People have asked you to justify this claim multiple times and so far you have ignored all requests to do so. Please explain how Klecker choosing to run in Oslo instead of running a 2nd event at USAs is worse for the sport.
I didn't think it needed explaining. I (and I assume most American track fans) would rather see a more competitive 5k championships than to watch one of the favorites for the title run the SAME EVENT a week earlier in Oslo against a watered down field. Am I crazy here???
Yes you are, lol. I have no idea why some people in here have this phobia against international competition. Just doing the same old meets against the same old competition that you'll never meet in a WC does nothing for the sport. Ps: Klecker is one of the favorites for USA's, he wasn't at all for the DL meet in Oslo. That says everything you need about the difference between these meets. Stop pretending otherwise.
Yeah, you started “playing devil’s advocate” after whining about how unfairly BTC is treated and then getting downvoted because your take was terrible. Most people think that their lack of racing is a problem. You can defend the way they do things all day long but don’t try to veil your obvious bias with this “athletes need to do what’s best for them” nonsense. If the the rest of the world emulated BTC’s model there would be nothing left to watch.
How is running at a DL meet somehow worse for the fans than running a 2nd event at USAs? Maybe you only care about domestic meets and outdoor global finals?
I don't hate BTC or anything, but can we agree that the handling of Woody, Marc Scott and even Fisher from April on is a bit tough for fans? Hopefully the US guys are unleashed somewhat following the Olympics. Scott has Commonwealth Games and European Champs so I'd doubt it.
Fisher's outdoors after that 10K AR: 10K champs 1500 at a B-level meet in Portland Track Festival
Woody's outdoors after pacing the 10K AR: 10K DNF B heat 5000 at Portland Track Festival so he can have a kicking battle with Marc Scott Too hurt for Pre (maybe?)
Marc Scott outdoors: 9th place in B heat 1500 at Pre Classic, which was for guys chasing the standard or who couldn't get into the proper meet (Scott could've run in the DL 5K undoubtedly) B heat 5000 at Portland Track Festival so he can have a kicking battle with Marc Scott
Now this isn't to say this is a BTC problem only. The Hocker/Teare duo really only has the Bowerman mile and then their own time trials. Elle Purrier has Pre and that's it. Ditto Sinclaire Johnson and well she's got an 800 too. Paul Chelimo has just 2 races (though they were both legit with Kip Keino 1500 and Pre 5000). Josh Kerr - 2 races, just 1 particularly legit. Moh Ahmed notably has an admirable schedule with 2 DL 5Ks and he's BTC.
But Ritz at least is racing his team in interesting spots. I admire it, and hope other athletes/teams take notice.
Well said. Seeing these runners never run in a meet with a world class field is absurd, and quite frankly boring. In addition it must lead to extremely high pressure for their one yearly world class meet. How will they fare surrounded by 10 equal and better runners rather than when running in meets solely against competitors who are a division or two below them?
Ps: just want to say, even though he wasnt a favorite I think Klecker did great in DL, and I think the experience with navigating the field will be valuable at WC. I will for sure root for him (as a foreigner) as I am a big fan of showing up and racing in the DL.
I didn't think it needed explaining. I (and I assume most American track fans) would rather see a more competitive 5k championships than to watch one of the favorites for the title run the SAME EVENT a week earlier in Oslo against a watered down field. Am I crazy here???
I don't really know that this is true. In Oslo, it was interesting to see Klecker race against 4 of Ethiopia's best. Yes, one (Mengesha) is not representing them in Worlds but otherwise you have 3 guys with good pedigrees, PBs and medal hopes in Bekele, Wale and Tefera. You had Mechaal in there as well maybe thinking about making the move up to 5,000 as well. It was cool to see Klecker mix it up and almost get top 3.
Seeing him race against the same guys as the 10,000 field is reasonably interesting, but that race is going to be very competitive regardless with Fisher, Woody, Bor, McGorty and Chelimo plus a share of collegians making the move up in Nur, Young, Hacker (is he running?) and Beadlescomb. If Teare/Hocker elect to run even more so. I don't really think Klecker makes or breaks the race.
People have asked you to justify this claim multiple times and so far you have ignored all requests to do so. Please explain how Klecker choosing to run in Oslo instead of running a 2nd event at USAs is worse for the sport.
I didn't think it needed explaining. I (and I assume most American track fans) would rather see a more competitive 5k championships than to watch one of the favorites for the title run the SAME EVENT a week earlier in Oslo against a watered down field. Am I crazy here???
You already said people have different preferences. Klecker not doubling at USAs even though you wanted him to is not worse for the sport, you just don’t like it.
The fact that everyone but you can see the absurdity of the comparison you are trying to draw between Klecker and Fisher here should give you pause.
I would like to see him run and try to win another national championship. He could always scratch the 5k if he were to make the team.
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.
Gosh dang some people on this board just don't get it. Americans should be throwing their support around their these athletes having a crack on the international circuit. This is how they improve and ultimately how they perform their best at major championships.
Look at the big dawg Australians Hoare and McSweyn and Bol, these boys have grown into absolute animals purely of the back of consistently putting themselves against the best in the world. If these guys aren't in international competition, they aren't running these times and receiving such hype from the community.
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).
I asked my obese non-athletic semi-alcoholic gambling obsessed NFL crazed fan of a neighbor why he doesn't like track. His response was "because Klecker decided to race a 5,000 at the Oslo Diamond League meet instead of going for another national title in Eugene." #badforthesport
They are not obligated to double at USAs, they both already ran their races and are now done with the meet. Criticizing them would be like criticizing Anna Hall for not competing in the 400h
Smart move by OAC and Ritz. They got some fast 5k's in against International competition. No need to run the two qualifiers at USA's with only a month to go.
#notgoodforthesport
Wrong, it's great for the sport. They both ran well and fast (Monson is now #3 all-time for the US in the 5k). Seems pretty great to me! Nothing wrong with a tuneup race half the distance of the big dance.