Bumbalough's lean at the tape

soreloser wrote:

I'm no expert, but I think he was trying to win the race and that is why he leaned. A question for you..

If the winning the racewas so unimportant, why did Rupp blow everyone out of the water from so far out? Shouldn't he have saved energy for the all-important final by not running his final 800 in 1:53.

Also, why did he respond to Bumbi's move if he didn't think it was important to win the race?

Watch track much? In these semi finals, the safe bet is to break away so you are clearly in the top sector for qualifying.

Plus Rupp is training through these trials, so picking it up the last 1200 was part of his training plan.

How Lagat and Lomong finished is how it is done.

Duh.

Convenient edits wrote:

Wow the anti-rupp posts literally are being deleted.

People that say it was classless of Bumbi are ignoring the fact that Rupp ALSO tried to win the heat. But he didn't.

Need any justification for what Bumbi did? How about watching Rupp storm off the track like a petulant child; mental games are part of sports. Rupp is the best American distance runner in 20 years. Or...best American runner for time in 20 years.

Another idiot projecting his own crap on another. I've hung out with Rupp, and I've seen enough to tell you for certain that not only is he not a petulant child, he is a just plain focused athlete. I also re-watched the broadcast and it was clear that once he finished he was looking for someone in the sidelines, or looking to navigate his way out to get his sweats, and whatever recovery rituals or mini work out Alberto had planned for him.

You keyboard runners, mouthy jockeys, just have no idea how it works at that level.

KD, after his semi, went right past every one and straight to the mix zone.

Was he being petulant? No, he was being focused get to his warm down, and his PT or whatever. After the final, different story.

Context people, context.

In the know... wrote:

Ok, pay attention folks. Rupp is practicing for the games. Do you not think it will take a 1:53 final 800 in the 5000 heat to make the final? of course it will! Salazar told him to race this way tonight to get used to it and see how his body responds for the final. Once again, brilliant coaching. It will be automatic in the final and his last 2-3 laps are going to punish everyone but Lomong and Lagat and it will be a dog fight for the victory. And Bumbi, he won't be anywhere in sight of 3rd place...book it!

Exactly, and just like after practice, you immediately get on to the next thing.

That semi just another piece of the week accomplished, now on to warm down/ cryo-sauna or whatever.

The Big Picture wrote:

Lagat is possibly (most likely) in his final year of his career. Seriously doubt he's going to let Rupp beat him for possibly his last national title.

Lagat has already announced his intention of running 2 more years at least.

You clearly don't follow the sport much. Bumbaloughs move was more like an instinct from high school.

Rupp is not a child of entitlement. If you had the privilege of spending time around him -- or if you were informed enough to have read or watched interviews with him, you'd realize he is a completely humble young man who feels blessed to have fluked into a coach like Salazar and the situation he fluked into. He gets that the opportunity that came his way was statistically amazing...and he humbly appreciates everything that was made possible for him by luck and sacrifice of others.

And, he's also run ever damned one of those hard miles for a decade plus...that any real runner worth their salt would respect -- instead of projecting their immature projections on him.

You missed the part where Rupp was tired and then it looked like he was looking for someone.

I guarantee you that Rupp had nothing in his mid other than breathing and making his way to the shoot out of there.

SomeActualData wrote:

Since the other two people who have pointed this out seem not to have been heard ...

RUPP DID THE SAME THING IN 2008!

Okay, it wasn't a lean per se, but he kicked it in the 5k heat and celebrated down the homestretch and across the line, gesturing to the crowd and whatnot, while Solinsky (among others) just went about the business of qualifying.

And Rupp got absolutely hammered on this very board for showboating in a heat.

Now, in the 5k heat at the next Trials, Bumby leans - doesn't celebrate, just leans - and people are all up in arms about how he dissed Rupp and should have played it cool because it was just a heat. What??

Personally, I don't think either one is a big deal, but the inconsistency/lack of history here is amusing.

Wrong, apples and Oranges.

