Forget About the Predictions, Who Are You Rooting for at the Trials?

I'm rooting for all the NOP runners. I hope they win every event they are in. Can't wait to hear the whiners come out when that happens.

I'm rooting for German Fernandez. 8 years ago he ran 4:00/8:34 would have expected him to make a team. Hoping he can overcome the odds tonight.

Similar cases for Jordan Hassay and even Mary Cain. Wishing them all the best.

Queen Harrison. Her butt is gorgeous.

Bobby Curtis. He's been grinding out this living for so long. Would be nice to see him make the team.

Eric Jenkins. I just like to watch him run. Dude has wheels.

Alex Monroe. Want to see a fellow PSAC alum run well.

ryan hill b/c i'm an ncsu alumnus too

brenda martinez b/c i went to uc riverside too

brazier b/c 19yo 1:43.55

berian b/c mickey d's

centro

manzano b/c he reminds me of joe falcon for some reason

gatlin

wariner

merritt

NOT rupp b/c he's a weak dweeby dork

major lazer wrote:

PrairieFire wrote:

Not much love or mention in evidence for Brenda Martinez, not sure why. Really admire her fire, guts, humility, dedication, her willingness to give back to the sport with her yearly running camp for young female runners (paid in good part out of her own pocket). Injury issues the last couple of years have kept her shy of where she should have been performing. Since she is seemingly healthy again, hoping she can hit the top again.

Probably because she has so many doping red flags

Sources for these red flags?

I am rooting for two women, Mary Cain and Jordan Hasay.

I'm not an NOP obsessed follower, but these happen to be two of the most talented runners in America's history.

I wish Cain would make the final and unleash her patented kick to place 3rd, and I hope Hasay is on to take third in the 10,000m. Would be great stories.

I am also rooting for Robby Andrews. He has Olympic-level talent, and I am wishing him luck to be an Olympian, finally.

I am also rooting for Brazier to rip apart the M800m final. That would be amazing. It's really hard for the young bucks to make it through the rounds and pressure.

100 & 200: Literally everyone but Justin Gatlin. Can rooting for Gatlin to pull a hammy count?

Isaiah Harris in the 800. Kids got nothing to lose, and probably has a slight chip on his shoulder seeing as the freshman ran a 1:45 and got 4th in one of the fastest NCAA 800m finals ever, but has gotten about as much attention as some 1:48 kid that didn't make it out of the regional meet.

Kate Hall in the LJ. She had a rough year at Iowa State and decided to redshirt her freshman outdoor season and is transferring to Georgia to compete for the rest of her college career. Despite that, let's not forget that just last year as a senior in high school she broke a 39 year old national record in the LJ, and she's #10 All-Time on the worldwide U20 list. She's spent the spring and summer training with the same person who originally got her over 22', and her 6.83m jump from last year would rank her 2nd in the US, tied for 7th in the world this year, and is only 2.4 inches short of the mark that got a bronze medal at the 2012 games in London.

Ben True in the 5k/10k: My old HS coach was his youth/MS coach.

Riley Masters in the 1500/5k: Watched him run in high school. He was a great, respectful competitor and while he was talented I don't know if most people really reasonably expected him to explode onto the scene the way he did going from a 4:16 1600/16:11 5k xc guy to running sub 4 in the mile at UMaine (a school not exactly known for it's track prowess) before making the 1500m trials in 2012 and now having PRs of 3:36/13:17.

My regional bias my be showing here.

wineturtle wrote:

Merber, Sowinski and Justin Frick

Amy Acuff The Winning Edge gal and Adam Nelson for old time sake.

Acuff has an international medal that is 4 years older than V. Cunningham

Nelson moves on !

All current and past Buffs.

Rupp may be a dweeby dork, but the last thing he is is weak. Good luck tonight Galen!

Although I'm a fan of Mead, I am really tired of the African transplants. They are awesome runners and seem to be nice guys, but jeezus - enough already. I hope Coe can put an end to the practice transferring allegiance for convenience. But I digress...

Berian - after all he's been through.

Centro - our best hope for a medal in the 1500.

Jager - also our best hope for a medal.

True - tough and likable. You just want to root for him. On a board full of negativity, I have never seen anything bad said about him here.

Hasay - what a fairytale ending should she nab a spot on the team.

German, AllieO, and Manzano.

Coach Coach wrote:

Isaiah Harris in the 800. Kids got nothing to lose, and probably has a slight chip on his shoulder seeing as the freshman ran a 1:45 and got 4th in one of the fastest NCAA 800m finals ever, but has gotten about as much attention as some 1:48 kid that didn't make it out of the regional meet.

Nobody like Cory McGee??

Anyway: Centro, McGee, O'Connor, Conley, Berian

Brenda Martinez. Especially after what happened in 800m.