Did anyone in the Universe circa 2009 think that Galen Rupp and Justin Gatlin would be serious Olympic medal contenders for 2012?
Did anyone in the Universe circa 2009 think that Galen Rupp and Justin Gatlin would be serious Olympic medal contenders for 2012?
1. With Gatlin, Tyson Gay, and Wallace Spearmon running nicely I think the U.S sprinters will still do well without Dix (if he's even hurt)
2. Wariner does look pretty bad, but there are some good collegians coming up and Merritt is the best in the world right now.
3. I'm really disappointed with Wheating. He's got so much talent, but he's content with sub par races and goofy track videos. What a waste.
4. I thought Symmonds did pretty well. He lost to a silver medalist and the only guy who's beaten Rudisha over the past couple of years, but still beat a lot of quality competition.
5. Gotta give the jumpers a little time to adjust
6. Rupp keeps getting faster and more experienced. The only thing holding him back is himself. I believe that he can get a medal at London. But if Rupp is coming onto the home stretch of the London 10k with a Kenyan right next to him in a battle for a medal, I'd take the runner who's had to fight through poverty and affliction to get on the medal stand.
In distance running, no affliction compares to being a suburban white boy.
classic LRC wrote:
But if Rupp is coming onto the home stretch of the London 10k with a Kenyan right next to him in a battle for a medal, I'd take the runner who's had to fight through poverty and affliction to get on the medal stand.
I feel like Wheating should be given a little more slack coming back from an injury. Yes, he probably was overhyped but thats more the Oregon people's fault than it is his. And those videos were pretty dumb, which is mostly his fault. But he's was out of it for months and he's only raced this and one 8 (I'm pretty sure). Obviously the times were a dissapointment but is it really fair to expect him to be up there in a race like this so soon?
Lagat and Rupp are the only medal contenders for US men's distance since they actually know how to race.
Frankly, most of the US men raced like pussies in the 1500m and 800m.
Why we are always in bad tactical position in races like this. If there are several Africans going 4 or 5 wide before a kick...why are you content with chillin' in the back? Get the f up there. Throw an elbow. Disrupt their race plan. Get out front and try to slow the pace down if it's too fast. Do something...don't just automatically drift towards the back and let them dictate the race.
Racing like pussies. Grow some and get in the thick of it. At this rate I don't even see most of our guys making it to the final...forget about medals.
Whether Rupp is a medal contender and what odds you give him is a fair debate.
Saying that running a PR and going under 13 is a disappointment is baloney.
What do you suppose the odds are in the London bookies that Rupp will medal.
I would be willing to bet you that it well below 50%.
Ethiopia and Kenya will each have three guys in the Olympic 10k favored to beat Rupp. Add in farah and the odd non-Kenyan and non-ethiopian African, and Rupp will do VERY well to crack top 6.
This will be a great accomplishment and no knock on Rupp.
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