Predictions? Will he make nationals?
Predictions? Will he make nationals?
Who?
Curtis Beach after his 3:59 1500m run at last year's NCAA Championships decathlon.
He'd better, he didnt declare for the dec
Does anybody know why he didn't declare in the decathlon?
One guess is that he did not want to do too many and that he will take aim at the OT (does he have the qualifier - I think he does).
Maybe because they don't do the decathalon at regionals?
Accepted entries for the decathlon at NCAA's is out Fred, Curtis ain't on it.
Him and his coach must figure after that 800 with Webb where he totally bombed that a good race is in the making...
WinnieCooper wrote:
Accepted entries for the decathlon at NCAA's is out Fred, Curtis ain't on it.
He's either:
1) Got some sort of arm injury that won't allow him to do some of the Dec. events
or
2) Wants to rest up for the Olympic Trials Decathlon
He ran terribly in that 800 with Andrews and Webb a few weeks ago at Duke. I don't know whether he was in a heavy training load, sick, or had a bad race. He was off the back from the beginning.
He's in the long jump as well. Probably trying to peak for Olympic Trials for the Dec.
I like the decision to forgo the decathlon at NCAAs. I'm a big multi events fan, but Beach has an outside shot at making the Olympic team in the dec, but an extremely slim chance of making the team in the 800. Why not try to qualify for NCAAs in the 800 where he at least has decent chance of making the final? Plus, attempting two decs in two weeks could spell for a poor showing in the latter decathlon.
He is going to continue with his dec training but hold out on the 10-by-eventer until the oly trials. Beach wants to see what he can run...no injury, no long term change of events.
3200guy wrote:
I like the decision to forgo the decathlon at NCAAs. I'm a big multi events fan, but Beach has an outside shot at making the Olympic team in the dec, but an extremely slim chance of making the team in the 800. Why not try to qualify for NCAAs in the 800 where he at least has decent chance of making the final? Plus, attempting two decs in two weeks could spell for a poor showing in the latter decathlon.
Before I get to my main point, let me be clear here about one thing.
1) He has ZERO CHANCE of making the Olympic team in the 800 this year. ZERO.
2) I would rate his chances of making the 800 final in the NCAA as way less than "decent" but the guy did beat a dying Kitur so it will be fun to watch.
But the thing I don't get is why the Olympics are viewed as the end all and be all. Even if he's not doubling, I love the Chris Derrick quote about the value of representing won's school and trying to win an NCAA title. Shouldn't that be Beach's #1 goal? Can you imagine if a football player skipped out on the BCS Bowl to get ready for the NFL combine?
Track and field is already way too individualistic as it is. If we are going to allow all of the start to totally skip out on the college season, then why even have college track?
Schools seemingly have track and give guys $60,000 scholarship so one person every four years can make the Olympics and they can put a line in their alumni magazine about it.
I also dont think two multis in the span of 2-3 weeks is too many.
Really? I am surprised at this rhetoric from someone as experienced as you, Beach as an Olympic athlete FROM Duke is worth way more to Duke, than maybe, maybe getting a Decathlon NCAA title
trialswatcher wrote:
Really? I am surprised at this rhetoric from someone as experienced as you, Beach as an Olympic athlete FROM Duke is worth way more to Duke, than maybe, maybe getting a Decathlon NCAA title
I'm not denying that they want to have an Olympian and it's worth way more to a school than a successful track and field team is.
The world is focused on the Olympics. I'm just saying it kind of sucks.
I mean when my brother was running full time and people would ask him what he did, they didn't get it when he said "Running."
But when he said, "POh i"m training for the Olympic trials." They were like, "Oh that's amazing. You're going to make the Olympics."
There was a night and day difference.
Any multi experts out there? Does he really have any shot at the Olympics in the mutli unless one of the big 3 is hurt or no heights?
rojo wrote:
Track and field is already way too individualistic as it is.
It's an individual sport. Sometimes we contrive things in such a way that we add up the scores from the individual events to get a team score, but at its core track and field is an individual sport. You should face that fact.
The one exception is relays, but 90% of events (literally 18 out 20 on the NCAA Regional Lists) are individual events.
There are an awful lot of of 8000pt guys in the country, Morrison, Detmer, Murphy, Harlan, Helwick, then lots of guys at 7900. Can he do it if one of the big three messes up? Sure, but so can any of the other guys.
I can kind of see what Duke is thinking, maybe he can score points in the 8 and LJ? Maybe??? But he is sure fire points in the dec. Risky move but, if he pulls it off, and makes the team, they look brilliant at Duke.
I am with Rojo on this one, you are a college coach, first responsibility is to win a NCAA title.
whoanelly wrote:
I am with Rojo on this one, you are a college coach, first responsibility is to win a NCAA title.
He won his first NCAA title in March. Kudos to Duke for giving Beach an opportunity to make the Olympic team, even if it's a long shot. No guarantees in 4 years, so why not give it a go. Plus, he's not a senior at Duke and will get another opportunity to win the NCAA dec next year.
Lastly, I do agree that too much emphasis is given to the Olympics, but that's the reality of our sport and ask any elite if they would rather compete at Worlds or the Olympics if they had to choose. Do you think Solinsky would rather be 100% healthy in 2012 and deal with an injury in 2013 or be hurt now and healthy next year?
rojo wrote:
Any multi experts out there? Does he really have any shot at the Olympics in the mutli unless one of the big 3 is hurt or no heights?
Clay has been spotty enough for the last several years that "unless" has a non-trivial probability in my mind. His advantage in the Hept (now that he hit 3 PRs in the PV) lies in the 1000; his relative gain from the 1500 will be smaller, I think, and his disadvantage in the throws will be tripled (DT/Jav).