Jearl Miles-Clark Left Off 4 x 400 Relay

The US will win without Jearl. No big deal.

Richard Neer wrote:

wiseass (mrs.) wrote:

they'll pay the price and lose to the russians because they're inexperienced.

watch.

How can ANY American quartermiler be inexperienced at running a 4 x 400?

That's just assinine.

they're not inexperienced at running the 4 x 4, they're inexperienced at running the 4 x 4 on the international stage. its a huge difference. (alan webb has run many 1500s, so he's not inexperienced in running the distance, ut running it on the world stage) sure, these girls have run tons of 4 x 4s, but how many of them against quality competition? where their competitors can not only run fast, but run smart too?

the women's 4 x 4 has historically been a great race - with the USSR/RUS usually getting the best of the USA, even though the USA has a much better team of individual runners. why? because our girls don't run smart. they're not physcial. they think they're back at the texas relays where they can blow the doors off someone in the first 200 and don't have to worry. then the scene repeats itself as olga brzygina or whoever the russian anchor is blows by some poor american girl who didn't know squat about tactics.

jearl miles always ran fast for the u.s., always ran tough, and most always ran a smart race.

This is a degrace!!! Who in their right mind could leave Jearl off the 4x400 team after the way she ran in the 800. I see that Sue said she has done great in the pass. The is a bunch of bullsh@t. Give me 6 women who are running better than her right now..... I bet you can't. At best there may be two. USA Track and Field should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen. I can't believe how disgusted I am with this blatant lack of judgment.

not ND wrote:

But Sue H will run a doper in the 4x100. Hope it blows up on both teams.

one down

sent to

shigh1211@aol.com

,

humphreyhj@aol.com

,

sutrac@aol.com

, and cced to

jclark40@utk.edu

... let's get writing people (and also remember to vote in November!)

To the powers-that-be at USATF:

I can barely express my disappointment at Jearl Miles Clark not being chosen for the 4x400 relay pool. Unless there is a doping allegation (which I doubt) or sudden injury or illness there is no good reason for this decision. It seems you are following NBC's script of a "youth movement" in US track. To show this lack of respect for someone who has accomplished so much, delivered so many times, and is still performing at the top of her game in unconscionable. It's also a foolish decision that hurts the teams victory chances (which are admittedly high either way). I heard a rumor that this decision was made in order to put an athlete coached by Brooks Johnson on the team. If true, he should not be able to keep his job over this blatant abuse of power.

-A disappointed American

P.S. Maybe her "old legs" got "only" 5th place in the 800m, but it was a strong, brave race and a very fast time in one of the best races of this or any Olympics.

You can not possibly really be a coach talking like this. You must have never watched an athlete train and put their heart and soul into something. You are right USA will win, But Miles/Clark was stripped of something she deserved. If you are a coach I hope you are teaching your group to do the right things in life. This was not right, just read this message board and you will get the picture...Coachkg

Is Brooks Johnson onthe 2004 US Olympic Team staff? How is he part of the decision making process? I thought that would be the Head Coach's decision.

To my knowledge Brooks is not on the Staff. Sue Humphrey, Curtis Frye, and Beth Sullivan are on Staff. There is also manager. Sue let Brooks be the head coach because she did not stand up.

Yes, Jearl is graceful and will handle this with such grace. She is a humble athlete that is a part of the backbone of (consistant) american running. She gets the job done and doesn't look for applause. And so, I see this is the lesson that Humphrey and Johnson send for all those entering the elite (olympic caliber) level. If you're thinking your mouth doesn't have to match or outweigh your fitness you're going to get betrayed. And just wait Jearl is kind, she'll forgive. But, USATF is left with corruption and the lack of faith from the USA's track lovers.

Is this the punishment for not publicizing herself with interviews and such? Jearl is beyond that sort of thing.

Are you really a coach? wrote:

You can not possibly really be a coach talking like this. You must have never watched an athlete train and put their heart and soul into something. You are right USA will win, But Miles/Clark was stripped of something she deserved.

Stripped of what?

