Here are the 8 track storylines I'll be watching most closely in track in 2022. What are yours?

Ill add a few more I am interested in seeing.

Who is the best male long distance runner in the world? Chep won the 5,000 and Barega the 10,000 in Tokyo, will be interested to see if either can guy pull off the double.

Could we see the first sub 3:30 from an American-born athlete? I think both Teare & Hocker have potential to do it this year.

Does Jakob take a shot at the 1500m world record? 3:28 last year after rounds tells me he was probably good for ~3:27 in a Monaco type race. He ran faster indoors this year, but 2 seconds is a big jump at that level. And who can pace that race? El G got help from Ngeny untill 1100, not sure anyone will be fit enough to do that (Who doesnt want to chase the WR themselves).

Knighton 200m world record watch. Ran the fastest time ever not in August/September.

Knighton is #1 for me.

At Prefontaine, I predict he will be in the Top-3 Americans there and run 9.85 or faster.

Bromell, Coleman, Kerley, Lyles, Baker, Bednarek, Bracey.

He will beat at least 5 of these guys.

He will then go on to win triple gold in Eugene.

Will the 1500 continue to be a full-gas race?

Is Chep still viable?

Will the 400h continue to progress?

I'll add Jacob Kiplimo in here too:

#9 man all-time in the 3000m, ahead of Cheptegei

#13 man all-time in the 5000m

#8 man all-time in the 10000m

And he ran all of those times when he was 20. Younger than Ingebrigtsen. Younger than Barega. Much younger than Chep.

I think this is the year he jumps down to sub-12:45/26:30 and improves on his bronze in at least one of these races.

I would love to see a fast 10,000 that is not just a solo TT. When is the last time there was a fast 10,000 set up with pacers that had the top guys in the world racing? Imagine Barega, Chep, Kiplimo, Aregawi, Fisher, Ahmed, Kejelcha in a race paced with a 13:15 first 5,000.

Will McSweyn recover from long covid and push every race to make it interesting?

In Woman's steeple Courtney is now better in a fast race. I think Emma will still beat her at trials because she has a faster close. Met both at Emma's Elk run in Crested Butte a couple of years ago. Both were so nice and friendly.

Whether BTC will finally cut all ties with Shelbo. There has to be a clause in her contract that allows Nike and BTC an out per a suspension from competition with all appeals exhausted. If not, it means they want to keep her under label for when her ban expires in a couple years.

Whether the LRC "journos" prove to care about the sport enough to (finally) fittingly pillory Shelbo. And then do the same for BTC if she remains affiliated in any way going forward.

Everything JG mentioned, plus

Kiplimo 5/10 double attempt
Coleman back on top?
Yehualaw & Sisson Fall marathon
Kandie 10K/marathon progression
Rupp one more good one
Chelangat v. Tuohy 5000
Kipyegon v. Hassan v. Muir v. Hailu v. GDS 1500
McCabe v. Wayment steeple
Mantz Half AR attempt (Valencia?)
Bekele v. Kipchoge Fall marathon?
Kelati v. Monson v. BTC 10000
Nur overall progression
Teare 15 progression
Ingebrigtsen debut Half (Valencia?)

,,,and a mammoth one, not in 2022 but less than 12 mos away…
World XC Champs hopefully w/ Kiplimo, Chep, the might of Eth & Ken, Ingebrigtsen, AV Christensen, Mantz, Kiptoo, a healthy McDonald, maybe a scrub from NAU…

Almost forgot:
Sowinski’s pacing right on time

Grant Fisher World XC champs

I am curious whether the long rumored Doper League will finally be launched. So many rumors about some big money finally starting a league where it is OK to dope. Oh that’s right it already exists and they changed Doper to Diamond…

That ain't gonna happen. Nike likely paid for Houlihan's appeal. Don't forget, Nike's attitude is win at all cost. This is the company that sponsored multiple busted drug cheat Justin Gatlin.

Frerichs needs to get over her inferiority complex re Coburn. She's physically superior to Coburn, ran two ARs, yet in between lost 7 consecutive times to Coburn. Despite her ARs, she has yet to win a single US title. I want to see her win nationals this year and dispel her image as just a time trialer.

I thought there would have been more interest in Teare/Hocker and what they can do.

Will Matthew Boling make the WC team?

How many NCAA athletes will make the 1500 or 5000m WC team?

Will the fast times from indoors roll over into outdoors, for both NCAA and pros?

I predict an off year for Frerichs. 😉

I think who stakes themselves as the best distance runner in the world is interesting. Last year with some injuries, the heat and Ethiopia restricting doubling we were deprived a real decisive moment. Perhaps this year we get a 5,000 or 10,000 with everyone in it, fully healthy and duking it out. Want to see Cheptegei, Kiplimo, Aregawi, Fisher, Kejelcha, Kandie, Barega, Ahmed all in one race at the peak of their powers.

Most good ones have already been said.

Ayana vs Gidey vs Tsegay at Ethiopian trials.

Teare and Hocker vs Bowerman vs Chelimo vs Klecker at USAs in the 5k

Ayana is back!!? Hopefully, she can regain top level of fitness or something close to it. Always wondered what times she would have run from 2018 upwards due to the super shoes if she hadn't gotten injured.