Katie Ledecky has already qualified for Olympic Trials in 2 men's events - could any tracksters do that in USA?

It was my understanding that the swimming trials have a (much?) larger number of entrants than the T&F trials.

Marathon is the "easiest" (not that I could do it) event to make the trials in, so not a great comparison there. Plus Paula couldn't have made the trials unless she pulled a lagat!

I'm certain that this feat has been accomplished in equestrian.

Not even Wang Junxia.

Do they even separate equestrian by gender? If so, why? The horses gender might make sense but how would the rider make a difference?

The b standard for men is faster than the women's world record for every track event, so it is pretty easy to answer for the US: no women can make the men's trials at the moment.

box brah wrote:

Do they even separate equestrian by gender? If so, why? The horses gender might make sense but how would the rider make a difference?

Equestrian sports at the Olympic level have never been separated by the horse's gender. In the past, there was a time when only male riders were allowed to compete (sport was considered too physically taxing and dangerous for women), and then a time when women riders had separate competitions. Now it's women directly against men.

darkwave wrote: In the past, there was a time when only male riders were allowed to compete (sport was considered too physically taxing and dangerous for women), and then a time when women riders had separate competitions. Now it's women directly against men.

Sounds like the recent UN speech.

Except for Radcliffe's WR in the marathon - 2:15:25/2:17:18. B-standard is 2:18.

rojo wrote:

http://olympictalk.nbcsports.com/2014/09/23/katie-ledecky-would-qualify-for-olympic-trials-in-mens-events/

Back in the day, Paula Radcliffe or Deena K would have made the Olympic Trials in the marathon, but I can't think of anyone currently...

Could any female athlete make the Olympic Trials in a men's track event? Or even further, in what events if any would the American record make the Trials in a men's event?

Before this thread gets hijacked by people claiming that Ledecky is better than Wang Junxia (or more likely that swimming sucks for some reason), I want to point out the obvious reason for this.

A couple of basic traits that most women have (higher body fat, better flexibilty) are large disadvantages in running but advantages in swimming, especially distance swimming. Men are still a lot faster, because of things like height and muscle mass, but women don't have the same inherent disadvantages. Really cool stat, but better to compare Ladecky with other female swimmers than runner.

wait just a second wrote:

Before this thread gets hijacked by people claiming that Ledecky is better than Wang Junxia (or more likely that swimming sucks for some reason), I want to point out the obvious reason for this.

A couple of basic traits that most women have (higher body fat, better flexibilty) are large disadvantages in running but advantages in swimming, especially distance swimming. Men are still a lot faster, because of things like height and muscle mass, but women don't have the same inherent disadvantages. Really cool stat, but better to compare Ladecky with other female swimmers than runner.

It also doesn't hurt that hundreds of swimmers in each event qualify for the Olympic trials.

Who?

thorpedo wrote:

It also doesn't hurt that hundreds of swimmers in each event qualify for the Olympic trials.

Let it not be lost that Katie Ledecky Kicks Ass

To your point, yes there are hundreds that qualify, but she's not just under the men's cut -- she 21 seconds under the cut. According to the article at least, she would be have top 20 at men's nationals in her best event. She won Pan Pacs by 27 seconds. 1500 is her best event but she dropped down and won the 200 an hour before breaking the world record.

Erin Taylor-Talcott has completed a few 50km RWs under the OT standard for that event.

Back when the Marathon Trials standard was 2:22 there'd be a few US women who could do it. Deena Kastor (2:19:36) and Joan Samuelson (2:21:21) in their prime and Shalane Flanagan (2:22:02) and Desi Davila (2:22:38) would be right there.

Curious [since you appear to know a thing or two about swimming]: would a male HS swimmer with Ledecky's PRs expect to get D1 scholarship money?

dkny64 wrote:

Curious [since you appear to know a thing or two about swimming]: would a male HS swimmer with Ledecky's PRs expect to get D1 scholarship money?

Yes, he would be a major stud. Again, different sport.

wait just a second wrote:

dkny64 wrote:

Curious [since you appear to know a thing or two about swimming]: would a male HS swimmer with Ledecky's PRs expect to get D1 scholarship money?

Yes, he would be a major stud. Again, different sport.

Understood about the "different sport" part, but I still think that's very cool.

Here's hoping Ledecky improves her speed enough to take a shot at the 200m free record too. [+ maybe make the relay pool in the 4 x 100m free at the 2016 Olympics]

dkny64 wrote:

Here's hoping Ledecky improves her speed enough to take a shot at the 200m free record too. [+ maybe make the relay pool in the 4 x 100m free at the 2016 Olympics]

This sounds terrible. I'm not going to root against this young lady, but for I'll hope for other womens swimmers to step up.

I can't abide more Michael Phelps type NBC Olympics coverage in 2016.

deena qualified for the 2004 men's marathon trials...

Actually Katy has all the qualities you could ask for in a young superstar American runner.

She goes out hard and dares anyone to catch up which they don't.

She attempts world records and succeeds.

She wins Championships, both World & Olympic.