Bobby Kersee is irate about the 2028 Olympic track schedule. Will it/Should it be changed for SML?

28 is pretty much prime time for a long sprinter and hurdler. should i remind you that Johnson was at the same age when he's doing his 200/400 double in Atlanta?

It is a fair point, and Michael was actually 31 when he ran his fastest 400m. However, WVN was 24, Butch Reynolds was 24 and Quincy Hall was 26 when they ran their fastest times. So people vary and Sydney has been at it for a long time, and of course durability can be a huge factor.

Why cater to both genders. Remember how great for the sport athlos was? Noah lyles even showed up unlike GST. He must have thought his only chance at big name and brand recognition is women's only track. He's definitely getting that signature shoe.

hell, why even watch the Olympics we have women's only track now with athlos. The sport is saved 💪. If the Olympics want to compete with Athlos they better get rid of mens track.

Sarcasm over but this is when track needs to separate itself from the Olympics. We really do need our own league. No NBA player considers a Olympic title more than a NBA title. I imagine the Olympic schedule would be a non factor for complainers, if only there was a feasible alternative place to watch world class runners in a format made to showcase our talents.

Sydney is a highly self-disciplined athlete with carefully planned games to run, I'm sure she could keep her top form through 2028 no doubt. heck, even she wants to have a baby after LA28 then returning to run, she could be still in top competitive status. lol.

This^.

When a coach implies the World Championships are something that can be skipped, or never races his top athlete on the DL circuit - both World Athletics marquee events - than don't expect WA to bend over backwards to accommodate you.

SML has never even run the mixed 4x4, something she could easily have done (as many others could, not just her...) in case it impacts her individual event, then why should WA believe she is going to risk running two individual events? There has been no willingness to support the mixed 4x4, the World Relays, the DL circuit, the DL final (within the rules....) the World Indoors or Indoor circuit...You have to tow the line.

On top of that, the 400m/400mh double is not a 'standard' double, like others. Why factor it i when there has been no willingness to do it when it was feasible?

I agree with others: let her do it in 2027, and then change the programme.

As per the press release: "It is in the spirit of collaboration between World Athletics, LA28, Olympic Broadcasting Services, IOC and NBC as Host Broadcaster that we have landed on an athletics programme..."

This isn't a WA 'enforced' programme, first of all.

Secondly, SML can double if she wants to; she can do the 400/200 double, as has been done before. And perhaps if she were at least to attempt that double in 2027, then they may change the schedule for a 400m/400mh if she asks. But she has to show willingness to try before, methinks.

Thirdly, some nonsense was mentioned earlier that this was done to favour Femke Bol. Considering that Bol has said she is now running the 800m, you really think that WA, the IOC & host broadcasters are thinking "ooo we'll do the programme this way, just incase Bol moves back to the 400mh"? LOL. As it stands, this is not a favourable timetable for Bol compared to Tokyo or Paris, because she cannot run the mixed 4x4 relay. So no possibility of 3 medals.

Finally, on the mixed relay, having the women's 400m & men's 400mh heats on day 1 (evening), then the mixed hts & final 4x4 on Day 2, it's going to mean some big decisions for some countries & athletes. The way it has been scheduled, we'll likely see a walkover by the US in the mixed, unless in the very unlikely event someone like GBR runs all their top runners, male & female. And even then, the US will still probably win.

I don't agree at all. Take the personalities out of it.

Think of the signature moments from all the Olympics past.

Cathy Freman in Sydney, Michael Johnson in Atlanta, Super Saturday for the Brits in London. Léon Marchand in the pool in Paris

Sydney living in LA, pulling off the fantasy double, signing off on her position as one of if not the greatest is an opportunity no other sporting organisation or marketing organisation would pass on.

This is not about Chemical Kersee or even about Sydney. This is a chance for LA 28 to have its signature moment. For a country to rise up and celebrate one of its own doing it all against the world

I'm amazed this double wasn't the first thing put into the schedule with everything else worked around it.

Pray tell, up until now when has SML said she wants to double in LA28 in the 400m & 400mh? In what interview or statement or social media post has she said she wants to double in LA28 over the flat & the hurdles? Because I have not seen anything, unless I've missed something?

And as others have said, if anything she has said she doesn't like the idea of doubling.

So it begs the question: why would WA, the IOC & host broadcasters work the whole schedule around one athlete when that athlete has never indicated they want to double? It was only 2 months ago that Sydney ran her first championship flat 400m. She's only ever done the hurdles.

