There can be various theories as to why the top runners most who expected to win ( on the female side) basically all failed miserably and even had to drop out. Women with excellent times and major wins such as Sarah Hall, Jordan Hasay, Molly Huddle, and Emily SIsson who was said to have proven very "dangerous."
It could be said that Sarah Hall, and Molly Huddle are already in or near their mid 30s and as good as they have been, age can take its toll and also considering it was a very hilly course. But then of course Des LInden who is in her mid 30s was the one "older face" who came closest to being among the top three and she sure put in a tough fight and did not drop out like the other top women.
With Emily Sisson and Jordan Hasay who both are in their late 20s,, they have had some great finishes in certain races and of course Hasay and Sisson have youth on their side which is good physical wise, but then a lot of younger runners who have done well in spite of coming close in races and showing a lot of promise still can find themselves dropping out or experiencing extreme defeats for reasons ranging from lack of experience, to growing a year or two older to ( pardon how this sounds) the factor of "early success" or "beginners luck." Sisson ad Haszy are still "young" and have to get up to the experience level of some of the women who are in their early to mid 30s. One very sad thing I would say is that the women who are in their mid 30s probably won't have a chance at making the Olympic team again unless one of them has the kind of long-term potential that Abdi Abdirahman and Bernard Lagat. Of course Meb Keflezighi ran in the last Olympic Trials at the age of 40 (I think). Also I hear that Edna Kipligat reached the age of 40 last year and she ran in last year's Boston Marathon and BTW, she changed her citizenship and now is an American.
But as I wa saying, Emily SIsson and Jorday Hassay can more-definitely try for the next Olympics.
But also don't forget some of the top women who did not finish the 2020 Olympic Trials also had been dealing with injury .
It would have been interesting if Des Linden did win. She already committed herself to running the upcoming Boston Marathon whether she won the Olympic Trials or not. Then she would also have to do the Olympic Marathon in August.
But It seems to me that probably (if the Olympics are not cancelled because of the Contravirus threat) there is not likely to be an American on the podium. Aliphine Tuliamuk and Sally Kipyego did great but they will not likely be able to defeat their much faster former African country women. Molly SIdel seems to be a sensation and probably has a good future in running but this is an ironic win. If Jordan Hasay, or Emily Sisson, or Sarah Hall or Molly Huddle, or Des Linden had won, and definitely if at-least two of those mentioned top women had won there would overall and statistically be a better chance of an American female on the Olympic podium. I think the best chance for the American team is a fourth place finish.
But after saying this, there certainly can be a major upset as what happened in the Olympic Trials.
On the men's side, Galen Rupp was sensational. In fact it makes me wonder if he isn't doing what Lance Armstrong did to win so excellently.
I think that Abdi Abdirahman making the team was good. It is good to see an older athlete qualifying to compete against much younger competitors.
