Robinson only ran a PR of 51.54 at the Olympic Trials to place 6th. What the heck was she doing in the relay?
And Cox ran only marginally better.
Hmm... Humphrey and Johnson take two 51 girls over a proven 48-49 relay runner who has brought home the gold to the U.S. twice before.
I am so sick of USATF politics. Those two girls were certainly not the best we had to offer for the relay pool. This is such blatant age-ism it's not funny.
Excuse, me, I meant too HIGH 51 girls -- they were practically 52 minutes. And they're wearing gold medals instead of Jearl Miles-Clark.
Unbelievable.
How awesome to get a response from Joetta Clark. I did get a personal e-mail for JJ, but nothing from USATF bunch.
Age-ism is Disgusting wrote:
Rumor has it Brooks Johnson wanted to push his own protegee which left Jearl out in the cold. How they can "dis" a runner of Jearl's quality is unbelievable. She has done so much for USATF over the years.
Swimming left veteran Gary Hall Jr. off the 4 x 100 relay and the team lost. USATF can't afford to lose more fans. So many runners are in their mid to late 30s. USATF is in effect dissing all of them by doing this to Jearl. They're saying "you're too old."
I doubt this decision will lead to people not watching track and field. Please, get some perspective.
Tell it like it is wrote:
If all you people are upset with the way things are run by USATF, don't renew your membership. The only way to hurt them is to hit them where it hurts, in the pocketbook. If Wejo can get everyone who frequents letsrun to quit being a member of USATF, then certainly changes will be made. I get tired of disgruntal fans complaining about how their particular team doesn't care about winning/improving while still going to the ballparks or stadiums. If you don't buy the damn tickets and line the owner's pockets, then that owner will be forced to listen to the demands of the fans.
How about attending regional and national meetings and working for change from within. Ending your membership will not do as much.
Good point. I don't want my dues going to pay Brooks Johnson $100,000 to take one of our best athletes off an Olympic relay because he has a personal interest in his own athlete running.
At least ways a runner other than Jearl got a chance to win the gold. Let's not trivialize how important taking part in the relay was to the runner who ran instead of Jearl.
Also, Jearl has sub 50 400 speed, yet she can't run faster than 1:56. Perhaps if she would have done a sufficient amount of aerobic training, she would have won an 800 gold medal.
This 400 type, 1,500 type 800 meter runner business doesn't add up. If you're going race at 800 meters, then train like an 800 meter runner. Sufficient aerobic fitness is needed no matter how fast you are.
Amy wrote:
I'm not sure of the convention dates. Brooks Johnson works with CRYSTAL COX who split 51.8. He does not coach MOUSHAUMI ROBINSON, she split 51.99. Still trying to figure out why you would leave off a 49 split??
Jearl did not deserve to run in the final over any of those women.
The US was going to qualify for the final with the ladies who ran in the heats. There was no reason to substitute Jearl for any of those women.
Apparently there is a grouping on this thread that would like to see a medal bequeathed to Jearl Miles Clark.
I'd like to see the athletes who ran the event at the trials get that medal for THEIR efforts.
No one has stated what Jearl has done in this Olympiad in this event that would cause the coaches to substitute for the women who were selected.
The results are proof of this.
I can not believe you are still saying Jearl does not belong in the relay pool.If your are aware of the rules Jearl does belong in the relay pool based on the relay seclection process. Moreover her relay splits and her performances also indicated that as well. Please who ever you are look at the rules of the relay selection process before you continue to say Jearl does not deserve. What she does not deserve is to be replaced by a 51.9 split when she runs 55.5 for the first lap of an 800. Meaning after the first lap 400m at 55.5 she still continues to run for one more lap.
Excuse me, but not many women have ever run faster than 1:56. Jearl got 5th in an incredibly tight and competitive race. News flash: in the Olympics you can be incredibly fit and fast and still not win or even medal.
OBN wrote:
At least ways a runner other than Jearl got a chance to win the gold. Let's not trivialize how important taking part in the relay was to the runner who ran instead of Jearl.
Also, Jearl has sub 50 400 speed, yet she can't run faster than 1:56. Perhaps if she would have done a sufficient amount of aerobic training, she would have won an 800 gold medal.
This 400 type, 1,500 type 800 meter runner business doesn't add up. If you're going race at 800 meters, then train like an 800 meter runner. Sufficient aerobic fitness is needed no matter how fast you are.
The point people are making is that the way the relay was selected was WRONG. It was all special interest on the part of the coaches. It was not chosen based on ability, but based on AGE and whether an athlete had political backing (e.g. a coach with power like Brooks).
This is Jearl Miles-Clark responding.
I just wanted to personally thank all of you track fans for your support regarding my career and the relay selecting incident. Your concerns and sincere comments have invigorated and energized me. I have an even greater desire to leave a mark in this sport and to show USTAF that success has no age limit. Thank you once again for your support.
Jearl Miles-Clark
5-Time Olympian
Golds and silver 4x400m relay medals
American Record Holder
Jearl,
Thank you for inspiring all of us to be the best that we can be--at any age. I hope we get to see you run in Beijing!