The gold medal she deserves to earn as part of the team. Jearl lost her spot not due to ability, but to political reasons. She's apparently not "in" with the right people despite being a long respected, clean, high achieving and hardworking athlete who has won many World and Olympic medals for the U.S. Her own coach is not with her in Athens as he has responsibilities back in the States helping to get his college team ready for X-C. She's totally alone with no advocates, no one to press her case. They took advantage of that, apparently.

Our younger Olympic 400 meter women would've been thrilled to run with a legend like Jearl Miles-Clark. Her relay experience and steadiness are invaluable. Just ask the 4 x 100 meter women today, who were disqualified largely due to inexperience! To discard her like they have done shows what USATF is really all about. They spend years protecting dirty athletes, and treat clean, respectable and talented ones like yesterday's garbage. Sad but true.

Of all of the 400 meter runners to choose for the 4X400 I figured Jearl was a no brainer. The factors in choosing the team I would think are: 400 times (she's proven time and time again she can run a sub 50 on the relay), fitness level (1:57 two days ago), experience at the International level and on relays (I could go on and on), competitive spirit and strong mental ability. Jearl is an obvious choice. It is a shame that politics and age have to play such a big part in this decision process. I would think the members of the relay team would feel more confident having Jearl out there with them.

I am so proud of all that Jearl has accomplished in her outstanding career and all of the young women she has influenced over the years. I would have loved to see that baton in her hand in the Olympics earning a gold medal for the USA one last time, just like she deserves.

Brooks Johnson and his sidekick, Orin Richburg, have almost complete control of the decision-making process for U. S. international relay teams. No matter what Sue Humphrey or any of the Olympic assistants may have wanted to do, you can bet that Brooks and Orin (to a lesser extent) made the call.

Berating Jill Geer or Craig Masback for this one doesn't do a lot of good. Geer is simply a spokesperson for USATF and Masback doesn't have a lot of say in the running of the Olympic team.

Rip away at Brooks and Richburg, by all means.

Right on, Old Gator... Jearl should be in the relay pool even Tom Hammond and Lewis Johnson know that and said so on the telecast. After watching one of our runners run a 53.x split, I don't think anyone can honestly say the Jearl does not belong on the relay team... unless you are kicking her off to give "experience" to younger (and slower) runners.

Wow a 53 split! Jearl came through in 56 for her 800. They brought Brooks on to stop the relay selection mess..He just added fuel to the fire! Get Brooks out of there!

Strpped of a chance to compete when they are only running 52.06 on a relay carry!! Miles/Clark has never run 52 anything in any Olympic or World Class meet...Check the records.

After watching the 4x400m relay I heard one of the commentators say that the USA coaches wanted the THEME to be 2004 and beyond with youth. SINCE when is there a theme to a USA team. The team should be comprised of the best athletes. This is yet another example of the staffs blantant disrespect of Jearl an now a mockery is being made with them talking about a THEME. Jearl discipline and hard work ethic should have been a theme. My only hope is that Sue and Brooks go for a job and be told "SUe my companies theme is to not hire women who are under 5'3" and for Brooks "Hey our company theme is to not hire men who are over 55 with a foul mouth" I think the commentators should have said the theme for the coaches seems to be incompetent and inconsiderate. FYI Did you know that Jearl was not told she would not be in the relay pool until after the coaches submitted the 6 names?"

Let's see what happens after Brooks gets fired for the incompetence he's shown this Olympics (4 x 100 relay mess, leaving the faster, more experienced Jearl off the 4 x 400). Let's see how he feels when he applies for jobs and told "We want younger and fresher."

Guy shouldn't even be coaching Pee Wee track, let alone and Olympic team. Must be that foul mouth that got him places. Well, in the real world (outside of USATF) companies value competence, values and integrity.

It's just a shame and cold. Watching the heat earlier this morning, as coachkg said, the Americans easily won to qualify for the final. Was it that necessary to leave her off even the qualifying heat? And to Neer, "stripped of what" was your latest retort...being a 1st generation Greek-American-- we can learn from Greeks, we are fiercely loyal...have Americans lost that quality?

As others said, Jearl will rise above this...this slap does not tarnish the fact that she goes down as one of our greatest female athletes of all time.

Thanks to all who have supported her on this...our prayers are with you Jearl...