Galen Rupp 2nd in Birmingham 5000m

There were a few solid GWH (as the Brojos like to call them) results in this race:

2 RUPP Galen USA 13:06.86 PB 2 6

6 MOTTRAM Craig AUS 13:11.51 SB

8 BIRMINGHAM Collis AUS 13:15.70 SB

9 CRAGG Alistair Ian IRL 13:16.80

Even some Norwegian dude ran a 13:30 PB.

This is great and all but... wrote:

More importantly, Alistair Craig finally finished a race!

yes he did! is 13:16 a 5k "debut" record or has he finished 5k before?

Yeah, but Solinsky knows he can outkick Rupp, so... I guess I'm not seeing your point.

besides, lagat can easily drop most guys in a tactical 5k

So head-to-head Farah v Rupp that's now what... 9-0?

pr100 wrote:

So head-to-head Farah v Rupp that's now what... 9-0?

Yes, but they are both still improving get behind your runner, one day he may win a major medal then your will have spoiled it for yourself

wow...Rupp beat the World XC champion! Can't believe it!..WOW

Glad to see Galen have such a strong race. So much for the "he'll never be competitive in an international field" argument. Sure, it wasn't a 12:5x race, but great work. I'm excited to see what everyone can do in 12 days.

Solinsky knows that he could outkick Rupp one year ago in a different event where Rupp led most of the last 4k... almost as much as the race today.

He could also outkick Rupp by less than two seconds when Rupp had already run a 10k the night before closing in 1:5X.

I guess if we're going for a stretch here, Rupp has outkicked Solinsky a number of times in qualifying rounds, as well as at least one major 5k a few years back at Hayward.

RuKiddingMe!! wrote:

wow...Rupp beat the World XC champion! Can't believe it!..WOW

we've gotta get our best to do world xc. if, say, nike put together a huge ad campaign for their shoes, and made rupp, solinsky, lagat, ritzenhein, tegenkamp run it, plus get those guys to talk curtis and hall into racing, i think a comfortable 3rd place team medal, and threats for 1. individual top 10 finishes and 2. team silver IF the tactics were to wait in the second pack and pick off the kenyans or ethiopians who fall off the wicked fast pace they set for each other at the front.

themanontherun wrote:

I guess if we're going for a stretch here, Rupp has outkicked Solinsky a number of times in qualifying rounds, as well as at least one major 5k a few years back at Hayward.

Rupp outkicked Solinsky right off the WC 3k Indoor team off a slow pace. You know when it mattered and they were both fresh. Rupp > Solinsky.

Got to give major props to Rupp here as he looks like he is developing into a consistent world performer. He's chasing down Farah who is having a spectacular year so far so the Alsal crew is getting it done.

Also, props to Mottram. He pushed the pace with 2-3 to go and looks like he might be just a little way from regaining his 13:00 form. But on a related note is it me or does his lower body action, his legs/hips, look different than a couple years ago? Maybe it is from his injuries but it looks different to me.

Hey fool, Rupp won the 10K a day or so earlier. Or are you just being an assh*le?

I've said it before, Rupp is The Juggernaught of American distance. For ten years, he has moved forward, never slipping back. This year, with Mo right with him, he might progress two ticks instead of only one. He is on track to be phenomenal in London.

leprend wrote:

This is great and all but... wrote:

More importantly, Alistair Craig finally finished a race!

yes he did! is 13:16 a 5k "debut" record or has he finished 5k before?

Ouch. Cragg hasn't run all that well over the past five years or so, but (if this isn't a joke) he did win an outdoor 5000m NCAA title while competing for Arkansas.

Turducken wrote:

I thought the most impressive part of Galen's race was how he stayed composed when Merga cut him off and almost threw him off balance right at the bell.

If you watch the video, Galen gets refocused and waits until just the right time to go by a desperate Merga in the last 100. That is some really mature racing by Rupp, and makes me think he has learned how to stay relaxed in physical races, a huge asset in qualifying rounds.

Totally agree.

The conversation surrounding Rupp has, at this point, become toxic. It's lost touch with reality. I'm talking about the negative conversation. Nobody who watches this race and is willing to be objective will find any reason--any!--to say of Rupp less than: very well done.

It's truly amusing to watch the Rupp haters grasp at straws. Anything to avoid admitting the obvious: he's doing well.

He's not pulling a Webb.

He's not g-y.

He's not afraid to throw down the gauntlet.

He's not a coddle boy who needs his altitude tent like with him at all times like a security blanket.

He's racing in Europe and he's kicking ass.

Gosh.

And he's an American.

It's just....NOT FAIR.

He's supposed to be all the negative slop that's been thrown at him for so long.

And he's not.

How can that be?

Think about it.

Just shut up and run.

Reality Bath wrote:

I've said it before, Rupp is The Juggernaught of American distance. For ten years, he has moved forward, never slipping back. This year, with Mo right with him, he might progress two ticks instead of only one. He is on track to be phenomenal in London.

I had a flashback to NCAA's a few years ago when Wheating, Centro and Rupp went 1-2-3 in the Pac-10 1500 over a very good field despite Rupp and Wheating doubling. Someone commented that if they had all run the 1500 at NCAA's they very likely could have swept over Fernandez and it got a good deal of heat from the critics. As it were, Rupp doubled 5000-10000, Wheating did the 1500 and Centro limped injured thru the 1500.

After Rupps race today, and noting that both 3:32 Wheating and 3:34 Centro and Rupp will all be at worlds this summer, I'm inclined to agree with that statement, obviously had Centro not come up injured at regionals.

As for Rupp, I think this will be a BIG summer for him. He has layed very low, lower than perhaps ever in terms of racing the last 7 months. Yet he's already blasting down world xc champions who have been sub 13 this summer. I think he's going to get on that high that Solinsky rode last summer.

Well said.

How you can bash the guy at this point is really astounding. If he runs too fast, he is peaking too early or on drugs. Too slow and he's no good. If the race was tactical, well then it was too slow. If the race was rabitted, then it wasnt indicative of a championship race. Race in europe -ok, but so and so wasnt there. Dont race in europe, well then he's a wimp. No winning with some people.

My guess is that those bashing him are upset and jealous that they arent getting the same media and/or message board attention for winning the local 5K in 16-17 minutes last month.

Bottom line, great job for rupp and we should all be rooting for him and not trying to tear him (or those supporting him) down.

Greg Chrisman wrote:

Well said.

How you can bash the guy at this point is really astounding. If he runs too fast, he is peaking too early or on drugs. Too slow and he's no good. If the race was tactical, well then it was too slow. If the race was rabitted, then it wasnt indicative of a championship race. Race in europe -ok, but so and so wasnt there. Dont race in europe, well then he's a wimp. No winning with some people.

My guess is that those bashing him are upset and jealous that they arent getting the same media and/or message board attention for winning the local 5K in 16-17 minutes last month.

Bottom line, great job for rupp and we should all be rooting for him and not trying to tear him (or those supporting him) down.

True - good post - good luck to all USA runners at the worlds -