Parker Valby will only run 10K at Olympics. Whitni Morgan to run 5K

Great decision for Parker. This will suit her very well in Paris. Very happy for Whittni Morgan as well.

Whittni had knee surgery a few months back and is going to the Olympics.

the roller coaster she's been on, thinking surgery might end her Olympic quest, only to rehab and make it to the Trials, come in 5th and think she just missed it, then finds out a week later she's going to Paris. Unreal.

Any race she runs there will be brutal.

yes, but even more brutal if she doubles

Very different from someone like Parker who just went through a full NCAA season

Also the schedule is so great for him. The 800m is all gravy and he can run free, which means he may run better.

I'm impressed Parker's not holding on to both spots like a hoarder, just cause she can. With Hobbs in those events, anything can happen. But with Parker in the longer events, it does make sense that "anything can happen" is more likely to happen if you focus on one.

The 10000m is a straight final - she can put all her eggs in one basket and go for it. Now that there are no time qualifiers for 5000m, the races will likely be tactically about kicking - not her strength.

I would have liked to see her in both. One 10th place sounds worse than two 12th places in the Olympics. And runners have good and bad days.

how much did they pay valby for this?

Isn't Morgan Adidas?

Sub 30 for Valby incoming.

That would really get the trolls going.

It was low to mid 60s for her 30:50. If she gets lucky with similar weather, I’m sure she can improve on that by at 10-20 seconds in a fast race. 6 weeks off to prepare for one race helps a lot.

10-11th place is probably her ceiling this time.

Thank goodness, definitely the right call.

Perhaps top 6-7 if she breaks 80% of the field if/when she cranks down the pace in a strategic race a mile and a half from the finish.

Sweet Jesus, didn't we put this to bed? She wins by a country mile, she must not have a kick, she runs down Karissa and darn near Kelati, she still has no kick?'

Explain something to me, where are all these sit and kick races she has lost that earned her this scarlett letter?

Shes not Hassan, but she kicks as well as any american , clearly (above 5000). Show m any evidence at all to the contrary?

I think we could see the race-within-the-race string out. In the recent Euro Champs (run at night in warm conditions), with 800m to go, Diane van Es (25yr) and Keith (22yr) were right there with Battocletti (24yr), but the latter broke away with 600m to go, finishing in 30:51, closing in 70/65. Diane van Es closed in 72/69, and Keith in 75/74.

Battocletti will be stalking Kelati, hoping to better her 30:51 PB, maybe with a 30:45, or even a 30:40 if she runs only the 10000m.

I don't think so. With the right conditions maybe 30:30 to 30:40. I wouldn't be surprised if she runs with Weini Kelati Frezghi and Megan Keith.

good choice after a long season. Could have been tough for her to make the 5k final anyway, might as well just put all your eggs in one basket and help someone else make it to Paris