HOT TAKE: Sage Hurta signs with Team Boss and makes the 2021 Olympic Team

I think ritz can. Look at what he’s done with the people he has right now. Boss on the other hand is iffy IMO.

Low Mileage Runner wrote:

I like this take. She is an NCAA champion but not super high profile. However she very quietly was on a pretty big track win streak until the 1500m at Hayward, and she still has not lost an 800m race in over 3 YEARS (2018 Husky Classic).

Yes, that is mostly against collegiate competition but an athlete racing with that kind of confidence can make them especially dangerous. Could also indicate that she can be pushed to faster in the right 800m race. She already has the standard, and the Olympic Trials are about good tactics through 3 rounds. She might not even need to run as fast as 1:58 to make the team as the final could be slower than that. In fact, the last three times, the WINNER has run 1:59 and it has never ever taken faster than 1:59 to get third place at the trials.

Spot on! She's a great racer and having the fastest PB going into the Trials doesn't necessarily mean anything. Just because she hasn't run 1:58 before doesn't mean she isn't capable of it.

tar heel xc 23 wrote:

She does hint at interest in either Team Boss or On Athletics Club in a podcast she did. I could see On making sense since her bf Joe Klecker is there, bit dunno if they will have more budget to add to the team already.

The video should start right where she discusses going pro.

https://youtu.be/imL_3HzJEqw?t=1170

As I think through this more and read the responses from others, probably unlikely she chooses any group ahead of the Trials. Her value could go way up if she has a huge coming out party at the Trials + she doesn't need the added stress of picking a group in the couple of weeks between NCAAs and the Trials.

Still holding true to my original take of her joining Team Boss (eventually)

Sage Fan wrote:

I'll admit, big Sage fan here. I think she has the tools to become one of America's best middle distance runners over the next few years. She will be finishing her time at CU Boulder this NCAA Outdoor season, so very likely signing pro afterwards.

I'm calling it right now that she joins Team Boss following in Dani Jones's footsteps. Also, calling it right now that she gets top 3 in the 800m at the US Olympic Trials and makes the team.

Embrace debate.

0% chance in the 1500

5% chance in the 800 of making the team

what does she gain by joining emma coburns group? you don't get to 1:58/3:55/14:30 benchmarks to be competitive internationally by joining a roster chock-full of 2:02/4:05/15:10 athletes

ON is a better option Datahn has done wonders with Klecker/Hoare/Monson/Falland

even without a 1500m training partner, it is not too hard to find 4:10 male milers to pace her.

Dani Jones after 2017 NCAA indoors looked to be Americas next female distance star, she made up a 50m deficit to anchor the DMR over Cranny and then double back to outkick Schweizer in the 3k the next day. 4 years later Cranny and Schweizer are leaps and bounds better than Dani Jones all born in 1996 too, so cant use age as an excuse

I don't get the critique of Jones, after the races you mention, Jones went on to win several more NCAA titles, xc individual, xc team, 5000, 1500 and mile. Since turning pro she has been quiet, but she has only ran a couple races. Let's at least let the trials play out before judging the start of her pro career.

I do agree it's been amazing to see Cranny's improvement, and Schweizer's steady progress with bowerman.

hurt me wrote:

I don't get the critique of Jones, after the races you mention, Jones went on to win several more NCAA titles, xc individual, xc team, 5000, 1500 and mile. Since turning pro she has been quiet, but she has only ran a couple races. Let's at least let the trials play out before judging the start of her pro career.

I do agree it's been amazing to see Cranny's improvement, and Schweizer's steady progress with bowerman.

the critique is she has more or less stagnated since then.

Didn’t Jones go pro around this time in 2020? Kinda hard to get a pro career started during those times.

Dani has only been pro a year. But FACTS Team Boss isn't the group to take your career to the Olympic level. Everyone who has been to the Olympics was already one before the group formed.

yessirskiii wrote:

Didn’t Jones go pro around this time in 2020? Kinda hard to get a pro career started during those times.

Hurta's in a far better spot, though Jones couldn't have known it at the time. Plenty of contracts will be expiring at the end of the year and if Hurta has the senior campaign we all think she will then she'll be fielding multiple appealing offers. Not sure how much money ON will have remaining in the budget for signing additional runners, though if Klecker can choose the location and coach then he might have some say in cutting/reducing someone to find the money for Hurta. Nothing against Team Boss (I might be more in favor if they perform better at the OT) but Pete's (Julian) Magic Dragons would be a hell of a group for Hurta to join up with. I don't see staying in Boulder being to her greatest advantage.

the wrongness of this site is entertaining