USA WC Distance Grades thus far

Waskom got eliminated in the first round, not an A

You’re a harsh grader. Hiltz’s time today was their second fastest ever, yet you graded that performance as a C-?

Keter was running with an injury so F is a bit harsh.

I apologize. You are correct

Was on C. Great experience poor race tactics. He will learn more about positioning

2. I never called Niki a woman. I said she ran in the Womens 1500. Do better.

3. Anyone that stepped to the line hurt deserves an F.

Fine with Hiltz being a C-, but Johnson has to be a D or D. Spends all winter and indoors talking about how it is all about medals now and then runs ***4:06*** for 2nd last in her semi. You going to talk the talk in fluff citius mag features in February you better walk the walk.

I know the end result for both is the same, but at least Hiltz looked like they tried. Johnson was one spot out of qualifying at 200 to go but could only muster a 33s last 200m.

I would give both Hiltz and Johnson Ds. They finished dead last in their respective heats. The US champion should at least be able to make the final.

How about we add a few coaches

Pete Julian - a BIG F as in should be FIRED

Jerry - D

Ritz - B - Klecker cost him an A up to now

F for Jerry as he couldn’t keep Grant Fisher healthy enough to be on the team.

How is jerry not an F? McGorty choked and Cranny choked. Fisher and Schweitzer and Jager hurt.

Ok you convinced me Jerry gets a F

What about Mo Ahmed though? Ran well in the 10, coached by Jerry....

Nikki is just not a 3:57 runner and they never will be. Johnson just ran poorly. Unfortunately, we just don't have any women 1500 runners right now that can cruise 3:55, which is what is needed to be a medal contender. Wiley is our best hope for next year.

Mo Ahmed is talented enough to overcome bad coaching.

If you're injured you have failed and should take responsibility for it instead of making excuses. As an athlete you have to take care of your body and read it adequately to avoid potential injuries.

It’s Alicia, not Alysia. Try to spell your students’ names correctly.

Personally I wouldn’t grade as harshly. Maybe my class is a cakewalk, but I don’t expect most of these athletes to medal in order to earn an A for effort and execution. And an F to me would almost be reserved for DNSs, DNFs and DQs.

Also I’m inclined to scale the grades based on expectations from past performances. Natosha Rogers for example didn’t run poorly—like you said she placed one higher than last year—she’s just not a top-10 at Worlds runner 9 times out of 10. Caroline Kipkirui, who has PBs of 14:27/5k and 1:05:07/half and was dropped early and then DNF’d - she gets an F. Lemlem Hailu, World Indoor 3k champ who ran 29:59 this year but finished 27 seconds behind Rogers yesterday - she gets a D-.

Monson - A - she was in contention to medal until 300 to go, closed in 63.85 and fought all the way to the line trying to catch Kimais…A+ is reserved for medalists

Cranny - C - I was projecting her to place 10th and she placed 12th, oh well

Rogers - B - You can’t be surprised by anyone who beat her, she upgraded one spot from last year and was only 11 seconds behind Cranny

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Kincaid - C - Finished 11th, 1.3 seconds behind 9th—2 places which would have made a huge difference in my mind

McGorty - C - I actually expected him to place a little higher based on USAs and his subsequent 13:02 5k PB

Klecker - D- - He didn’t DNF when a lot of athletes would have, so I can’t flunk him

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Johnson - C- - She made it out of the 1st round but the last lap of her semi was highly disappointing

Hiltz - C+ - She’d never actually run a 1500 race as fast as she did today, but she had split faster in a mile, and she did bring up the rear of her semi

McGee - TBD (I see no point in saying “A so far”)

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Nuguse - TBD

Hocker - TBD

Waskom - C - I thought he had what it takes to advance, and he may have if he hadn’t gotten stuck on the rail…a learning experience

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Rooks - TBD

Updike - TBD

Keter - C- - He had the 8th best PB/7th best SB in his heat and he placed 8th; at least being a part of the six-way sprint for 5 Qs would have been nice

They ran 4:16 in the mile this year. That’s worth at least 3:58, probably 3:57. Don’t get me wrong, it was incredibly hard to make that final and I don’t think Nikki could’ve done it on a great day. But it was definitely a sub-optimal day and I would’ve liked to see them at least get a good PB out of it.