Ritz out of World Cross to Run US 8k Champs Instead

Oops. I left out the link:

http://www.letsrun.com/2007/ritzoutagain.php

Ritz is even in Florida training in the heat. The plan definitely was to to go Worlds originally.

That's all right with me. It's exciting to see what Ritz can do on pavement.

Bummer. What a joke the "XC trials" race has become.

Why are the top guys so willing to get thumped on the track for no money, but not willing to give XC a go? Could you imagine someone backing out of their spot for the World Track Championships this summer to stay home for a road race?!

On the other hand, why in the heck does USATF schedule the US 8k championships one week from the World Cross?

We have a dysfunctional system in this country.

No surprise, really.

The linked article, though, states that he will soon leave Colorado for Florida to train in warmer weather to help his training for the 8k champs.

Frank Shorter has agreed to take his place.

I understand that there are two sides to this issue and opinions of letsrun posters seem fairly well split down the middle, but I think USATF needs to consider not sending teams if participation from the top tier US athletes is going to be so pathetic. This isn't an event to give 2nd-tier guys international experience. It's the frickin' World Championships and we don't have a single stud interested in representing the US. At the same time, the USATF needs to financially reward our top guys to represent the US in this meet.

sigh....

Oh well, I'll be rooting for Teg during Track season while these Colorado Buff Alums come up with other excuses to skip track and run road races..

Teg wasn't even at the XC Nationals, so you're barking up the wrong tree.

its been stated before that going to Kenya is just a big hassle, what with the shots that could make you sick, and all the other crap that the athletes would have to go through to run there. I probly would have skipped it too and focused on indoor or the WC this summer.

Don't want to represent the United States at Worlds CC- no prize money at the US CC Chmps. What arrogance.

i wonder how many of these guys receive support from usatf? man, with the current talent we have now in this country, it sure seems like we could contend for a team medal... ritz, culpepper, goucher, teg, abdi, meb, torres, hall, lincoln, etc. even assuming that a couple would not be able to run due an injury, that's still a formidable group to choose from. i guess it's not part of our pro culture to want to accomplish something as a team/country.

why no XC wrote:

I understand that there are two sides to this issue and opinions of letsrun posters seem fairly well split down the middle, but I think USATF needs to consider not sending teams if participation from the top tier US athletes is going to be so pathetic. This isn't an event to give 2nd-tier guys international experience. It's the frickin' World Championships and we don't have a single stud interested in representing the US. At the same time, the USATF needs to financially reward our top guys to represent the US in this meet.

Agreed.

frustrated cross fan wrote:

i wonder how many of these guys receive support from usatf? man, with the current talent we have now in this country, it sure seems like we could contend for a team medal... ritz, culpepper, goucher, teg, abdi, meb, torres, hall, lincoln, etc. even assuming that a couple would not be able to run due an injury, that's still a formidable group to choose from. i guess it's not part of our pro culture to want to accomplish something as a team/country.

Most of the guys you mentioned get a large portion of their income from an upcoming Spring marathon; our best XC runners are professional marathoners. Why risk a huge portion of your income on something that will definitely exhaust you, and possibly leave you ill and/or injured and out of your big pay day? It's just numbers.

Teg isn't running XC, he might as well get in on this 8k too. No worries about bad xc conditions or adjusting ot altitude. Take em down Matt!

very good point, when it comes down to it, everyone has to pay the bills.

I am confused as to why everyone is saying this is a financial thing? He states pretty clearly that the reason he is not going is that the team won't be that good this year with all the other top guys NOT going. Had they been there, he would too.

why no XC wrote:

I understand that there are two sides to this issue and opinions of letsrun posters seem fairly well split down the middle, but I think USATF needs to consider not sending teams if participation from the top tier US athletes is going to be so pathetic. This isn't an event to give 2nd-tier guys international experience. It's the frickin' World Championships and we don't have a single stud interested in representing the US. At the same time, the USATF needs to financially reward our top guys to represent the US in this meet.

I couldn't disagree more with this. First of all, even when we don't send our best team to world cross it's not like we get our butts handed to us, we don't win, but we still perform respectably. Second of all, there are so few opportunities for distance runners in this country as it is so taking this away from the people who do want to go is bullcrap. It's just my opinion, but why wouldn't we send a team, it's not like we're a 3rd world country and we're really hard up for money.

giddy wrote:

That's all right with me. It's exciting to see what Ritz can do on pavement.

You cant possibly be serious....if i were to watch any distance race... a road race is the last thing on earth i would watch..

cross country races are cool..i think they could even draw a sustainable fan base...but...our guys are more intrested in seting PR's in national level races...kinda lame.....which would you rather watch a race like, like say Tergat/Halie 2000, or some time trial were hall or ritz whoever..runs an american record...most likly by themselves.

thats why americans hate distance running..

It's just how the sport is these days. Financial considerations factor in. If all these races were amateur and didn't have money then I think more people would go to the Worlds. But that is not the case. It's one reason most of the top Americans don't run the World Champs in the marathon. They'd have to pass up a six figure appearance fee at a major marathon.

It's not a good thing or a bad thing, it's just reality. If the 8k was at a different date then maybe more people would go.

I just thought if anyone might go to Worlds it would be Ritz. Goucher supposedly was going to go as well but then rethought things before the nationals. I thought the US was going to have a tremendous team this year at Worlds. Instead it will be like the team the last few years or worse.