The same qualifying process applies to all. Everyone knows the rules. Blanks has the standard. He achieved in a race that included Wolfe. This is why the standard is important. It’s not a judgement call on who is in better shape. if he doesn’t have the the World ranking or standard you cant send him.
But he achieved the standard in an indoor race, which the WA ranking system doesn’t think too highly of since they’ll only allow one indoor race to count. It’s a very arbitrary system cobbling together points from various races including xc. Parker Wolfe beat Blanks in the race that mattered. So, if enough people in front of Wolfe drop (they may not), then it should be up to the US who gets sent, and Blanks should be ok, more than ok, with the choice to send the guy who beat him at the trials. Both of these guys are capable of the qualifying time outdoors in the right race and conditions.
And just to drive home the point, Wolfe has a faster outdoor PR than Blanks…
But he achieved the standard in an indoor race, which the WA ranking system doesn’t think too highly of since they’ll only allow one indoor race to count. It’s a very arbitrary system cobbling together points from various races including xc. Parker Wolfe beat Blanks in the race that mattered. So, if enough people in front of Wolfe drop (they may not), then it should be up to the US who gets sent, and Blanks should be ok, more than ok, with the choice to send the guy who beat him at the trials. Both of these guys are capable of the qualifying time outdoors in the right race and conditions.
And just to drive home the point, Wolfe has a faster outdoor PR than Blanks…
Well he’s going to need 3 guys to scratch it appears.
Blanks is totally okay if Wolfe gets to go. He respects Wolfe and obviously remembers Sunday's race outcome. Blanks is just saying that if he is selected due to the red tape, he will go out there and represent the USA to the very best of his ability.
Listen, both of these guys are freaking beasts. We are lucky to have them representing the USA. I think we all want Wolfe to get his spot, but if it ends up being Blanks, that kid is a killer and we should all feel good about it. This isn't a Blanks vs. Wolfe beef.
Can't even blame them for thinking he had no chance at the trials they were just trying to keep in the top 3 with Blanks and Young collegiately never mind getting top 3 vs. the pros. If you told people in December/January on the boards if he had a chance at the Trials, you'd be called an idiot all day on here.
Blanks is totally okay if Wolfe gets to go. He respects Wolfe and obviously remembers Sunday's race outcome. Blanks is just saying that if he is selected due to the red tape, he will go out there and represent the USA to the very best of his ability.
Listen, both of these guys are freaking beasts. We are lucky to have them representing the USA. I think we all want Wolfe to get his spot, but if it ends up being Blanks, that kid is a killer and we should all feel good about it. This isn't a Blanks vs. Wolfe beef.
Well said. This is not a subjective decision so no need to even go there. These guys are friends and both have a ton of respect for each other.
Blanks is totally okay if Wolfe gets to go. He respects Wolfe and obviously remembers Sunday's race outcome. Blanks is just saying that if he is selected due to the red tape, he will go out there and represent the USA to the very best of his ability.
Listen, both of these guys are freaking beasts. We are lucky to have them representing the USA. I think we all want Wolfe to get his spot, but if it ends up being Blanks, that kid is a killer and we should all feel good about it. This isn't a Blanks vs. Wolfe beef.
Well said. This is not a subjective decision so no need to even go there. These guys are friends and both have a ton of respect for each other.
I don’t disagree at all. I’m simply responding to the people who think it’s as easy as saying, “everyone plays by the same rules, this guy has the standard but this other guy does not.” This makes a mockery of the US Olympic trials, especially when the ranking system itself is arbitrary as hell. So an indoor time counts more than an outdoor result in the most important race of the season? It’s just so dumb. The WA should allow for “exemptions” for situations like this. I’m
But, yeah, I agree this isn’t Blanks versus Wolfe. Frankly, Blanks might be peaking at just the right time. I’ve already said this.
