Matthew Maton drops 1500 at Junior nats to race 5000

hasn't he been injured?

Ya, he didnt do dream mile or brooks PR or the Pre Classic because of an injury, it woulda been fun to see him race fisher, since they have the same time in the 1 mile, and we coulda seen who was better, but if he thinks he is better at the 5k, he should do what he wants.

Perhaps not a great move.

I remember when Jonathan Riley placed 3rd in the 1997 US Junior 1500m behind Michael Stember and Gabe Jennings. He petitioned to get into the 5000m and then won that race to earn his spot on the team.

Maton is banking that there aren't any great runners in the 5000m, but if a great 1500m guy doesn't make the team, you could see him line up.

The 5000m will put less pressure on his foot.

I disagree.

A race that is 3 x as long does not put less pressure on your foot, regardless of how you land and force.

Good move actually wrote:

The 5000m will put less pressure on his foot.

No it's a BS excuse. Kid is ducking-- pun intended.

If he's hurt he should not race.

typical Oregonian .. wrote:

Good move actually wrote:

The 5000m will put less pressure on his foot.

No it's a BS excuse. Kid is ducking-- pun intended.

If he's hurt he should not race.

Dude he is a high school kid, he got injured, if he races Fisher he is gonna lose no doubt, HE GOT INJURED. Lay off, if he wants to go in the 5k to duck the competition, let him, i would if i were him as well. No doubt. You are just jelly that you will never be that good at running.

GR wrote:

Perhaps not a great move.

I remember when Jonathan Riley placed 3rd in the 1997 US Junior 1500m behind Michael Stember and Gabe Jennings. He petitioned to get into the 5000m and then won that race to earn his spot on the team.

Maton is banking that there aren't any great runners in the 5000m, but if a great 1500m guy doesn't make the team, you could see him line up.

No, and let me explain why.

You're saying it's not a great move because of the POTENTIAL POSSIBILITY that someone that fails to make the 1500m will move up to the 5k?

The 5k final is tomorrow (Friday). The 1500m final is on Saturday. If anyone is going to move up because they didn't do well enough in the 1500m, at this point it would only be someone who didn't even make the final, and they will only have a day to recover from their failing 1500m effort to get ready for a 5k they weren't planning for. I don't think that's really going to be an issue for Maton.

The #2 seed, at this point, is either Albert Meier (14:30.42) or Levi Thomet (8:45.26y). Maton has already beaten Thomet a few times in his career, and 14:30ish is probably not nearly as difficult for someone in his situation (talent + injury) than a 3:41 (to beat either Haney or Fisher). One takes a near-PR level effort, and the other does not.

It's really not hard to see why he made the switch if he isn't 100%.

Is the honest effort rule in play at USA Champs?

If he declared in both events and didn't show for the 1st event... can he come back for the 2nd event?

is it allowed? wrote:

Is the honest effort rule in play at USA Champs?

If he declared in both events and didn't show for the 1st event... can he come back for the 2nd event?

Really doubt it would be in play. Not like the meet is scored. What they are most concerned about is getting the top athletes to worlds.

FastAsDuck wrote:

Ya, he didnt do dream mile or brooks PR or the Pre Classic because of an injury, it woulda been fun to see him race fisher, since they have the same time in the 1 mile, and we coulda seen who was better, but if he thinks he is better at the 5k, he should do what he wants.

Good name, bro.

Good analysis too.

FastAsDuck wrote:

typical Oregonian .. wrote:

No it's a BS excuse. Kid is ducking-- pun intended.

If he's hurt he should not race.

Dude he is a high school kid, he got injured, if he races Fisher he is gonna lose no doubt, HE GOT INJURED. Lay off, if he wants to go in the 5k to duck the competition, let him, i would if i were him as well. No doubt. You are just jelly that you will never be that good at running.

He's a high schooler? I thought he was 19.

typical Oregonian .. wrote:

Good move actually wrote:

The 5000m will put less pressure on his foot.

No it's a BS excuse. Kid is ducking-- pun intended.

If he's hurt he should not race.

Maybe his concern is his fitness or Sharpness... Negatory brainiac.

GR wrote:

I disagree.

A race that is 3 x as long does not put less pressure on your foot, regardless of how you land and force.

Of course it does, because 5k of running at 70 second pace is less strain on the body then 3k of running at 60 second pace, not even including the 1500 last laps in 53 seconds.

typical Oregonian .. wrote:

Good move actually wrote:

The 5000m will put less pressure on his foot.

No it's a BS excuse. Kid is ducking-- pun intended.

If he's hurt he should not race.

And why do you care if he races or not? Why does it bother you that he races the event that he himself wants to race in? Why do you want to see certain high schoolers race against other certain high schoolers?

Grow the f%$k up man. It's alright to admire, but not idolize kids.

typical Oregonian .. wrote:

Good move actually wrote:

The 5000m will put less pressure on his foot.

No it's a BS excuse. Kid is ducking-- pun intended.

If he's hurt he should not race.

And today he is a national champ, and you are a douche, never was, never will be, with access to a computer and wifi

This is a great move by Maton. While a nice race between the top preps would be ideal for the audience it wouldn't be for him. First off the 5k is a much weaker field than the 15. Also right now Maton is arguably the only high schooler to go sub 4 that isn't considered "legendary." If he can throw down a solid 5k he could cement himself in prep history. I think it was the right move for Maton.

Nice conservative run by Maton.

However, he blocked people, cut them off and moved in front of them twice, and would have been DQ'd for that anywhere else in the country.

Maton ran the 5,000 because he didn't consider himself a sure lock to make Pan-Am junior team in the 1,500.......irrespective of what he has done earlier in a TT race.

Matthew was playing the percentages. No way he was a sure lock to beat Fisher & that Hunter dude........not in a championship race setting.

Mom just made the 2nd smartest move of his career.