Parker wisely picking the pace up, she needs it to be fast the most of anyone, regardless of standards. Thought we were gonna get another jog for a hot sec
How many of our top distance folks would have the guts to do that.
Parker and Mantz are the only ones who come to mind right away.
Nope. Very smart race for Valby. She needed the standard and now she has it. She never was going to beat those three. Now all Valby has to do is wait for one of them to drop the 5k and choose another event and Valby goes to the Olympics.
She had no chance at beating those three tonight. They are all proven 4.00 1500m runners or faster. She has yet to prove that capability. 10000m probably her better event unless (or until) she develops a better sprint finish. But good for her for going for it and getting the standard in case one of those three drops the event (more likely ESP).
I don’t think she’ll ever develop the kick. If anything, the speed aspect is what the cross training regime will hurt most. You can get as much aerobic fitness or more, but you can’t replace what just running more does for your economy. Good running economy = late race speed
“Defending olympic champion who clearly doesn’t have enough racing experience, have you considered that if you raced more you wouldn’t have been tripped? 🤓🤓☝️”
I don't think anyone here is saying she doesn't have enough racing experience (I certainly am not). I think what people are saying is that there is difference between having experience and being in good racing form - and that Mu/Kersee were hanging their laurels on the former a bit too much. Getting tripped isn't always something you can do anything about but Mu was in the middle of a dense pack and, with her stride, that's not where you want to be. I think it's fair to say that with a few more races under her belt this season she might have had the wherewithal / instincts to avoid that sort of positioning.
But if she's been injured, that wouldn't have been an option....
I think there are two clear options for Athing Mu after tonight, either of which could be a good one:
First, this serves as the excuse she's looking for leave running behind and fade into obscurity. Which is fine. She can live a nice, quiet life, and periodically give an inspirational talk or do a lowkey photo shoot to bring it a bit of quick cash. She'd lose any future Nike money, and I don't think she'd make it as a professional model, but she probably already has "enough" anyway, if she lives prudently.
Second, this lights a fire under her ass and makes her realize how much she misses running (and winning). She ditches Kersee, goes back to her old college coach, and returns brighter than ever for 2028.
Obviously, I prefer Option 2. But Option 1 may be the right one for Mu, and if it is, she should take it, with all of our best wishes and thanks for a fantastic 2021. I just don't want to see another year like this one, injured or not, where it's clear that she's anxious, under-trained, and doesn't want to be there.
Mu's path unclear, heart will whisper truth. Win or lose, life long journey. Mu will choose joy, no regret.
I pray valby makes this. Pros sitting on the college girl sickens me lol
Everybody who knows anything knew this was exactly how this race would play out.
And I'm sure she knew it, too, but understood this was her best bet anyway --even though she was probably doomed to finish 4th.
She ran brilliantly. And it puts a cap on an absolutely brilliant year.
Man, I really disagree. At some point she has to learn how to race from somewhere that isn’t the front or the most she’ll ever do is hope to make a world final / be the female Stewy McSweyn.
Can’t think of a worse way to not qualify and defend her Olympic title. I am heartbroken for her. I get the lack of race fitness likely contributed but if she was injured that was out of her control.
Who’s the girl in the 800 team that interviews like a contestant in a miss universe pageant? I fking love her. Seems so genuine
LOVE the US team - all the women seem very personable, likeable, intelligent and genuinely thrilled. I also loved Akins' response to Johnson: "No - I wasn't thinking any of that, I just had to run", or something to that effect. Love the honesty, and the perfect answer to those ridiculous questions asking athletes to meta-analyse their last 100m twenty seconds after a race...
Mu's problem is that she is never looking around to see if she has enough space. She just cuts in like it's no big deal and hopes it works out.
Kessler also needs to learn how to run in a pack. He's just asking to get tripped or knocked off the track like at Pre
Yes Kessler has not been the best tactically and has gotten himself in trouble at times, but at least he's taking the appropriate steps to fix this. He's racing a lot to help gain experience. That inexperience showed at Pre when he tripped off the track, but it's a learning experience which helped him run a great race today and make the team.
I think you see the limit of the so much cross training. No gear change and no kick. If she really wants to be a great pro she will have to figure out how to up her running
So is the limit to cranny/ESP/Karissa's training that they can't lead a 14:40 race even against a college girl. The kenyans won't have much to be worried about. Ethiopians will still have bad tactics lol. We need Monson back she could have broken them in this kind of race.
Mu at her best is a well clear of that field when she cuts in so she never has to worry about being clipped like that.
Not true. She was way better than everyone else at the 2021 Trials and she did the same exact thing and collided with Nia Akins.
Mu's problem is that she is never looking around to see if she has enough space. She just cuts in like it's no big deal and hopes it works out.
Exactly. In 2021 she was coming from off a busy collegiate season (which i’m told is the only way for a distance runner to develop racing skills) and did the same thing. Her racing more this year clearly would not have made her instinctively aware that such a move would end poorly.
Kessler gets bumped every time he runs, but he doesn’t change his strategy up all that much. He got out in front through traffic and sat on nuguse’s right shoulder for 3 straight races.
People are just mad (perhaps understandably) that athing doesn’t race as often as the want, and are forcing this fall to be a justification of their dislike of her scheduling, whether it makes sense or not.