2) Beamish - Yes he wants to do the steeple but I'm not ruling out him entering the 5000 as well. There is no honest effort rule. He can enter both (in case he gets tripped in the steeple) and then scratch …
Are you sure about the Honest Effort rule for the Olympics, RoJo, because WA has that rule in their rule book:
Failure to Participate At all competitions under paragraphs 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.6 of the International Competition definition, an athlete shall be excluded from participation in all further events (including other events in which they are simultaneously participating) in the competition, including relays, in cases where: 4.4.1 final confirmation was given that the athlete would start in an event but then failed to participate; Note: A fixed time for the final confirmation of participation shall be published in advance. 4.4.2 an athlete qualified in any Qualification Round of an event for further participation in that event but then failed to participate further; 4.4.3 an athlete failed to compete honestly with bona fide effort. The relevant Referee will decide on this and the corresponding reference must be made in the official results. Note: The situation foreseen in Rule 4.4.3 of the Technical Rules will not apply to individual events within Combined Events. However, a medical certificate, provided by and based on an examination of the athlete by the Medical Delegate appointed under Rule 6 of the Competition Rules or, if no Medical Delegate has been so appointed, by a medical doctor so designated by 4 World Athletics Technical Rules (1 November 2019) Book C - C2.1 the Organisers, may be accepted as sufficient reason to accept that the athlete became unable to compete after confirmations closed or after competing in a previous round but will be able to compete in further events (except Combined Events individual events) on a subsequent day of the competition. Other justifiable reasons (e.g. factors independent of the athlete's own actions, such as problems with the official transport system) may, after confirmation, also be accepted by the Technical Delegate(s).
Didn't we have some an athlete false start a few years ago to get around this?
The other thing to note is Wolfe's 13:13 for indoors doesn't count in the rankings. I think it would be enough to get him in but you can only use 1 indoor mark and his 3000 was worth more points.
I had Jonathan text Ritz and he wrote back that "George does not intend to run the 5000m in Pari even though he has qualified so (I) believe we will not enter in the event."
So that's 2. Wolfe still needs a third.
PS. The Road to Paris rankings have been updated this morning. In the women's 10,000 valby and Schweizer are #29 and 30. But when you remove Lahti (injured), Monson (injured) and Izzo, they move up to #26 and #27 and the top 3 go. So the top 3 should go. If either declines a spot, Vestri likely would be next in line and then Henes is next in line for the US. If both Valby and Shweizer decline the 10,000 to run the 5000, then Natosha Rogers would be the third American ahead of Izzo based on order of Trials finish. They all have the ranking to get in.
This post was edited 18 minutes after it was posted.
To get around the 'honest effort' rule, and without false starting in a 5K (which would be a little obvious)... couldn't you just forget to tie your shoes, and after a lap or two, kick one off...? Then go get your shoe, work to tie it back on, and then be a lap or two down and just drop out? It might not be a 'medical' reason, but if you were to continue running without a shoe, it might become a medical issue. I don't think anyone would fault you in not completing a race without a shoe (like Jenny Simpson)...
Or, maybe you get a buddy from another country to get in a spat with you and you bump them a little and lose your balance, taking a tumble off the track... then drop out like Kessler...
Didn't we have some an athlete false start a few years ago to get around this?
The other thing to note is Wolfe's 13:13 for indoors doesn't count in the rankings. I think it would be enough to get him in but you can only use 1 indoor mark and his 3000 was worth more points.
Emmanuel Korir famously! You might see the same stunt from Mary Moraa this year, as I believe the 400m starts on the same day as the 800m final. Or Kenya could just not enter her, which would seem to make more sense.
What happens if Ethiopia brings Barega or Bekele? Than they have to scratch one of their three ranked guys, doesn't that open up the slot?
Same goes for Kenya and Kiplangat or Kemboi.
Lastly, what about GB opening up a spot for us? If they bring Jack Rowe, than either Mills, Dever, or Atkin will be forced to scratch.
Seems like there are possibilities. When is the deadline for Wolfe?
I could be wrong but I think these spots are already accounted for with their 3 spots. Same with GB. I think it would have to be from a country that has no other option. Who knows.
