Get a read on your athlete's health and know when they're not going to be able to compete.

rojo wrote:

Frerichs praised Quigley for her team spirit and for cheering them on. I doubt Lawrence feels like that.

Who cares what Lawrence, who finished 6th at the US champs and wouldn't have gone regardless, thinks?

We are supposed to feel like someone was slighted who you, an owner of an American running website can't even remember the name of?

rojo wrote:

OMG. The boards are going to explode. They just said that they are going to have Quigley on as a commentator during the women's steeple. So she pulls out too late to let Howard run and gets to be on tv as well.

Maybe the broadcasting backup is one of the reasons she didn't pull out? To get her in the booth this quickly I am sure they must have talked before this point. I am sure there is money involved somewhere as well.

Can we all at least agree that Quigley did a good job in the commentator's booth? She was articulate and added perspectives that nobody else would have been able to provide. They were better-commentated races with her than without her.

As for her injury, and taking her at her word, it sounded like her injury was something she plausibly could have recovered from up until the last minute. It didn't work out, but given the several-day lead time necessary for substituting Howard, it seemed on balance like a reasonable decision. It would also have been reasonable for her to drop a week ago, but not clear-cut either way.

I guess we haven't learned anything since Chuck Aragon lost out on a chance at the Olympics because of a runner not reporting an injury until it was too late.

Those who are mocking Howard need to check themselves. She is a such a kind and sweet person who loves the sport and loves what she does. She has been a phenomenal competitor since high school. She won silver at the Pan-Am games so she is competitive at an international stage. Who knows what she could have done if given the proper preparation and notice.

Marisa has done more to promote our sport than the majority of the posters on this forum. Keep your head up, Marissa!

If you guys were in the same position as her you would be just as upset, but not nearly as level-headed as she is.

I am chuckling right now at the short sighted view of many on this board. For the past few years, a bunch of dorky boys and men have been slamming CQ for her modeling, her Instagram, "Fast Braid Fridays", walking the red carpet at The ESPYs, making TV appearances, etc. because a "real" athlete would not do those things. Now, you see why. She is building a brand and a career beyond running and this NBC gig is the first step. We'll being seeing Ms. Quigley for many years to come both on and off the track.

Life isn't fair. Most of us figured that out by age 10 but, evidently, many of you still have not grasped that fact. Lots of people work very hard and "deserve" success only to see others get ahead due to looks, connections, superior hustle, or just plain dumb luck. It happens. Things are not handed to you. Learn to play the game or get used to losing.

Man, you'd think someone in charge of a running website would know there is a huge difference between running 30 minutes and racing.

And of course Quigley is pushing her brand. I don't think she even denies it. Good for her.

Curious about your take on doping. Is that the game athletes need to learn to play, too?

Quigley earned her spot on the team and should have the right to push the decision to the last minute. That said, she’s currently in Doha ONLY as a “branding” opportunity. It’s now a “working” vacation. That is an abuse of the privilege. I had to turn off the audio as I also puked when she was on to do commentary. And as for Frerichs’s comment, she’s just trying to be nice.

Quigley knew, lets face it, a while ago about this injury. It may or may not have been severe enough to scratch at the last moment, but she should have (not sure if she did) informed the USATF that "there is a risk" I may not be able to race". That much she knew.. USATF should definitely have told the alternate to go and be ready to run. This is all BS and a lost opportunity for another American racer.

This waiting until the last minute to declare an injury "non compete status" has plagued USATF for some time now.

Hoping for the best, wait and see until the last minute is not a strategy. 99% of what could keep an injured athlete from not competing is not an overnight/wait and get better solve. Maybe something like a 14 days out rule should be put in place to declare, since they're only two or three athletes usually that fall into this space and independent doctor could declare the status.

Financial benefit is derived from first making the team, then in events with heats making it to the final and of course medaling.

No money is paid just for showing up or standing on the starting line and not competing.

She's a coward. Total dick move on her part.

She's full of herself. Probably been validated her whole life with this "modeling" nonsense.

I hope she never makes another team.

shouldn't be dating pete davidson

She’s definitely not a coward; she’s a great competitor, but she also appears to be a self-absorbed egomaniac.

Skeptic92719 wrote:

Quigley earned her spot on the team and should have the right to push the decision to the last minute. That said, she’s currently in Doha ONLY as a “branding” opportunity. It’s now a “working” vacation. That is an abuse of the privilege. I had to turn off the audio as I also puked when she was on to do commentary. And as for Frerichs’s comment, she’s just trying to be nice.

I think there are some selfish actions on Quigley's part or whoever is pulling the string on Nike's side. If the injury was so serious that she had not done a workout since August it seems pretty clear that as of the deadline to alter the entries they knew there was little chance of her being competitive. She had barely run in 3 weeks, even if she magickly healed in a week she still was not going to be near race shape for a championship event.

You're also representing your country not just yourself at these events and sitting on a spot that someone else could have had on team US is not fair to the country or the other individual.

And to those who are saying this isn't a participation event. We are talking about the first alternate to US team who finished highly at the US champs. We are not talking about some hobby jogger who will go out and embarrass team US. Quigley would be replaced with a Damn good runner. Maybe not a medal contender, but not everyone we sent, including Quigley, is capable of contending for a medal.