From A+++ to F, we hand out grades to all 32 US distance runners who ran in Tokyo

Michael S wrote:

THOUGHTSLEADER wrote:

They docked him for some questionable tactics, but I agree if he's an A, maybe Hocker is an A-. After all he did beat many guys people were dubious he would like Knight, Katir, Wale, Kiplimo et al. Whereas Hocker did a little bit of that taking down Wightman, Hoare, McSweyn but also lost to Mechaal for instance.

Both guys were considered decent long shots for medals.

What questionable tactics? What “questionable tactics” was Chelimo docked for at the Olympics or at the Trials by official administrators? I’ll wait.

Chill bro. This stuff isn't worth getting upset over. Chelimo has the hardware that's what matters. The rest is just fluff and for killing time on the internet.

Runner10287 wrote:

Michael S wrote:

What questionable tactics? What “questionable tactics” was Chelimo docked for at the Olympics or at the Trials by official administrators? I’ll wait.

Chill bro. This stuff isn't worth getting upset over. Chelimo has the hardware that's what matters. The rest is just fluff and for killing time on the internet.

I’m chill, bruh. I am so MF chill. I’m also right

not sure how you can give Coburn a "F" and not give Centro a "F," as well.

Michael S wrote:

Runner10287 wrote:

Chill bro. This stuff isn't worth getting upset over. Chelimo has the hardware that's what matters. The rest is just fluff and for killing time on the internet.

I’m chill, bruh. I am so MF chill. I’m also right

A+ for Chelimo!!!

Michael S wrote:

What questionable tactics? What “questionable tactics” was Chelimo docked for at the Olympics or at the Trials by official administrators? I’ll wait.

He got into Kimeli's space and went into the infield. He impeded his stride a couple of times otherwise. Kenya didn't have anyone on hand to appeal for a DQ but had they who knows? Chelimo was lucky they didn't.

THOUGHTSLEADER wrote:

Michael S wrote:

What questionable tactics? What “questionable tactics” was Chelimo docked for at the Olympics or at the Trials by official administrators? I’ll wait.

He got into Kimeli's space and went into the infield. He impeded his stride a couple of times otherwise. Kenya didn't have anyone on hand to appeal for a DQ but had they who knows? Chelimo was lucky they didn't.

You have a very healthy imagination. Law and order. Chelimo followed the rules.

Occam wrote:

Jonathan Gault wrote:

What do you mean "dishonest in the past"? Please give an example.

I won't speak for the poster but 1) you watch meets on TV, write them up as if you are they and (most importantly) fail to mention it or dishonestly use a dateline from the place of the meet.

2) you have failed to disclose inside information and used it for yourself in contests.

1) I don't understand this complaint at all. Do you think every sportswriter who writes an article about a sporting event was actually at the sporting event? That's the whole reason we use datelines. When we use a dateline in an article, that's us telling you, the reader, that we are actually at the meet. I've NEVER used a dateline from a meet I wasn't actually covering in-person.

2) I can't remember doing this. If there's relevant information that would help me in the contest, I'm going to report it in our articles, podcast, or Twitter. I also write entire previews for events telling you who I am picking and why...

Interestingly, you didn't comment on this part:

adflkj;laac.hoh wrote:

Here's the thing. You simply can't trust Gault to be fair or objective anymore. He has Chavez disease. He's too busy trying o suck up to the pros so they "like" him as opposed to doing his job covering the sport.

I suppose the "suck up" part is part of the job description, which explains your opinion piece where you implied that a certain drug cheat - despite unanimously banned by CAS for four years for her intentional doping - has more credibility than (or at least as much as) the WADA lab, AIU, WA and CAS combined. Rojo and Wejo did the same in various threads here.

rojo wrote:

We were expecting Purrier to contend for a medal. Many were wondering if she was the equivalent of Shelby Houlihan.

Ha.