My other question is Dominic Lobalu. So now he IS running in Paris? Or is he not? I know he ran at European Champs representing Switzerland, but was under the impression he was NOT eligible for global champs yet. This article further confuses the issue because I don't think he wants to run for the Refugee team:
The new European champion in the men’s 10,000 meters, Dominic Lobalu of Switzerland, has been invited by the IOC to run at the Paris Games next month for the Olympic Refugee Team.
To get around the 'honest effort' rule, and without false starting in a 5K (which would be a little obvious)... couldn't you just forget to tie your shoes, and after a lap or two, kick one off...? Then go get your shoe, work to tie it back on, and then be a lap or two down and just drop out? It might not be a 'medical' reason, but if you were to continue running without a shoe, it might become a medical issue. I don't think anyone would fault you in not completing a race without a shoe (like Jenny Simpson)...
Or, maybe you get a buddy from another country to get in a spat with you and you bump them a little and lose your balance, taking a tumble off the track... then drop out like Kessler...
Yeah, you could probably get away with it. But you won't get away without feeling pretty gross inside, and also knowing that all the geeks on LetsRun know what you did for the rest of your career.
What happens if Ethiopia brings Barega or Bekele? Than they have to scratch one of their three ranked guys, doesn't that open up the slot?
Same goes for Kenya and Kiplangat or Kemboi.
Lastly, what about GB opening up a spot for us? If they bring Jack Rowe, than either Mills, Dever, or Atkin will be forced to scratch.
Seems like there are possibilities. When is the deadline for Wolfe?
No this only affects countries that currently have athletes eligible and then for some reason lose an athlete without having a valid replacement with the standard or ranking or by just choosing to only take less than 3 athletes for some reason.
IE a country has 3 people eligible and nobody else in their country has the standard or ranking, but their 3rd eligible runner scratches due to breaking his foot in the last few months, so the country only enters 2 total athletes to Paris. This would open up 1 spot to help bump Wolfe up
In your example, the only way Ethiopia or Kenya could help Wolfe is if they willingly only take 2 (or less) athletes to Paris in the 5K. There is a 0% chance of that happening.
I had Jonathan text Ritz and he wrote back that "George does not intend to run the 5000m in Pari even though he has qualified so (I) believe we will not enter in the event."
So that's 2. Wolfe still needs a third.
PS. The Road to Paris rankings have been updated this morning. In the women's 10,000 valby and Schweizer are #29 and 30. But when you remove Lahti (injured), Monson (injured) and Izzo, they move up to #26 and #27 and the top 3 go. So the top 3 should go. If either declines a spot, Vestri likely would be next in line and then Henes is next in line for the US. If both Valby and Shweizer decline the 10,000 to run the 5000, then Natosha Rogers would be the third American ahead of Izzo based on order of Trials finish. They all have the ranking to get in.
What about Klara LUKAN who has a slightly higher ranking score (1218) than Valby (1213) and Schweizer (1209)? Wouldn't she be next in line?
No this only affects countries that currently have athletes eligible and then for some reason lose an athlete without having a valid replacement with the standard or ranking or by just choosing to only take less than 3 athletes for some reason.
IE a country has 3 people eligible and nobody else in their country has the standard or ranking, but their 3rd eligible runner scratches due to breaking his foot in the last few months, so the country only enters 2 total athletes to Paris. This would open up 1 spot to help bump Wolfe up
In your example, the only way Ethiopia or Kenya could help Wolfe is if they willingly only take 2 (or less) athletes to Paris in the 5K. There is a 0% chance of that happening.
Hmm. I see.
In GB's case, they have 4 qualified athletes. James West, who won their trials was not one of them. Mills, who is qualified, did not contest the 5K at GB trials. Same with Atkin. Under GB rules, aren't they supposed to take the first 2 and then choose one more? Does that open up a spot because no one can filll West's spot?
Is it a possibility that a 1500 runner like Nordas decides to scratch in order to avoid injury as the 5K prelim is a day after the 1500 final?
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