NERunner053 wrote:
Not really factors wrote:
Jared Ward is the only potential Olympian. All others are cashing out.
No women are a factor for Tokyo. Hasay, Huddle, Sisson, Cragg and maybe Flanagan are the 5 players on the women's side.
We really don't know about Cragg + Flanagan. I think Hasay, Huddle, Sisson, are the favorites, and may very well make up the team in whatever order they finish. I chose my words carefully. I said it's a preview to see who might be a contender. If Linden, Taylor, or Hall, really throws down, then I think it bodes well for their chances in Atlanta.
Agreed
Flanagan's status is unknown and I don't think we'll know how well she bounced back from the knee injury til the trials race if she even runs. Cragg hasn't looked great of sort, but trying to fit races into marathon training (especially for higher mile athletes) without sacrificing the training can be hard, so I wouldn't buy too much into her poor build up races lately.
The element of the Atlanta course certainly allows for a wild-card to make the team. Obviously you can't count out Des, but I think Kellyn Taylor could be the one for the upset.
Call me crazy, but I think Huddle credentials along with her consistency and having experience on hilly courses (Boston, NY) nearly make her a lock for me and I can't say that about anyone else. And her 30:16 10k background bodes well if it comes down to the last few miles. I would say Hasay is my next pick because of her Boston performances and flat marathon speed, but health is a concern. A 100% healthy Hasay wins the trials, but it's hard to make it to the starting line 100%.