Any news on Australian marathon teams for Paris?

Sinead and Gen are going.

If Lisa or Jess are signed on with Nic Bideau then they're in contention too. If not Izzy Batt Doyle will get the third spot..

Crazy that nic bideau doesn’t recuse himself from those decisions. Surely Australian athletics has learnt something from the Abbie Caldwell snub a few years back.

I’m definitely crossing my fingers for izzy batt doyle to make the 5k team and I think marathon is her event long term but I don’t know if I’d put her on this team over those other names.

Hearing rumours of an appeal....Jess perhaps 'in' at this stage but not sure if that will stay the case.

Interesting, it would definitely be the fairest choice to send the 3 fastest, despite what I said before!

wouldn’t like to be in the selectors shoes for this one…

Is Bideau and actual selector or does he just wield (undue) influence?

How does Diver make the team when her time is from Dec 22 and she has comparatively little recent form?

“The Board of Athletics Australia (AA) is pleased to announce its new panel of selectors, who have been appointed until the end of 2024."

according to this site he's not on the panel currently actually: https://www.athletics.com.au/news/athletics-australia-announces-national-selectors/

Sometimes I think too much is made of really recent form compared to an athlete’s body of work. It would be a brave person to leave the national record holder (set during the selection window) off the team. Sinead diver has a track record of performing for Australia when it counts.

this is why I think Kenya made the right call to put kipchoge on the team

You could argue that Weightman and Stenson have a better overall marathon record than Diver - as well as recent form - so should be in the team ahead of her

It’s all suspiciously quiet… which makes me think an appeal is underway.

If you're picking based on form - you go for Weightman and Stenson. Both have repeat performances, and championship pedigree. Stensons time so soon after a baby, and on a tough/hilly course merits serious consideration. Weightman has shown time and time again she's capable of producing regardless of course/weather/conditions (including running 2:24 with COVID).

Diver hasn't properly raced a marathon since 2022 (granted it's the NR), and doesn't have any results of note since Feb 2023. That's a looong time between drinks to bank on qualifying time from 16 months ago. Selectors may take issue with that.

For me the team would be Weightman, Stenson, Gregson.

Not picking Diver for the reasons outlined above (increasingly injured, hasn't really raced in past 12 months), and I think Batt-Doyle has shot herself in the foot by immediately jumping to the 5k (argument that she won't be in marathon shape as she's racing on the track).

Athletics Australia has a long long history of ambiguous and mystifying selections for the Olympics. I wouldn't bank on any common sense prevailing.

what is common sense here? we have 5 women all with legitimate claims on an Olympic spot. it’s almost impossible to get it wrong. it’s also why we’ll probably see an appeal regardless of who is selected. that’s what happens when spots are chosen on selectors discretion

You’d be crazy to not pick Stenson if you think about how she ran the hills at Comm Games marathon.

Gen won the head to head in Spain so she gets in.

Id say they pick weightman over diver. Diver just seems too fragile these days and a risk of not making the start line.

Stenson's Coach, Adam Didyk is a renowned cry baby, he'll be protesting in a nasty, disrespectful manner. He is the laughing stock of the sport.

I doubt it.
All the women are on friendly terms. Any appeal will simply involve putting their case forward in the hope of changing the selectors mind. There will be no nastiness from coach or athlete.

I would take top 3 quickest times within qualification window.

done.

I don't think that works. As many have stated Sinead ran her last marathon at Valencia in Dec 22 and has done very little since then.

On current form Weightman, Stenson, and Gregson should be your team.

Now the issue is the Batt-Doyle has run faster than Stenson and has run 14:57 in February for 5k.

The selectors have a tough decision.

'Almost impossible' is exactly the correct statement. But it can happen. Look at Scott Westcott's non selection in 2000 just as one off the top of my head.