Congrats on your very courageous 800 meter race. You were right in there from the start. You personify "no regrets, no excuses." You gave it your all.
Stay tough and proud -- you have so many fans!
Your first part makes sense. You should not trivialize the gold medal someone else won. I don't think anyone is, they are just looking at the selection process.
As far as Jearl running faster than 1:56, how many women have you coached to 1:57.27 or faster..Oh that's what I thought ZERO! She's done it 7 or 8 times. People like you always have the answers but no results.
My friend Mr. Neer,
It does not matter what you would like to see it matters what the rules are. If Jearl had to run the 400 in the trails to be place on the team their would be no case. You can run the 100 and be placed on the 4x400. Your comment "I'd like to see the athletes who ran the event at the trials get that medal for THEIR efforts." is a waste of typed letters...You can come from any event area and be placed on a relay. Oh, by the way did Jearl run the 400 at the trials last year. No! Did you see her catch up in Paris and run a solid leg..YES!
I admit that this probably isn't the place for the second part of my previous post. Sometimes people get side tracked. Regarding the selection process, did the four selected runners finish 1-4 at the Olympic Trials (I don't know)? If they did, I don't see how you can tell one of them that they don't get to run. I know there are reasons for doing so. For example, it wouldn't be reasonable to expect Jearl to run both the 400 and 800 at the trials. Still, once again, what about what's fair for the runner that did run. One thing that makes Track & Field better than swimming, is that the sport isn't set up in a way so that an athlete can hog a bunch of team spots.
TonyT wrote:
Your first part makes sense. You should not trivialize the gold medal someone else won. I don't think anyone is, they are just looking at the selection process.
As far as Jearl running faster than 1:56, how many women have you coached to 1:57.27 or faster..Oh that's what I thought ZERO! She's done it 7 or 8 times. People like you always have the answers but no results.
Let's not forget she is the AMerican record holder at 800m. And has run more 1:56 than any other American. She has been ranked in the World at this event. Do you know her and how she trains? Maybe she does train that way and her race exercusion is not right. But whatever her 800m situation she is the best we have at that distance and is at least the 4th best on time in the 400m. Have you ever coached an athlete like Jearl. Maybe you should find an athlete and impart you coaching knowledge on them. Let me know so I can lookout for your gold medalist.
Dear Craig Masback,
Five Time Olympian Jearl Miles-Clark has been a stalwart participant in track and field for 20 years. Her commitment, dedication and fervor have been incontrovertible. Truly, Jearl Miles-Clark has been a most salient asset to the sport.
A travesty occurred at the 2004 Olympics in Athens that reeks of fraud, moral turpitude, corruption, favoritism and ineffable arrogance. Jearl Miles- Clark, has been the back bone of the 4x400meter relay team for a decade, and was inexplicably left off of the 4x400 relay team pool in Athens, Greece. Athletes she has beaten consistently were given preferential treatment, including and athlete coached by Brooks Johnson. I am not going to detail her stellar career, but to have your Governing body staff and the athletes on the relay talk about this “Youth Movement” only added insult to injury. Obviously this is in violation of law and a glaring indictment of the hauteur emanating from Sue, Brooks and other USTAF Olympic staff members/supporters.
Olympian Jearl Miles- Clark had planned to retire this year, after an illustrious career. I am deeply chagrined that these coaches chose this inopportune time to imbrue the statue of Jearl Miles-Clark, a true American icon in track and field. Needless to say the decision to exclude her was fraught with malice and an inordinate poor judgment. Brooks Johnson, whom I believe orchestrated this debacle, is reprehensible. His retribution should be commensurate with the emotional scares, stress, and contretemps that half engulfed Jearl Miles- Clark. Brooks, is an anachronistic in the arena of track and field, and must be extricated.
He is contaminating the sport.
Brooks Johnson assumes he is the apotheosis of track and field in America he must be brought back to the realism that he is a just a finite mere mortal who must go.
As CEO of USA Track & Field I employ you to bring this run away train, Brook Johnson, to a streaking halt. Any consideration you give this missive will be greatly appreciate.
Respectfully yours,
Joe L. Clark
Father in Law of Jearl Miles Clark
Father of 2 Olympian Daughters from 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004
Father of Head Women’s Track Coach, University of Tennessee
Subject, of the Movie “Lean on Me”
No, OBN, a couple of the girls, including Crystal Cox who is coached by Brooks Johnson, and M. Robinson, who were named to the Athens relay pool, finished fifth and six at the US Olympic Trials... with PRs a LOT slower than Jearl's. Both girls ran slow in the prelims. I think it is their inclusion over Jearl that has really upset US track fans. While it is nice they got the chance, they did not get the opportunity based on merit, but rather politics. That's WRONG.
And Mr. Joe Clark -- it's great to hear from you! I remember when your two daughters Hazel and Joetta and daughter-in-law Jearl all made the 800 Olympic team in 2000. And your son is by all accounts a great coach who is doing great thing with the program at Tennessee. I look forward to seeing Clarks and Clark-coached athletes in the Olympics for years to come.
In the Olympic finals they did not use 1-4 as placed in the trials. They skipped over 4 and went to 5th place. This whole selection process needs to be looked at.