Her coach is a meet director for the LA Grand Prix or whatever they're calling it at the end of May and he's said both Mu and McLaughlin will race there. Whether they race their main events TBD.
Athing hasn't been announced yet by any Diamond Leagues. If she does one it will be more last minute I think like when she did Rome last year.
It is early for the top athletes who want to peak in August-September
It's too early to be peaked, not too early to race at all. The idea she can't race because worlds is in August is straight nonsense.
Don't need to be dropping 1:55's but running a 400, 600, or 800 in May isn't going to stop you running lights out in August.
Case in point - Athing raced nearly a dozen times April-May 2021 and set her AR in August. In 2022 by May 14 she had already raced 8 times that year (4 times indoor season, 4 times outdoor).
Keely ran some very fast indoor times so maybe she wants to wait until she is pretty sharp before setting a time herself. Also Moraa has now done a 1.58 so she needs to be a dead cert for 1.57 or faster in her first outing.
Keely ran some very fast indoor times so maybe she wants to wait until she is pretty sharp before setting a time herself. Also Moraa has now done a 1.58 so she needs to be a dead cert for 1.57 or faster in her first outing.
This is exactly the mentality I fear Mu has. That her reputation/aura won't hold if she doesn't just win worlds, but wins every race *and* is always faster than everyone no questions asked. So if she isn't in shape to be dominant - not just in the race she does but against everyone at that moment in the world, then she won't race. E.g. Keely setting the WB in the 600m and Athing almost immediately pulling out of the 600m at Millrose.
I don't think that is a healthy mindset (for Athing or the sport).
As for the argument "it is too early to open with August worlds" - the only track women's world champions from Eugene to have run *zero* races in 2023: SAFP (was set to run yesterday but pulled out due to injury), Shaunae Miller-Uibo (just gave birth), Norah Jeruto (banned), and Athing Mu. She's the only reigning women's track champ not to have run once even once in 2023 of her own choice.
She does most of her modeling in Milan. She also has a special photo shoot planned for Paris 2024 where she’ll be modeling all her gold medals. It will be marvelous!
Her coach is a meet director for the LA Grand Prix or whatever they're calling it at the end of May and he's said both Mu and McLaughlin will race there. Whether they race their main events TBD.
Athing hasn't been announced yet by any Diamond Leagues. If she does one it will be more last minute I think like when she did Rome last year.
She is definitely training. Saw a clip of her running on Kersee team Instagram story. I think it’s on Citius Mag social media somewhere as well. She was MOVING in that workout. She had an Italian flag emoji on one of her posts as well. Modeling or Diamond League? I guess we will wait and see.
I think it’s just a Kersee thing not racing much. SML has only run that one 60 meter race indoor. Brandon Miller hasn’t raced yet either. Also some training clips of him on social media so not injured or anything like that.
Mu hasn't been the same since her covid bout. She won, upon her return, but was gased. I think mortality has become her reality and being wise, why not look beyond the track. Get established for a financial future because it's still business. It was great to witness her talent as a teen but I do think she's planning her future beyond the track. She's not done and will still be exciting to watch but to be honest. We will still root for a David vs Goliath race niow that she's established. I think it's in her best interest limiting the amount of races she enters. She's balancing track along with her future business endeavors. She's not letting track and field consume her.
Keely ran some very fast indoor times so maybe she wants to wait until she is pretty sharp before setting a time herself. Also Moraa has now done a 1.58 so she needs to be a dead cert for 1.57 or faster in her first outing.
This is exactly the mentality I fear Mu has. That her reputation/aura won't hold if she doesn't just win worlds, but wins every race *and* is always faster than everyone no questions asked. So if she isn't in shape to be dominant - not just in the race she does but against everyone at that moment in the world, then she won't race. E.g. Keely setting the WB in the 600m and Athing almost immediately pulling out of the 600m at Millrose.
I don't think that is a healthy mindset (for Athing or the sport).
As for the argument "it is too early to open with August worlds" - the only track women's world champions from Eugene to have run *zero* races in 2023: SAFP (was set to run yesterday but pulled out due to injury), Shaunae Miller-Uibo (just gave birth), Norah Jeruto (banned), and Athing Mu. She's the only reigning women's track champ not to have run once even once in 2023 of her own choice.
I’d encourage you to write a letter to both Mu and Kersee. Surely, you know what’s best for her in your day to day interactions.
It is early for the top athletes who want to peak in August-September
It's too early to be peaked, not too early to race at all. The idea she can't race because worlds is in August is straight nonsense.
Don't need to be dropping 1:55's but running a 400, 600, or 800 in May isn't going to stop you running lights out in August.
Case in point - Athing raced nearly a dozen times April-May 2021 and set her AR in August. In 2022 by May 14 she had already raced 8 times that year (4 times indoor season, 4 times outdoor).