The barriers are the same height as the intermediate hurdle barriers, just like the men's races. You want them to go over higher barriers than the 400m Hurdlers? Should the men move up to 39" barriers then?
No. But even before they added the women’s steeple there were arguments to raise the intermediate hurdles for women because they were/are too low.
It looks like her PR in the 5K is 15:24 from last February and that she hasn’t run a competitive 10K.
Hard to know what she could do if she focused on the 10 but it certainly looks like she lacks the flat speed to be competitive on the world stage with the likes of Gidey, Obiri, etc. and do any better in the 10 than in the ‘chase.
Truth is she got into the steeple while it was still a niche women’s event, and has been able to make up for a lack of pure speed with much more efficient hurdling form than most of her competitors.
I just don’t see her success translating to other events. She should try to extend her streak of U.S. championships in the ‘chase as long as she can IMO.
I think you're right on all accounts. I don't recall her racing a 10K, either. Sticking with the steeple is probably her best option at this point.
Yeah, her flat speed isn't enough to hang with the best in the 5 and 10. She certainly is strong and athletic with superior hurdling (most of the time). Anyway, there's nothing wrong with moving on instead of moving up in distance. She's so far had a wonderful career.
Great career but I hate to say it. She looks like she no longer is a contender at the World level.
Coburn has been significantly worse this season than previous years. I'm surprised that people are focusing on her training, when she has done so well in the past.
Great career but I hate to say it. She looks like she no longer is a contender at the World level.
Coburn has been significantly worse this season than previous years. I'm surprised that people are focusing on her training, when she has done so well in the past.
It's probably covid related.
It’s called being 31. Body doesn’t recover the same way it used to.
Her choice, but she can probably make the Paris Olympics in 2 years if she wants to. Could have been the highest place American today (and she won the national title) if she didn't try hanging with the big guns.
This. A thread saying she's done just because she went for it. Smh. She would've been the top American & finished 5th if that was the plan. But she tried to compete up front on a 90 degree evening running 9-flat pace against the best in the world. She should run something around there this summer. And she'll lead the American charge for Paris 2024.
I don’t see any problem with making the observation that she is physically larger than her African competitors. It’s an empirical fact that she is. The thing is, she is still an absolutely tiny human.
Of course saying she should lose weight is moronic.
The only problem she has now is that as the event ages, world class flat runners have moved into the steeple. Emma is not a world class flat runner in any event. She would have had a shot to make US teams in the 5k, but that’s it. She’s getting older and the competition is finally catching up to the flat events.
I don’t see any problem with making the observation that she is physically larger than her African competitors. It’s an empirical fact that she is. The thing is, she is still an absolutely tiny human.
Of course saying she should lose weight is moronic.
The only problem she has now is that as the event ages, world class flat runners have moved into the steeple. Emma is not a world class flat runner in any event. She would have had a shot to make US teams in the 5k, but that’s it. She’s getting older and the competition is finally catching up to the flat events.
it is a tough age to suddenly have worse performances than we are used to seeing. but before the olympics last year, she looked as good or better than she has ever looked before.
imo, the prudent thing to do, training wise, is exactly what she did last year, but with better timing.
People age and get slower. It happens to everyone, eventually…Unless you’re a female Jamaican sprinter that “naturally” defies the laws of nature.
That is nonsense. Emma is 31 and that is not an age where you decline already as a middle distance runner. She said she struggled a lot getting back after Tokyo. She took time off to let her body rest etc. To me it just seems a case of training for so long for so many years she needs an extended break and a reset.
Both science and the real world disagree with you runningChick.
Not sure the steeplechase is a "nontraditional" event or has little competition. The winning times have been very similar for the past several olympics. This worlds race happened to be a bit quicker but by no means is Coburn's previous success a facet of poor competition. She is absolutely world class at this event and it would not be surprising in the least for her to see global successes in the future.
She is too big for 10k. She looks like a heptathlete.
Seriously? She’s a twig. The weather in Boulder was less than ideal last winter, bitter cold, icy, and almost always windy. Emma was one of a few pros who stuck it out.
That is nonsense. Emma is 31 and that is not an age where you decline already as a middle distance runner. She said she struggled a lot getting back after Tokyo. She took time off to let her body rest etc. To me it just seems a case of training for so long for so many years she needs an extended break and a reset.
Both science and the real world disagree with you runningChick.
Nick Willis set his 1500m PB at age 32 and he won an Olympic medal at age 33.
Bernard Lagat won the 1500-5,000 double at the world championships at age 32.
Kelly Holmes won the 800-1500 double at the Olympics at age 34.