4x2K Relay at World Cross (Should Australia be Favorite?)

GB COULD send a great team but won’t. On the men’s side, any combination of Kerr, Wightman, Gourley, Mills would be great but I suspect none of them will show any interest unfortunately.

I think Preet said on Citius Mag that US-based Neil Gourley is trying to rally the troops. Unclear how successful his efforts would be, they've lost some US-based athletes back to GB (like Katie Snowden), and unclear if M11 athletes are interested. Wightman hates XC but does like training in the US, and a 2K is obviously more appealing to him. Kerr feels like an immediate NO for such a thing.

Data point of Olli barely breaking 4 not a great one for Team AUS.

GB named there team - looks like Gourley was not able to get the team he was hoping for

GB mixed relay

George Couttie

Adam Fogg

India Weir

Alex Millard

Not exactly the A team

That would've been a dumb move by Kerr to run WXC especially after getting injured at world champs. I know he just got married a couple weeks ago, and am guessing he's still not fully ramped up his training.

Yes not announced for Millrose yet. Wouldn’t expect a race before then.

Oz anchor is the 2000m world record holder! Advantage Oz!

Those are junk medals, so whatever.

Not known for the kick exactly…we’ll see. Reynold is leading off and I’d suspect Munguti will be flying the last 500 of his leg. I’d definitely save Myers over Hoare for that,

Would have been epic if team Kenya was F.Kipyegon, E.Wanyonyi, R.Cheruiyot and Nelly Chepchirchir or Lilian Odira

Team USA: ESP, Nikki Hiltz, Hocker and Nuguse or Kessler

Team GB: GHB, K.Hodgkinson, Kerr amd Mills

I think the obstacles on this course are going to play a big factor in all the races, including the relay. Each lap contains a mud pit, water pit, sand pit, roller coaster hill, and log jumps. I don’t believe the fastest track runners over 1500m are necessarily going to be the best legs. I’d look for XC specialists or maybe steeplechasers to shine.

Fully agree how this selection came about Is baffling

I thought you had to show form since Sept when if they are good runners what have Fogg, Weir and Milliard done to deserve selection?

even if they had gone with their Eurocross team of

Holly Dixon,
Ava Lloyd,
Jack Higgins,
Callum Elson

it would have awarded performance at least

Getting married shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve heard of grooms playing 36 holes of golf the morning of the wedding day.

Odira did try to make it, but was 4th or so. Wanyonyi needed the break, and presuming Chepchirchir felt the same. It’s kinda crazy Reynold even did it but dude loves racing, especially in Kenya and in XC races. I do wish they’d given Faith a bye but she didn’t seem too interested when asked about it.

Team USA I do think Morris and Strand are very good and will hold their own. I do wonder about the other two.

Team GB I actually don’t think the M11 women you picked would be great on the grass. I’d think Muir would be good.

As strong as Hurta-Klecker looked at Nationals, I am skeptical of an 800m runner on that Tallahassee course.

myers just dropped due to illness it seems per his ig, jack ansty taking his place. shakes things up for sure

https://www.instagram.com/stories/camer0nmyers/3797150636463880476/

Yeah I think that hurts their chances big-time. I could see Myers being 5-8s better than Antsey on a tough 2K loop. Women are going to have to drive an Aussie gold effort.

Anstey has the advantage of training at altitude though. Maybe…I think Aussie slip to silver or bronze but might still surprise with a gold.

Hope Cam is okay - he’s been pretty active on strava - this week was 151km including a 20km long run today so it must not be a running related issue?