Why does running the Trials preclude her from making money in the fall? The only American I know who got paid a ton to debut was Ritz in NYC. Yes Huddle might get more if she was an unknown marathoner but would it be $80,000 more?
I doubt it.
There is a lot of prize money in the Trials. $80,000 for first, $65,000 for 2nd and $50,000 for third.
Ray Flynn is far from an idiot. I'm sure NYC would be happy to sign her up now for fall 2016.
I'm not 100% convinced of this. Probably true but let's be honest, she needs help to medal in the 10,000. This year there was no Dibaba or Defar. Who is to say Almaz Ayana won't double in 2016?
She could always do the marathon trials and then if she finds Dibaba is out yet again, run the 10,000 trials.
I was the one who did the interview. To me, she seemed intrigued by the marathon. She clearly had no intention of doing it but I think in her heart of hearts she psychologically feels her chance for a medal on the track (with the field lacking Dibaba) came and went this year. It may be hard for her to get over that. She's excelled on the roads. She has a new start there. It's a little tempting to try that.
On the awards stand, unsolicited, she said she'd probably or likely do the 10,000 (she used one of those words probablt or likely I can't remember which one) - which means she's considering the marathon. The question wass an open-ended one if she wanted to not conceive of the marathon Trials she could have easily left the 'probably or likely' comment out.