someone asked about the Olinger/Huling vs Nelson/Bruce battle
Lets break it down.
Pr's
Olinger 8:19, Huling 8:20
Nelson 8:20, Bruce 8:26
USA Finishes by year DNQ = ran in meet but did not qualify to final, DNC = did not compete
Olinger 09-12th, 08-7th, 07-DNQ, 06-9th, 05-4th, 04-DNC
Huling 09-2nd, 08-5th, 07-DNC, 06-3rd, 05-DNC, 04-DNC
Nelson 09-13th, 08-2nd, 07-DNQ, 06-DNC 05-DNC, 04-DNC
Bruce 09-5th, 08-12th, 07-7th, 06-12th, 05-DNQ, 04-DNQ, 03-DNQ
USA's best finish
Olinger - 4th 2005
Huling - 2nd 2009
Nelson - 2nd 2008
Bruce - 5th 2009
Year by year seasons best from IAAF
Olinger 09-8:34.85, 08-8:32.65, 07-8:19.29, 06-8:35.56, 05-8:19.56
Huling 09-8:21.65, 08-8:20.84, 07-DNC 06-8:27.41
Nelson 09-8:35.90, 08-8:21.47, 07-8:33.33
Bruce 09-8:26.08, 08-8:32.57, 07-8:32.74, 06-8:32.68, 05-8:33.70, 04-8:40.44, 03-8:39.10
Enough facts, may opinion and ranking for 2010 (all of these guys show the potential to run 8:15 or better by career end)
1. Huling- Good race experience in Europe the last two years. Has alright closing speed, made world team. Has run low 8:20s a couple times and two years in a row.
2. Bruce- Very consistant year to year. Showing a nice progression on times with a big jump this year. Only American to beat McAdams this year and did it by kicking away from McAdams at Cardinal. The tools are there
3. Nelson- Showed he can close well last year at the trials. We will find out if this year was a transition year for him or if 2008 was just a one hit wonder
4. Olinger- Has shown he can run fast in a really fast race. Lacks a kick and can be very inconsistent. He has no fear about going out hard but pays the price a lot.
By those scores it is a tie 5 to 5
All of them are still young with Bruce the oldest at 26.