What is the best race strategy for Valby in 5000 final?

Also, how do you think she will approach the race from a tactical perspective?

She needs to do two things in this race: (1) finish top three and (2) finish under 14:52.00.

Her best chance is to run hard from the gun (no slower than 71 seconds per lap).

Front run

She doesn’t need the standard, she’s in the rankings quota if she’s top 3.

Now moving on. Her closing speed is not good, and she won’t be able to drop all but two other runners in a 14:50’s race where she is the one taking it out hard. She didn’t look great yesterday at only 15:20 pace with a lap to go. I think she’ll be 5th behind what seem to be a clear top 3 of Elle, Karissa, Elise

She needs to scratch. It is ridiculous for her to run the 5k to begin with. She will make the 10k.

The 5000 final is on Monday and the 10000 is on Saturday. That's plenty of time to recover.

The obvious strategy is a long kick.

No advantage to go from the gun, which makes her more vulnerable.

3 laps is good. More if she’s really relying on strength over kickers.

the answer depends on how fast the race is going. Slower than 3:05 per k she needs to inject pace as soon as the pace is too slow, otherwise wait until 3000. Her problem is there are 4-5 athletes in the race much faster than her at 1500.

Stay with the flow for 2k.

Then blast to first place and hang on until she breaks the pack and achieve a front pack of say 5. Then go back in the pack and go hard with 1200 to go and hang on. As soon as Elle passes her, try not to give an inch until the final lap and hope it is enough to make top 3.

Does she make it on ranking if she is top 3?

Probably just take it out from the gun at PR pace, though some other options mentioned in this thread seem plausible. Def shouldnt let it go out slow for too long though, that would not be to her advantage.

Go hard from the gun and try to drop as many as she can and hopefully that's enough to finish top 3.

Her ABSOLUTELY BEST STRATEGY is scratch the 5000m FINAL and save her legs to go for the standard in the 10000m.

#1 is her safest choice but I could see her also getting by on #2.

Taking it out hard at 14:40 pace in the heat is likely her best bet. She is well-acclimated to the heat.

sit on the pros and respond. If they stay towards the back, run towards the front, but don't lead. With 2k to go, go to the front and try to sap the kicks from everyone else

Legitimately how fast could she run a 5000m right now? Is about 14:50 her current limit? There's not too many good scenarios for her when you have St. Pierre and Cranny capable of 14:20s.

I'm not sure we know her current fitness level. It seemed like she had something left in the tank when she ran 14:52. 14:40s wouldn't surprise me, but yeah hard to see her at the same level as Cranny and ESP at this moment.

Valby has to risk it and push pace, because there’s no way she’s out kicking the top 3 if it comes down to final 600.

I thought I saw an IG post saying Schweizer's heart beat rate barely went over 150 last night so they seem to think she has more to give

We've already covered this, she is fine on points. The 14:52 comment is just asinine and ignorant.

Please, this has even been addressed in the race recap by LRC on NCAA's.