Klecker scratches from 5000

+1

Klecker has run sub 13:07 twice in the past two months and is focussing on the 10,000 anyway. Where does a tactical 5000m fit into that build up?

Perhaps because it's his country's national championships in which he has a very realistic shot of winning? Why is he ducking the 2nd most competitive race of his season?

(Just to be clear, I am playing devil's advocate here. I think pros should be free to do what works best for them, but I am responding as many posters on here would respond to BTC doing the exact same thing).

The 10,000 at worlds is in less than 4 weeks. He just raced a fast 5,000m over the weekend which was good to sharpen up a bit and get a good racing effort somewhat close to worlds. If you want him to do a mini taper to try and win the 5000m this weekend he'll have 3 weeks before the 10,000 meters final at worlds. When do you expect him to get a hard training cycle in? Right now at 4 weeks from his last week it's the perfect amount of time to build up a good week of mileage this week, get 1.5 weeks of good quality with decent high mileage before getting in a true taper into July 17th to give his best effort in the 10,000m. Not racing the 5000m is a very good decision in my book to be able to have his best performance at worlds.

It's a good decision for him but it's #notgoodforthesport

No mental gymnastics here. If McGorty had run Oslo and was focusing on the 10000m at Worlds I wouldn’t GAF.

How is it not good for the sport? 1.Klecker and Monson were the lone US representatives in the distance races at these Diamond League meets. 2. It improves their medal chances at World's by not racing USA's. 3. It doesn't take anything away from those competing if they were to qualify and scratch from World 5k's anyway.

Worlds 10,000m > USATF 5000m

Two?? USATF schedule only shows the one 5K final. No semis.

Also no mental gymnastics here because they freaking already ran their main “event” in the USA championships and just scratched their secondary event. People frequently enter into two events in a championship meet then scratch if they qualify and/or do well in the first one. The equivalent here would be if they skipped the meet altogether, like people did with indoor nationals. There’s no comparison.

Yeah going overseas and racing the best in the world is absolutely terrible for the sport....silly take at best. He is the USA 10K champ, has run 2 fast 5k's one in championship style. Running time trials is cool for a minute but leaning to be competitive with the best in the world is so much more important....and as far as someone calling out doping follow him on Strava to see the work, he is one of the better pros in terms of sharing what he is doing at any time.

Klecker and Monson also scratched after making the 10k teams for Tokyo. Did that bother you all as well? They ran at USA's in their primary event already (and made the races/ teams), what more could you all want?

Choosing to run the 10,000 and not the 5,000 at USA's is not bad for the sport. You could argue that running DL races is good for the sport and that USATF is bad for the sport.

Not to mention the ability to do controlled up-to-the-last-second pre-meet drug testing to make sure nobody gets Shelbied.

In what way is it not good for the sport?

I disagree with the general sentiment on the board. Klecker just ran a tactical 5000m in Oslo, which is good practice, and maybe they thought he might get a chance to go sub 13 in the race but he can finish higher and closer to the winner in a tactical world's 5 than 10. He should have tried to run both. If he didn't make the 5 team, so be it. He'd still get that practice with fast closing excellent fields. There are about five 13 flat or under Americans who could be in the field (I haven't looked at the entry lists), Fisher, Chelimo, Kincaid, Lomong, and Bor. Even with a couple out, it would be a strong field and a good test. Those races are also a week closer to world's.

A little revisionist history if you ask me. Up until Burrito-gate, BTC were the darlings, they could do no wrong. AS (After Shelby), they got tossed aside by the pitchfork gang here.

Make no mistake, if OAC has a misstep, they will also be vilified.

This is one of the worst takes I’ve ever seen. Why would any BTC critics be upset about OAC doing exactly what we all wish the Bowerman athletes would do? You know, like actually showing up to the Diamond League and racing against the world’s best instead of staying home to run time trials.

You have to keep in mind how delusional one would have to be to be an adamant BTC defender at this point when you read their posts.

Also are we going to ignore that while BTC has had multiple athletes double at Worlds (Fisher, Woody, Schweizer, Scott ran both too last year), none of the doubling athletes have ever done notably well in the second event? Woody was completely gassed by the 5,000 final and ran 13:17 off the back. Scott didn't make the final. Grant was injured and hobbled through in 13:08 after his great 10,000 performance. Schweizer went from being right with Can and others in the 10 to being further back even in her better event.

Yes, some of that is being outclassed, but some of it is no doubt feeling the 10,000 before against fresher/fitter athletes factors. Personally, I'd rather see one competitive performance on the world champs stage and more racing on the circuit than getting that second spot and seeing a worn out athlete go through the motions in the 5,000 final after frying themselves to make the 5,000 final with a 10,000 in their legs. We'll get that intentionally with Monson, Klecker, and likely Cranny/Woody in unplanned fashion. I'm hoping for a fresh 5,000 team with the exception of Grant who is good enough to still be a factor in 5K ideally.