LaShawn Merritt Goes to Worlds

And guess what the television commentary will now focus on? What do you bet he shows up with an allergy mask?

So my question is, if Sanya Richards or Dwight Phillips didn't show up at the meet would they have been put on the world team?

I don't know why USATF even has this rule that defending World Champions have to compete at their meet to get their bye to Worlds.

Richards ran one round and DNS for the semis.

Phillips had a couple sub par jumps and didn't make the final.

Last time-

Tyson Gay ran one round of the 100 to get a bye in the 1 and the 2

Wariner ran the 200 to make the team in the 400

Lagat ran one round of the 800 to ensure his spots in the 1500 and 5000.

Now Merritt can't even compete at Nationals because he is serving a ban but gets his spot at Worlds.

I actually don't mind giving Merritt his spot since that is what they settled on back when they set up the ban.

I just don't like making the others go through the charade.

Sprinting is just a bad joke

Cheating bastards on one side and gullible officials and over lenient rules on the other

Have you seen how slow our CO is going now she's off the juice

He's going to have to put up with a lot of "male enhancement" jokes.

The way Wariner and everyone else has been running this year, Merrit could win this thing despite the 2 year lay-off

He is returning champion, he doesn't have to race at USA's right?

Running under 45 is not easy after a 2 year doping ban.

Right now I'm thinking Kirani, McQuay, and Wariner for the medals.

I'll be surprised if Merritt makes the final. The big question is who lets him race and who doesn't in Europe?

Sprinter Magoo wrote:

I'll be surprised if Merritt makes the final. The big question is who lets him race and who doesn't in Europe?

Who wouldn't let him race? Defending Olympic and World champion and the the easiest punch line in track. It's a win-win. And it's not like there are a bunch of 44 second guys more deserving right now.

happy feet, in answer to your question, under the usual rules, he has to put in some kind of appearance at USAs. He doesn't even have to make a final and he could do a different event, but he's supposed to do "something."

[quote]Sprinter Magoo wrote:

Running under 45 is not easy after a 2 year doping ban.

And you arrived at this view based on what data?

J Gatlin is running pretty fast after four years away. Merrit is younger. If Merritt has been training and still wants it, I'd have to say he has a chance. Probably not if Wariner were running like Wariner and if some other guys were running low to mid 44s -- but nobody id.

The 100 and 400 are completely different events. Gatlin was a former WR holder with 9.77 before it was taken away.

Also it took Gatlin over a year to successfully go sub-10 again, and the only real reason he's going to worlds is because Gay was hurt and the rest of the field either didn't pull it together or were DQ'd/didn't qualify for the final.

Its taken Gatlin 2 seasons and he's only produced a 9.95 so far since coming back. You think Merritt will suddenly produce sub 44 second 400's this year win WC gold and be ready for London? Like magic right?

This guy should be banned for life

This makes sense. Does anyone know what Merritt has been doing(besides spanking it) over the last two years?

I'm putting money on Merritt to win it. He wasn't banned for straight up cheating it was for testing positive for a banned substance. It is highly unlikely that Extenze has enough steroids in it to benefit performance, yet be sold as an over the counter FDA approved substance.

His pecker might be smaller and less potent but I doubt he stopped training at all. I bet he runs a couple races to blow the rust off during July, then runs sub 44 at Worlds.

Sprinter Magoo wrote:

The 100 and 400 are completely different events. Gatlin was a former WR holder with 9.77 before it was taken away.

Also it took Gatlin over a year to successfully go sub-10 again, and the only real reason he's going to worlds is because Gay was hurt and the rest of the field either didn't pull it together or were DQ'd/didn't qualify for the final.

Its taken Gatlin 2 seasons and he's only produced a 9.95 so far since coming back. You think Merritt will suddenly produce sub 44 second 400's this year win WC gold and be ready for London? Like magic right?

.

What makes you think it will take sub 44's to win WC Gold this year? Based on Wariner's best of 44.9 and a world best of 44.6?

Yes, the 100 and 400 are different events. And 4 years away for the older Gatlin a different time period than 2 years away for Merrit. I would think the younger runner who was away for 2 years in the longer sprint is much more likely to return to form than the older sprinter away for 4 years in the 100.

You are like a Bush admin official, fitting the facts to support your argument instead of basing your view on the facts

You have no reliable FACTS that you are basing your view on. Gatlin has NOTHING to do with Merrit. Running 44 is not easy and being away from competition for 2 years will make one a little rusty. Not saying he won't get back to that speed someday but it will be tough doing it in less than a season.

Just like an Obama official.

It's worth noting that Merritt's ban runs until July 27. He won't be able to get into any meets until then. The DN Galen meet in Stockholm on July 29 is pretty much the only major meet between then and Worlds--I wonder if he gets a lane. I think his chances of medaling are much slimmer without at least one high-level tune-up (although maybe the rounds can serve that purpose, too).

I find it amusing that you choose Kirani for the gold when he isn't even the fastest man in his own tiny country right now. That would be world leader Rondell Bartholomew, who battled JW and Gonzalez to the line in NYC in his first pro race and has run much fewer races than Kirani or McQuay this year. I watched that bartholomew kid split 43.8 at the Texas Relays in the college men's sprint medley all by himself...see the video on flotrack. He is legit!

Well, if his johnson has been extended substantially, would that add to his weight and possibly slow him down. Also, would there be increased wind resistance? And, if this increased his sexual desire, would he be out there flagging it every night resulting in lowered energy levels. We need answers.