BREAKING: Leonard Korir not going to Paris! 11 Universality athletes get in ahead of him!

Good question. I guess Korir's path to the Olympics is hope 3 or 4 random jumpers and hurdlers qualify and take away their country's universality spot.

I often wonder about this, on sleepless nights. Was part of the context that he was already entered for the 10,000 and so entered by QT in the sport, and that Ireland didnt otherwise have 3 guys qualified at marathon? Not an exact analogy but similar to having a great 200m runner entered in that, and adding them to the 4 x 400 squad even if they dont have any sort of 400m time in the qualifying period (UK had John Regis in this scenario in late 1980s i think

Jonathan Gault and Rojo's story is now up on the matter. JG talked to coach Scott Simmons and he's not giving up hope:

letsrun.com

Bad News for Leonard Korir: World Athletics Adds 11 Universality Places in 2024 Olympic Marathon

LetsRun.com

Korir, who was in strong position to qualify, looks set to be bumped from the field after World Athletics awarded an unexpectedly high number of universality places. But his coach Scott Simmons isn't giving up hope. *MB: BREA...

Open link

Exactly true - Americans run the Boston/NY double and don't go for a fast time except for at Chicago. Our C level runners will chase a fake times at Grandmas or CIM, with a scant few at Houston. Korir, to his credit went to Paris and Rotterdam. And a few others like Biya went to Europe. But no America goes to a plethora of fast races in Europe or Asia. So, you reap what you sow.

**** You know Rupp would be in the same boat if he had finished 3rd at the Trials

Also, our Trials in February prevent alot of the fast marathon courses. Even if Korir had forgone the Trials to run 2:07 (which he debut with) he would not get that quota spot earned by time. It would have been denied at this late date to ever had finished 3rd

I don't see Kimutai on the banned list:

I'm sorry, what does that have to do with increased standards to automatically qualify? EARN IT DWEEB

Spare a thought for Aussie Liam Adams. Also bumped out of the ranking, while Jordan Gusman is now in on a universality place. So he's being displaced by Australian who switched allegiance to represent Malta (likely because he would never make an AUS team).

And used to be affiliated with Tinman Elite and apparently lives in the US.

tinmanelite.com

Jordan Gusman

Jordan Gusman is a professional distance runner for Tinman Elite, representing Malta. He specializes in distances from 3,000m-10,000m, and is a two-time World Championship qualifier.

Open link

If the main issue with taking more than 80 (or 81 or 82 apparently) is the per sport athlete cap, then couldn’t the US say, hey, we’ll just run one of our 10k guys who is going to be there in the athlete’s village anyway, in Albertson’s spot on the ranking link. You know, potentially someone like Grant Fisher?

re the D1 universality guy, there is a nitpick technical argument he can't possibly be that country's best marathoner, when the rule is they are supposed to be your best runner at the event. but i have a feeling someone who can compete NCAA at 8k or 10k, do the mileage, can probably hack a marathon and not embarrassingly so.

He also has a 1:48 800 meter PB.

re cyprus.....once you pointed that out, i was like, oh, that dude. 60H finalist at indoors this year. i remember him from 110H semis and finals at olympics and worlds in recent years. he sits in the 3rd rank spot behind the time qualifiers and 40 make it, no possible universalities. that is not in the spirit of universality, that you are literally going to be the only rep. yeah, i agree with that critique.

if i wanted to be cynical, he is top 20 level, was just shy of the 110s "A" number last season. the marathon closed up before the track events do. he has interestingly -- for someone who was busy indoors -- refrained from running qualifying meets so far this spring. so he has no spring time to beat the number. they then use the universality on someone else. he then either makes his time now or is set to rank very high that route, based on his abundant resume. "oooops, we got 2...." might be an excuse to be lightly raced.

i know people can literally back out and our guy moves up. but do they retroactively yank universalities if the field is "set" and the participant willing, but it turns out they qualified someone?

i assume someone at WA approved this because marathon takes so much prep, so in theory we need the field sorted early, but you can see where with the much later end dates for track, this could be abused. precisely this sort of one-man team scenario. world class athlete with rank but not a standard time. deniability because not automatically in. and technically rank could move around and times could come later. "we weren't sure." really.

more i think about it strikes me as abusing the narrowing of the universality events. if 110H is eligible, then if by chance trajkovic was going to miss it, then he probably has to be their wild card. top guy in any event. but 110H isn't eligible and he's not (yet) made the time, so, here's our guy from one of the 3 events now allowed.

Hugo Catrileo commented in facebook (he's in Korir situation)

Realmente lo de @worldathletics es insólito! (por no decir más).