All these guys and gals kick to make sure they are in the qualifying group.

Rupp flashed his #1 sign to the fans at Hayward, his fans, and then he calmly finished in stride with Sol.

Calmly. Not far different from Lagat and Lomong's finish.

Perfect commentary.

anonomie me wrote:

You missed the part where Rupp was tired and then it looked like he was looking for someone.

I guarantee you that Rupp had nothing in his mid other than breathing and making his way to the shoot out of there.

I guess Lagat is superhuman then, because he also finished second by a fraction, but managed to hug, shake hands with, and congratulate every runner in the field.

Forget everything else, but when Rupp didn't drop his elbow and bumped/brushed through Dunbar (Duck with a huge O on his chest, hard to miss) and walked straight past 2 volunteers in the chute (most likely old Ducks, supporters who have been around him previously), then he confirmed his actions.

Come on, we have all been around people who get steamed and react in a huffy manner (girlfriends, siblings, teammates who didn't score in a game or place in a race when expected). This is human nature from that personality type, exhibited on video tape here.

Just watch the other 5000m heats male and female, 3 out of 4 resulted in a little push to finish first, but only one resulted in no handshakes, hugs by a serious contender under a microscope.

Rupp seems like a nice guy, but maybe this indicates he gets flustered easily under competitive situations he expects to prevail in. BTW, I am a former Duck too, and really didn't like the Dunbar and volunteer treatment the most.

I bet everyone hating on Bumbalough has sprinted to the finish line for a much lower place in a much less meaningful race (e.g. 15th place in the local Turkey Trot). And I guarantee nobody has beat Rupp in the process.

Rupp didn't have to race if it was no big deal. I am sure Rupp will win in the final but I see nothing wrong with a race in the prelim.

For all you PRE fans, had Pre been in this race and done EXACTLY what AB did, you'd all be saying what an animal and great competitor he was. Funny how the person make all the difference. This is such a non issue!

anonomie me wrote:

Wrong, apples and Oranges.

....

Rupp flashed his #1 sign to the fans at Hayward, his fans, and then he calmly finished in stride with Sol.

Calmly. Not far different from Lagat and Lomong's finish.

Calmly? So Rupp flashing the #1 sign to the crowd BEFORE he finished, and then raising his arms in victory after he finished is "calm"?

Again, spin it however you want - Rupp was celebrating. Bumbi just leaned. If you're going to be offended at Bumbi's lean, you pretty much have to be offended at Rupp's celebration.

Or, take my position which is that neither is any big deal.

Rupp's dismissive attitude at the end was a heat of the moment thing and I feel that he is probably embarrassed by his actions looking back.

Wow, this thread is Embarrassing.

You're an idiot, Mr. TrackCoach... "Unless Alberto has decided Rupp needs a hard effort/confidence booster leading into the Olympics and it becomes a DL type race" what the hell does that even mean??? Of course he is going to give a hard effort, he needs to race this like it is the Olympic finals!

That said, watch him drop a sub 4 last mile for 2nd, with a hungry old man Laget kicking him down

Run while you can wrote:

For all you PRE fans, had Pre been in this race and done EXACTLY what AB did, you'd all be saying what an animal and great competitor he was.

I'm impressed that you have such an amazing insight into what we are thinking! Is that you, Miss Cleo?

The bottom line is that you are absolutely wrong. In 35 years of track and field, I have never seen an athlete lean at the tape to "win" a 5,000m preliminary heat! It was childish, unprofessional, and antagonistic.

Problem be that that dirty old hungry man Laget is doped up and juicing with new barces on! So I have fear which RUpp is turning up

The final sprint proves that Rupp has a major weakness: his ego. He could have eased into the final in 2nd with a smile on his face. Instead he burned a match he didn't really need to. The same could be said of Bumbalough, but he's a little more confident now going into what could be a tactical final.

"waaahhhh... Track doesn't get enough respect!"

"waaaahhhh... Why was that runner trying to win? That was unprofessional and antagonistic!"

See the problem?