Official Australia 1500 selection discussion

Thomas took the Paris 5k through in 7:36, looking great. I'd pick him over Hoare. Spencer is always there, but never a factor. Could get into semis.

Sarah Billings is only selected for the 1500m, despite her best event being the 800m. Abbey Caldwell and Claudia Hollingsworth are selected for the 800m, but no one else has qualified so hopefully they select her for both. I'd take Thomas over Hoare based on their performances anyway, but he's also a Nic athlete so that probably guarantees his selection

This is why the US trials system is good. Have everybody run a race, and see who gets in. No tough decisions for anyone.

They would be absolutely Mad to Pick Ollie Hoare.

Race yesterday, Hoare starts running backwards with 300 to go

I'll be back when Ethan Strand doesn't make it out the heats as Nuguse watches on

It's a bit of a mess. Billings should be in the 800 and both Griffith and Hall in the 1500

If Hall is selected over Griffith for the final 1500 spot (assuming Jess Hull is selected because... Jess Hull), and Billings is selected for the 800, I wouldn't be surprised if she scratches the 1500 so Griffith is in, they're good friends.

Jude Thomas deserves it over Olli probably.

What would be your rationale for a Strand flameout?

That Pfungstadt race was a disaster for Ollie. He's run a better time than Jude, beat him at Nationals, but his recent spate of attempts to post have a definitive time for selection have surely only hurt his chances? This will come down to discretion and Jude has the Nic factor.

Billings would be better in the 800m, but I don't know if AA can ask her to switch? I can't see Linden giving up a 1500 spot for a mate. Georgia is already qualified for the 5000m.

That’s the way it goes.

Ethan is on the way up anyway. Yared has already had his career peak.

It looks like he had nothing with 500m to go and is immediately overtaken by at least 3-4 runners going into the bell.

He’s implied on the podcast that there’s some idea of “solving” your underperformance in races by simply racing until it goes away. But if this theory has really prominent examples I can’t remember them. Sir Walter Miler while not amazing was his best race since Rome. He was competitive, but didn’t have an extra gear. Why he thought cramming in a Europe trip a week later was the answer idk. Seems he’d been better off sitting on the acceptable result, and tapering for worlds.

Surely Griffith will be selected for the 5k.

Is this even a discussion?
MTC athletes get selected based on "discretion" by default every single time. (Just ignore Nic Bideau's role with AA ok???)

why is Billings an auto selection?….aside from the MTC connection.

Thomas has earned his spot imo. Has 4 of the top 10 1500 times this year, same number as Myers. Spencer is 3 for 3 against Hoare in the 1500 and has the faster mile time. The only thing on Hoare's side is the 3:31 in Rome, which might not count for much given the recent results