1) Anyone who knows track understood the medals were going to three women before the race started. Minus a few falls, Purrier was never going to “contend for a medal.”

Which brings me to…

2) No one has ever compared her to Shelby. They are in different worlds. One is (was?) world class, one is national class.

rojo wrote:

After the stunt he pulled at USAs, where he finished in lane 4 I thought to myself, “Someone really needs to sit him down and tell him to cut that crap out or he’s going to get DQd in the Olympics.”

He was very lucky not to get DQd in Tokyo. Stop drifting out. Hold your line and run as hard as you can. If you get beat, you get beat.

My man - Paul - ALREADY got DQ’q and reinstated at the 2016 Olympics. He knows what he’s doing and he simply does not care. He cannot be touched. He cannot be stopped. He is an invincible warrior.

the macdaddy og wrote:

rojo wrote:

After the stunt he pulled at USAs, where he finished in lane 4 I thought to myself, “Someone really needs to sit him down and tell him to cut that crap out or he’s going to get DQd in the Olympics.”

He was very lucky not to get DQd in Tokyo. Stop drifting out. Hold your line and run as hard as you can. If you get beat, you get beat.

My man - Paul - ALREADY got DQ’q and reinstated at the 2016 Olympics. He knows what he’s doing and he simply does not care. He cannot be touched. He cannot be stopped. He is an invincible warrior.

Paul Chelimo A+

Paul Chelimo A+

hobbyjogger1 wrote:

Rupp deserves a C- for letting Kipchoge verbally take him out of his game plan. Rupp has amazing talent but immediately faded because Kipchoge was upset that Rupp was interrupting his game plan. Clearly Kipchoge wanted his team shadowing for a 1 2 3 podium sweep. Rupp should have stayed the course . It's a contest and Rupp didn't respond appropriately. His talent is much better than 8th place. C-

Rupp deserves a B or B+. "Where should Rupp have finished?" On a real hot day when everybody's times were slow, where persevering was what counted, when you hang on and run with the leaders as long as possible, and still take it in to the finish? There were some 30 DNFed and look at some of the favorites that Rupp beat. By my reckoning, finishing in the top 93%, graded on a curve, usually gets an A. Is finishing 8th out of 100+ starters average? How do you account for that? Don't penalize Rupp for not fulfilling your fantasies. Giving him a C is asinine. Haters gonna hate.

As for the gibberish for "letting Kipchoge take him out of his game plan", what was the "game plan" that Rupp was taken out of? That Rupp didn't throw in a 14:28 5K or whatever like Kipchoge did? Kipchoge crushed everybody. Rupp pushed as hard and as long as he could. Top 93%, dude! Where you at?

Making the Olympic final in a track race or finishing top ten in the marathon is a B for sure, even if we hoped for better.

Chelimo gets an A for medaling. He’s a dirty racer, but gets away with it every time. At least he is a super aggressive and competitive guy who gives his best every time. Still don’t like him though, but I’d put him on the team every time. He gives his all!

Nguse gets an F minus. He’s the opposite of Chelimo, a total coward. Never select him again, ever! At least Engles would have won his heat, stroked his hideous mullet in celebration and then bomb out badly in the semi. He at least would have raced no matter what.

points when due wrote:

Making the Olympic final in a track race or finishing top ten in the marathon is a B for sure, even if we hoped for better.

Chelimo gets an A for medaling. He’s a dirty racer, but gets away with it every time. At least he is a super aggressive and competitive guy who gives his best every time. Still don’t like him though, but I’d put him on the team every time. He gives his all!

Nguse gets an F minus. He’s the opposite of Chelimo, a total coward. Never select him again, ever! At least Engles would have won his heat, stroked his hideous mullet in celebration and then bomb out badly in the semi. He at least would have raced no matter what.

I ask again, what are the rules regarding Olympic alternates? If Engels was taken to Tokyo by USATF, could he have stepped in to compete if there was a late injury or illness to Nuguse, or any of the others.