Klecker came 4th and looked good enough to make the team. He just sat on Woody instead of focusing on the front of the race. He looked really strong imo, just a tactical miscalculation. McDonald slipped on ice getting out of his car and got a fracture. Not much you can do there, but he's rounding into shape now. Decent chance he gets into Worlds too.
I have no clue what's going on with Sage. This is the 2nd year in a row that she did badly at USAs, then came back and ripped it on the DL. Really disappointed about Hoare, but also it's pretty impressive that he's been on fire nonstop since 2020.
As for kicking, I feel like the only reason it looks like an issue is because they're the only US-based team that are always racing the best in the world. Even then, last year Hoare was beating literally everyone on the DL circuit except Jakob, and he outkicked Cheruiyot to win CWGs. Beamish has never shown that he's been fit enough to run 3:29 or 12:5x to win a DL, but he's won some lower level races in a kick. Essentially as good as any national champ who hasn't won a DL. Monson is better than everyone except Cranny apparently right now, but Cranny just ran under the old AR for the mile, and Jakob is showing how easy it is for the best miler to win a 5k championship. I'd bet Cranny finishes lower at Worlds that Monson.
If they were doing what most US groups do and run 1-2 domestic races before Worlds, their record would look a whole lot better.