PARTE 1

Desde el 2022 vengo preparando mi clasificación a Paris 2024 vía ranking mundial y estudiando el sistema para hacer un camino progresivo y de consolidación en los 42kms y no una sola preparación desesperada por un tiempo que de por si es exigente y necesita más preparación, enfoque, medios etc, con lo que tuve en el momento llegué a medalla panamericana y 2h08:44 en Houston.
De un principio se habló de un 50% de clasificados por tiempo mínimo (2h08:10) y 50% vía puntaje (este último porcentaje variaría según los clasificados por mínima), donde finalmente logré quedar en la posición 70 ya que 69 atletas lograron realizar el tiempo mínimo (no cuento al 15vo por doping positivo). No es suerte ni casualidad que sea yo quién encabece la lista de los clasificados por puntaje (1198), es planificación.
También se habló de que el día 30 de enero de 2024 cerraban el 80% cupos en el ranking mundial (Road to Paris), por el cuál busqué cerrar mi clasificación final en Maratón De Houston el día 14 de enero y enfocarme desde ahí con tiempo en Paris. Al día 30 de enero yo estaba cerrando ese ranking y a la espera de la confirmación… que nunca llegó!.
No es casualidad que haya pasado de Juegos Panamericanos directo a otra preparación a Houston en 12 semanas que de entrenamiento fueron mucho menos. Si hubiese sabido desde un principio que el 30 de enero no iban a cumplir y que hoy iba a despertar con la noticia que @worldathletics prefiere llevar a atletas que ni siquiera han corrido una Maratón, me hubiese gustado recuperarme mejor de @santiago2023oficial pasar más tiempo con mi familia y disfrutar un poco ese bonito momento para preparar un Maratón con más calma para febrero o abril e intentar el tiempo mínimo directamente.
PARTE 2
El problema, no es que nuevos atletas hayan entrado a la clasificación porque está en regla, el problema es que @worldathletics lleva cinco año hablando de clasificación por puntaje y hoy los 11 atletas que merecemos estar por esa vía nos dejan fuera, bueno sería que los nuevos inscritos vayan pero atrás de los 80 ya clasificados con mérito.
Ya para éste bochorno, es mejor que solo dejen una marca mínima y que los demás cupos los llenen de lástima, ya les envío algún mail de mi historia para ver si entro a Los Ángeles 2028 por esa vía en algún lanzamiento o salto 🤣.
¿Hay posibilidades?
Sí, actualmente estoy en posición 82 (81 real 😉) y el próximo 12 de Mayo sale el listado oficial de 80 participantes que confirmen su participación, y sí, encabezo la lista de espera pero qué pasa con los otros 10 atletas restantes 🤷🏻‍♂️.
Por lo pronto yo sigo entrenando, así como entendía la alegría que las personas tuvieron con la medalla panamericana más que yo mismo, ahora me ofusca más por las personas que me rodean que por mí mismo también, yo sigo siendo Hugo Catrileo con o sin juegos; esto, es para mí un compromiso como profesional pero en mi entorno llega hacer un sueño, y eso me molesta.
Gracias, por leer!

Translated:

Really what @worldathletics is unusual! (to say the least).
PART 1
Since 2022 I have been preparing my classification for Paris 2024 via world ranking and studying the system to make a progressive and consolidating path in the 42kms and not a single desperate preparation for a time that is in itself demanding and needs more preparation, focus, means, etc., with what I had at the time I got the Pan American medal and 2h08:44 in Houston.
At first there was talk of 50% classified by minimum time (2h08:10) and 50% via score (this last percentage would vary depending on those classified by minimum), where I finally managed to finish in position 70 since 69 athletes managed to perform the minimum time (I do not count the 15th due to positive doping). It is not luck or coincidence that I am the one who heads the list of those classified by score (1198), it is planning.
It was also said that on January 30, 2024, 80% of the places in the world ranking (Road to Paris) would close, for which I sought to close my final classification in the Houston Marathon on January 14 and focus from there with time in Paris. As of January 30, I was closing that ranking and waiting for confirmation... which never came!
It is no coincidence that I went from the Pan American Games directly to another preparation for Houston in 12 weeks of training that were much less. If I had known from the beginning that they were not going to meet on January 30 and that today I was going to wake up with the news that @worldathletics prefers to take athletes who have not even run a Marathon, I would have liked to recover better from @santiago2023oficial and spend more time with my family and enjoy that beautiful moment a little to prepare for a calmer Marathon for February or April and try for the minimum time directly.
PART 2
The problem is not that new athletes have entered the classification because it is in order, the problem is that @worldathletics has been talking about classification by score for five years and today the 11 athletes who deserve to be in that way leave us out, it would be good if the new entrants go but behind the 80 already classified with merit.
For this embarrassment, it is better that they only leave a minimum mark and that the other slots are filled with pity, I will send you an email about my story to see if I enter Los Angeles 2028 that way in some launch or jump 🤣.
There are chances?
Yes, I am currently in position 82 (actual 81 😉) and next May 12 the official list of 80 participants who confirm their participation will be released, and yes, I am at the top of the waiting list but what about the other 10 remaining athletes 🤷🏻‍ ♂️.
For now, I continue training, just as I understood the joy that people had with the Pan American medal more than myself, now I am more upset by the people around me than by myself as well, I am still Hugo Catrileo with or without games ; This is a commitment for me as a professional, but in my environment I come to realize a dream, and that bothers me.
Thank you for reading!

Those are the rules. He took a chance going into trials without the standard. For every athlete at the Olympus, there are many like Korir who took a chance and didn’t make it.

It shouldn’t be a surprise, he didn’t run the standard. The problem is the American Olympic Trials, it obviously doesn’t provide adequate opportunity to select the best team. Sounds like it’s time to reevaluate US selection process..

If the field is going to be artificially capped at a certain size, It is completely absurd for non-qualified runners to displace anyone. I have no problem with the universality program, but it needs to be in addition to the 80. I certainly don't think the US should be automatically entitled to three spots, but leaving Korir home for someone who's gonna run 2:30 is a joke.