U.S.A. Olympic Team Picks 800 to10,000 -- who ya got?

This list looks good. I would add Kiera D’Amato as a dark horse for the 10k. She’s going out for it and has seemed injury-free so far.

Cranny ran a strong 10k. I wouldn’t be surprised if they put her in that to give her more of a chance to make a team.

I had to laugh a little over you putting both Engles and Thompson over Hocker. As far as I know, I've never heard of them closing a 3:53/3:35 race in 52 and 25. Hocker has better endurance and a better kick than both of them.

Maybe one beats him, but both of them + Centro? Highly unlikely.

Lmao Centro isn’t making the olympics

I like it. Nice work!

CENTRO is not making this team. I can name 3 college kids who are faster........

Centro beat lots of faster guys at OGs and WCs many times

Centro "used to" beat lots of faster guys at OGs and WCs many times

Beener wrote:

Lmao Centro isn’t making the olympics

Centro has a long ways to go to get back to form. And he's 31 years old now, probably losing some closing speed. So that's two things going against him right now.

And to the person that said Kiera D'Amato for the 10k, I don't think she has the wheels to get it done on the track. She ran the 10k in Texas and got dusted, sure it was warm, but she didn't seem all that impressive. The Hall and Huddle honorable mention are both far ahead

.. wrote:

I had to laugh a little over you putting both Engles and Thompson over Hocker. As far as I know, I've never heard of them closing a 3:53/3:35 race in 52 and 25. Hocker has better endurance and a better kick than both of them.

Maybe one beats him, but both of them + Centro? Highly unlikely.

We'll see, I guess. I just chalk it up to an experience thing as well as a multiple peak issue -- it's tough to truly peak 3 times within this short a time span, particularly if you are 19/20 years old, running rounds, facing your first national-caliber field, etc. I would see Hocker being a bit burnt out, and he's never dealt with tactics like he will at the Trials. He basically led the whole indoor mile and sat on Teare the entire 3000. He's gonna get jostled, people are going to be able to follow him when he kicks, etc. We're only a few months removed from Centrowitz outkicking him in that 5000.

I also don't know that he has better endurance and kick than either of them. Engels is a 1:44 800 runner. Hocker could very well beat Thompson, but being able to put all your focus into the Olympic Trials is a big advantage, and Thompson's made a world team before.

To put this in perspective, NCAA Outdoors are June 9 - 12. They might just run Hocker in the 1500, but I wouldn't be shocked if he doubled. Less than two weeks later, on June 24, is the first round of the 1500 at the Trials. The semifinals are the 25th, and the finals are two days after that on the 27th.

Some of those 1500s at the Trials may be quicker than usual as well given a lot of guys don't have the standard yet. So that's why I'm not penciling in Hocker as a lock for the Olympic team. We've seen college guys (including Brazier in 2016) flame out at the trials after record-breaking college seasons.

Although I would be very excited if he made it! Definitey the most exciting distance guy right now outside of Brazier / Hoppel.

wazzu1452 wrote:

Centro "used to" beat lots of faster guys at OGs and WCs many times

Centro ran 13:00 20 months ago. Hocker has never closed in 52 either.

third wrote:

wazzu1452 wrote:

Centro "used to" beat lots of faster guys at OGs and WCs many times

Centro ran 13:00 20 months ago. Hocker has never closed in 52 either.

He also outkicked Hocker in their 5000 race. I think Centro has 1-2 more U.S. titles in him before he's out the backdoor. Every time I doubt the guy, he shows up ready.

wazzu1452 wrote:

I like it. Nice work!

CENTRO is not making this team. I can name 3 college kids who have slower PRs than Centro, but have run faster than him this season, a full 3 .5 months before the trials ........

Fixed it for you.

birdbeard wrote:

third wrote:

Centro ran 13:00 20 months ago. Hocker has never closed in 52 either.

He also outkicked Hocker in their 5000 race. I think Centro has 1-2 more U.S. titles in him before he's out the backdoor. Every time I doubt the guy, he shows up ready.

Oh I was agreeing with you. It was poorly worded. But he was in 13 flat 5k shape less than 2 years ago.

Fwiw, since 2011, Centro has never finished below 2nd in a USA championship he’s started.

Pretty cool stat. He's quite underrated it seems, even still. I guess 4 global medals isn't enough for the doubters!

For what it's worth, if Hocker did decide to go pro in the next month or so and skipped NCAA outdoors, I would certainly pick him for the team. I am not sure why I put Thompson above Engels in my list -- that was a mistake. I would have Centro, Hocker, and Engels in that order for the trials. I think Engels will come into form and his 800 speed will get him to Tokyo.

.. wrote:

I had to laugh a little over you putting both Engles and Thompson over Hocker. As far as I know, I've never heard of them closing a 3:53/3:35 race in 52 and 25. Hocker has better endurance and a better kick than both of them.

Maybe one beats him, but both of them + Centro? Highly unlikely.

Check out Engels 2019 Portland Track Festival race or Thompsons 2019 USA vs Europe race if you think they can’t close.

Obviously Hocker has now run great times with the super shoes and could very well make the team, but these guys who have been there recently have done it against guys more accomplished before.

lestweforget wrote:

.. wrote:

I had to laugh a little over you putting both Engles and Thompson over Hocker. As far as I know, I've never heard of them closing a 3:53/3:35 race in 52 and 25. Hocker has better endurance and a better kick than both of them.

Maybe one beats him, but both of them + Centro? Highly unlikely.

Check out Engels 2019 Portland Track Festival race or Thompsons 2019 USA vs Europe race if you think they can’t close.

Obviously Hocker has now run great times with the super shoes and could very well make the team, but these guys who have been there recently have done it against guys more accomplished before.

Yeah, you're right. I'd still take Hocker over those two just because Engels and Thompson haven't looked amazing this year. But if Hocker is burned out from going all in at NCAAs, he's definitely vulnerable.

.. wrote:

lestweforget wrote:

Check out Engels 2019 Portland Track Festival race or Thompsons 2019 USA vs Europe race if you think they can’t close.

Obviously Hocker has now run great times with the super shoes and could very well make the team, but these guys who have been there recently have done it against guys more accomplished before.

Yeah, you're right. I'd still take Hocker over those two just because Engels and Thompson haven't looked amazing this year. But if Hocker is burned out from going all in at NCAAs, he's definitely vulnerable.

That’s fair. It is common for a young guy to slip in, so I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Hocker or Nuguse make the team. Teare maybe. But I also don’t think it’s unreasonable for the OP to go with guys who have been there.

.. wrote:

I had to laugh a little over you putting both Engles and Thompson over Hocker. As far as I know, I've never heard of them closing a 3:53/3:35 race in 52 and 25. Hocker has better endurance and a better kick than both of them.

Maybe one beats him, but both of them + Centro? Highly unlikely.

Centro literally outkicked Hocker in the 5k a few months ago. And he looked effortless doing it. Hocker is a great talent, but I'm not counting out the reigning Olympic champ.

` wrote:

.. wrote:

I had to laugh a little over you putting both Engles and Thompson over Hocker. As far as I know, I've never heard of them closing a 3:53/3:35 race in 52 and 25. Hocker has better endurance and a better kick than both of them.

Maybe one beats him, but both of them + Centro? Highly unlikely.

Centro literally outkicked Hocker in the 5k a few months ago. And he looked effortless doing it. Hocker is a great talent, but I'm not counting out the reigning Olympic champ.

Ah, my apologies, you meant Engels and Thompson. Still, I think Engels will do better than Hocker. Maybe not Thompson, he hasn't looked impressive.