You use Jager as an example but ignore all the sub 4 milers whose steeple careers lasted about a month when they learned that what you are saying is not even close to true. neither Rupp nor Derrick could break 8:20 in the steeple. You have no idea the fatigue the steeple adds to weak runners. As has been said many times before, saying the steeple is weak is no different than sprinters saying the mile is weak because milers aren't as fast as the 100th best 100 meter guy. A lot of guys moved to the steeple this year because they thought as you do, one made the team. Only a couple made the trials. On the other hand, both Cabral and Jager are accomplished flat runners and could have made either the 1500 or 5k final.
MichaelPhelps wrote:
The steeple is weak...sorry to break it to all the 8:40-8:50 guys...Why would Jager leave the 5k and take on the steeple?? -->Because its easier to do well, the US is saturated with distance talent, at least enough to make it tough to qualify for a world/Olympic team...the depth of talent is much thinner than the 1500, 5k, or 10k. Rupp, or any high level 5k guy with any kind of coordination would own the steeple.....without practicing.