It's total common sense for WA/IOC/LOC to do the programme as they have done, and if Sydney actually does want to double, she requests them to change the programme. Let us see some serious indication she wants to try it, not the usual tripe we are getting from Kersee.

I've been telling Rojo the same thing. His assumption is that of course Sydney would want to double at LA28. It will be a home Olympics, she's already won the flat 400 and 400H, obviously she should do it.

I'm not so sure. I know what Kersee has said, but whenever Sydney is asked about any form of individual double, she is ambivalent.

I do believe that WA should have reached out to Sydney and seen whether the 400/400H double is something she wanted to attempt before setting the LA28 schedule. But I don't think it's some great tragedy that WA didn't engineer the entire LA28 schedule around a hypothetical double from an athlete who has never doubled (individually) or even expressed serious interest in doubling in any of its championships.

I also see this as Kersee simply wants to keep their options open. There is no commitment at this stage at all that they are going to do it, simply that it is something he is considering. He wants the programme to allow a 400mh/400m double, so he can decide in 2028 whether they actually do it. We saw how late they announced they were doing the flat 400m this year. He does not want to be pinned down so early.

Unfortunately, for an 'unusual' double like this, it doesn't work like that. You have to give WA something. So now they are either going to have to outright request it, or demonstrate a willingness to double before then, or both.

And considering she'd have to run both events at a cut-throat US Trials to Q, it adds another level of risk to her not making both events in LA, so do WA really want to re-schedule for a coach notoriously flaky to commit?

As an aside, after this season ended, I have wondered whether he'd actually prefer a 200/400 double anyway. Much easier to switch between those events than the flat & hurdles.

Agreed, that's definitely a possibility too. SML gave an interview with NBC News where she was asked about doubles. She said it's something she's considering but wouldn't say the specific events. And then she mentioned the 200. The women's 200/400 double in LA is very doable without any change to the schedule.

nbcnews.com

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone redefined track's records. She's not finished.

The track superstar is "definitely" considering competing in two events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, she said.

Open link

Right...

Good luck with that

Why not cater to all athletes. Maybe time for the oylmpics to maybe start T & F on day one and use all 2 weeks. I guess there is some folklore in the ability to double back and all that, but why are we still limiting the athletes based on schedule? I want to see everyone. I don't like that the olympc tests recovery in the 8 and 15 and 5 etc... seems unecessarily constrained. Swimming doesn't need 8 days of coverage. Get those prelims going on day 1.

NO any top US runners doing mixed, world relay or even DL finals. they don't care about it. it's not just a Sydney thing. so if your point is on, I could only think that's some dirty polical agenda behind it.

50.37 and 47.78 are enough for any organizer to arrange the possible schedule for her double. if they don't think so, fine. Sydney could break 400m WR as soon as next year or 2027, then chasing her dream to break 50s barrier on hurdles in 2028. The very likely 3rd gold medal of 400mH AND a new WR will still make her GOAT.

but the WR holder (possible) of 400m CAN'T run 400m just because WA or whoever plan the schedule don't let her run it possibly? it's a big slap on WA's face. especially if she runs another historically fast split in relay or even break the 4*4 WR with her teammates, that will put WA and LA28 into the shame forever.

That misses the point. They should be looking to engineer situations where greatness can triumph.

A 400m/400h double would be unprecedented and won't be matched for a generation.

She's a home town athlete in a home town Olympics.

LA28, IOC, WA, USATF or New Balance should be putting bonuses on the table for her.

The question in this thread is should they, not would she and they definetly should

Those weren’t championship meets. Rounds make things very different.

Did Bobby teach her poor racing tactics and cutting off the entire field??

LA28, International Olympic Committee, USA Track and Field help Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone with the 4x400 meters relay, 400 meters hurdles, 400 meters - three medals.

ibb.co

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Open link

The headline tweaks are small, but in elite athletics, “small” can be the difference between a medal and a long stare into the middle distance.
Women’s 400m and 400m hurdles: A small number of refinements have been made to the women’s 400m and 400m hurdles schedule.
Men’s 1500m (Round 1): Round one of the men’s 1500m has moved from the morning to the afternoon session on day two of competition (Sunday 16 July).
Start times: Minor start-time adjustments have also been made in consultation with broadcast partners.

Basically no help - the 400 semis are less than two hours before the 400H finals, there's no way she'll be able to run both.