Derrick, Rupp and Lagat Will Represent the US in the Olympic 5K

bumbalough or jager instead of rupp

you're crazy, Rupp is the top American, and right now, probably has the fastest kick (judging by the 2 mile)

Derrick's 13:19 is nice, but why would you put him ahead of Tegenkamp or Solinsky, if one of them decides to go in the 5000?

Well, nothing against Derrick, but he is just now breaking 13:20, and we have several other sub-13 guys he has to get by. But I congratulate him for his big PR!

At the moment, I think Ritz looks better than either Teg or Solinsky. Six months changes a lot, though, especially with those guys. Rupp and Lagat are virtual locks, though.

Hey in case you are not aware running is a what are you doing for me right now sport. There are tons, i mean tons, of runners that dont run their best at the right time. So here is what I am saying, Right now, those are the 3 fastest americans in the 5K based on THIS years races. Sol and Teg are hurt, and who knows if they will get better, PLUS Ritz, who I would actually RATHER see on the team instead of Derrick, is just not in the right mental state... That being said, if one of those guys pops a better indoor time, then great. BUT right now, I dont see it happening... I think Rupp and Lagat are too much in the head of the Schumakker crew, its been said here a thousand times, but Long slow distance running makes long slow distance runners, and well there you go.... But really, has Sol been the same since his 2011 champaign of dropping out of races, and Teg, isnt he a 10K guys now (and kind of old)... I am just saying there is a changing of the guard happening, and it is sad that maybe in your opinion those guys (Sol, Teg, and Ritz) never got to be all they can be, but that's life... and Derrick is here to give his go at it

What do you mean looks better? We haven't seen Teg and Solinsky run this season. I think Teg and Solinsky are big X-factors right now. They have had some recent health issues but if they get beyond those than it is their Olympic spots to lose. At least in the 5K vs Ritz.

mr xxx wrote:

At the moment, I think Ritz looks better than either Teg or Solinsky. Six months changes a lot, though, especially with those guys. Rupp and Lagat are virtual locks, though.

I'd love to see Derrick make it but I think it is a bit of a long shot. Most likely at least one of Ritz, Teg or Sol will be healthy and I just don't see Derrick beating these guys (yet).

I agree that Lagat and Rupp are as close to sure things as this sport allows.

No chance on Derrick until he is a 13:03 runner or better, and even then he would have to beat multiple sub 13 guys in Teg, Solinsky, Rupp (soon), and Lagat. Jager is a talent and if healthy has good closing speed. Bumbalough is a likely sub 13:10 guy this year. I'm really pleased to see how Derrick has come back from years of stagnation and injury to drop 10 seconds in the 5k and he's almost certainly going to be low 13 or sub 13 by the time the 2016 Olympics rolls around, if he's not a marathoner already.

dude did you see how USAFT was run last year, its won in 13:20's at best 13:1x... he can do it

13:20s will get it done in the Olympics.

Ritz is "not in the right mental state"--what???????????

Actually we did see Teg run--a plus 4:00 mile at Washington a few weeks ago.

ryan foreman wrote:

What do you mean looks better? We haven't seen Teg and Solinsky run this season.

I think Teg and Solinsky are big X-factors right now. They have had some recent health issues but if they get beyond those than it is their Olympic spots to lose. At least in the 5K vs Ritz.

mr xxx wrote:

At the moment, I think Ritz looks better than either Teg or Solinsky. Six months changes a lot, though, especially with those guys. Rupp and Lagat are virtual locks, though.

Joe Mama wrote:

dude did you see how USAFT was run last year, its won in 13:20's at best 13:1x... he can do it

With a final 3200 for Lagat and Solinsky around 8:10. I've heard that's a different way to run 13:20 than even pace (or slowing, which is probably what Derrick did on Saturday, because wasn't he with the group that went through the kilometer in 2:37?).

Lagat seems like a lock at 5k. Has there been confirmation that Rupp is doubling? If he's running the 5 then I'd say he's a lock as well.

Considering the level of talent out there (Ritz, Sol, Teg, Bumbi, Derrick, etc.) it will likely come down to who enters which event. If you threw all these guys into the 5, then I'd say it's a toss up--aside from the youthful Derrick, when healthy the others likely feel that they can win on any given day. But since several of these guys train together they will end up making decisions based on where they have the best chance to qualify.

As far as Derrick--I think he's a hard working talent, and I'd love to see him really mix it up with the big boys. By this spring I'm hoping he'll be down to 13:1x, but I wonder if he has the confidence to roll with these guys at this point. He's been so focused on sticking with the top NCAA guys (who are, granted, sub 13:10 runners) that I don't know if he's ready to make the jump. And although I think his performance from this past weekend was his most impressive time to date, I'm guessing he'd like to focus on the 10.

Regardless, the fact that the US has 2 sub 27 guys, and 4-5 sub 13 guys makes the trials more exciting than it has been in a while...

now i am not sure about this either, but dont the rules allow you to run any pace you want while on the track??? So, for example, if Derrick wanted to run an even pace and bring him self to a 13:19 just like he did, I think the USAFT would not object??? So, i guess he can make the team after all... Run your own race idiot.

Sol, Ritz & Teg on a bad day are ahead of Chris; however, his recent performance puts him near the top of the list amoung the 2nd tier guys like True, Yeager, Bumbi, McNamara, Craig Miller, Estrada and Heath, etc. In the U.S. distance events, there is a profound seperation between the the big-5 (Sol/Ritz/Teg/Rupp/Lagat). Although, I am not so certain about Teg anymore, but even if Teg does not return to his '09 form, 13:05 capability will still put him on the team.

I don't think Derrick can make the 5k, but I could see him on the 10k team.

5k will be Lagat, Rupp, and Solinksy or other.

10k could be Rupp, Ritz, Derrick

Joe Mama wrote:

now i am not sure about this either, but dont the rules allow you to run any pace you want while on the track??? So, for example, if Derrick wanted to run an even pace and bring him self to a 13:19 just like he did, I think the USAFT would not object??? So, i guess he can make the team after all... Run your own race idiot.

You're right, that's definitely the most likely scenario. A 13:19 guy will head out on his own time trial ahead of what could be four sub-13:00 guys and Rupp. It happens so often it's gotten boring.