The SEC meet wasn't even close for points. Arkansas was easily going to win. Valby didn't have to wait for the SEC meet to run a 3k, she could have gotten an en route split like Muir did and tested herself against the same level of competition she'll face trying to make an olympic team. I have a hard time believing that wouldn't have been the best path forward for the athlete, to know how she stacks up against world medalists would have been a good marker for adjusting her training to get to the next level.
But fine, cheer for her to front run her way to 8th place at the olympic trials after front running another 2 5k titles in the NCAA.
The SEC meet wasn't even close for points. Arkansas was easily going to win. Valby didn't have to wait for the SEC meet to run a 3k, she could have gotten an en route split like Muir did and tested herself against the same level of competition she'll face trying to make an olympic team. I have a hard time believing that wouldn't have been the best path forward for the athlete, to know how she stacks up against world medalists would have been a good marker for adjusting her training to get to the next level.
But fine, cheer for her to front run her way to 8th place at the olympic trials after front running another 2 5k titles in the NCAA.
You are most likely right, I just don't think it matters much to her.
It’s nonsense to think a Millrose race would provide insight to “adjust her training”. She didn’t race at BU that weekend either, and was wearing KT at SEC’s.
Bottom line, no keyboard warriors here no more about her improvement than her coaches.
Her current times are an indication of how she ‘stacks up’. There is no big mystery.
So behind Markezich and slower than en route times of Emily MacKay who had a whole other lap to run. Extremely unlikely to make the Olympic team.
She does have a real shot simply by being healthy and having already gone sub 15 this season. Markezich is in the steeple and Mackay is 100% in the 1500m... In the 5k Valby does not have a lot of competition right now and she is only 5s off the standard. Here is her actual competition:
Monson - likely 10k, no 5k double
Kelati - likely 10k, no 5k double (she just set the 1/2 mar AR!)
Rogers - 5k / 10k double possible
Henes - one of only 4 with standard but sadly not in top form due to surgery. I doubt she will be a real threat.
Morgan - recovering from surgery, no one knows
Schweizer - recovering form surgery but no one really knows her status
Tuohy - Injured
Wayment - Has standard but doing steeple
ESP - 1500m. Doubt she doubles, would need the 5k standard.
Andrews - 5k, threat to make the team
Cranny - making the team
Infeld - hit and miss.
Rodenfels - hit and miss, has not broken 15, does not have ranking.
O'Keefe - in the marathon
Rachel Smith - ? She might be a contender
wildcard like Taylor Roe, or ??
Everyone else (markezich, etc) - either not in the 5k or not making the team!
That's all folks! Not a lot of competition at the top if Monson, Kelati, are out and Schweizer and the rest are still injured.
If I missed someone who is a factor please correct me.
I don't think Coffee Club Fangirl was complaining about pacers. She was saying that Valby has never raced against pros.
You are over thinking this. Valby is committed now to college running. This race got 10pts for FL at sec meet, and qualified Valby for the NCAA indoor 3000. Other than that, there is no secret strategic reason for running a JV 3000.
The only thing they are doing to help with Olympic trials is minimizing her racing schedule. You'll probably see a similar short sweet outdoor season. I think Valby will race at trials and give it her best shot; no surprise out front. I don't think, however, she views it as a huge disappointment if she does not make the team. She will just come back for another year at Florida.
She will go pro at the end of the season. In her post race interview at SEC Indoors, she was asked about what it was like to finally run in the SEC Indoor meet for the first time. Her answer was something like, "It's bittersweet. First time, last time."
She will not be running college next fall. I expect she will sign a huge contract with Nike shortly after the NCAA Outdoor meet and will run her first race as a pro at the Olympic Trials.