TrackCoach wrote:
I have watched the women's 3000m video 5 times and even if this thread reach a thousand post, it want change the fact that Gabe clearly committed a violation. Her coach did what a coach is supposed to do and that's file a protest and USATF did what it is suppose to do and rule that Gabe committed a violation. No matter what your personal thoughts are about USATF, Nike, NOP, AlSal or Hasay, 'the rules are the rules' and our personal thoughts don't trump the rules.
As former, athlete, coach and now a fan, I have been impacted by the rules and I don't always like how the rules are applied especially when they negatively impact me or an athlete I am a fan of, but 'the rules are the rules'. To people speaking out in support of Gabe, I concur with your personal feelings, especially in light of the fact that Gabe appeared to be the best athlete in that race. However, if Russian athlete does to an American athlete we would all be in favor of DQing that Russian athlete. There were numerous post in favor of DQing the Russian athlete who had contact with Ajee Wilson during the WC women's 800m final...think about it. I say to WEJO, Lauren Fleshman and Shalane Flanagan, search your career as far back as high school and you will see at least one case how the rules have helped you.
you are right in principle but not in the real world.
Gabe did touch hasay, but that kind of contact probably happened 20 times during that one race and it wasn't called those times. By your call they should have been called?
The point is that Hasay was not materially impeded and this sort of thing happens all the time.