Elinor vs Bowerman Babes @ USA Indoor Nationals

I would really want to see Quigley get dropped- I’m not a big fan especially after her dumb celebrations last indoor USAs. I think Houlihan will win with Purrier close behind. Houlihan has a nasty kick and has a better 1500 PR than Purrier’s mile equivalent.

Bower Man wrote:

As of Monday (2/10), no scratches...

"No scratches"? Cory McGee has been listed as "qualified/scratched" for the 1500 since last week. (There was even a thread about it here.)

I haven't been paying close attention. No Simpson? Too bad. Be nice if she still had some good runs in her against Houlihan and Purrier.

It is nice to see a variety of sponsors within such a stacked field! Nothing against Nike, just like to see the variety!

Simpsoness wrote:

I haven't been paying close attention. No Simpson? Too bad. Be nice if she still had some good runs in her against Houlihan and Purrier.

IIRC, Simpson hasn't run Indoors since 2012, when she won the 1500 and 3000. Since then, she's run indoors at the NB GP in Boson and not much else.

Where is Kate Grace?? She raced a 3k at UW a few weeks ago so I don’t suspect injury, but is notably absent in lining up with her BTC teammates here?? Purrier’a breakthrough could be particularly devastating to Grace as making the team for Tokyo just became that much harder for her

You could look it up wrote:

Bower Man wrote:

As of Monday (2/10), no scratches...

"No scratches"? Cory McGee has been listed as "qualified/scratched" for the 1500 since last week. (There was even a thread about it here.)

what was the celebration?

I’m a gigantic optimist, but I worry we’ll see a lot of scratches in the coming days.

macdaddy wrote:

I’m a gigantic optimist, but I worry we’ll see a lot of scratches in the coming days.

this

Shelby v. Elle will be the best matchup in U.S. indoor history if both are fresh.

seattle track club wrote:

Where is Kate Grace?? She raced a 3k at UW a few weeks ago so I don’t suspect injury, but is notably absent in lining up with her BTC teammates here?? Purrier’a breakthrough could be particularly devastating to Grace as making the team for Tokyo just became that much harder for her

She is running an 800 / Mile double at UW Husky Classics.

Lurker wrote:

seattle track club wrote:

Where is Kate Grace?? She raced a 3k at UW a few weeks ago so I don’t suspect injury, but is notably absent in lining up with her BTC teammates here?? Purrier’a breakthrough could be particularly devastating to Grace as making the team for Tokyo just became that much harder for her

She is running an 800 / Mile double at UW Husky Classics.

I noticed this, too. Jager, McGorty and Infeld also are skipping USAs to run at UW. I can understand those choices since they're all still on the comeback from injury, but not sure why Houlihan/Schweizer/Quigley would be at USAs and not Grace (or Lomong, who is also going to UW). Frerichs is maybe not running at either meet, but that's also not too surprising given that she races pretty rarely even by BTC standards.

No scratches from the list of likely favorites . . . McGee not in that list because she scratched from the meet last week.

Regarding Grace, she stated on her IG a couple weeks back she was likely not going to race indoor nationals . . . not sure why . . . but happy to see she's following in Houlihan's footsteps by doing her own 800/mile double where her indoor prs are 2:02/4:22.

There are still a few BTC people who, after this weekend, will have yet to race this season. However, that will change on the 28th at the BU last chance meet . . . look for a couple of huge 5k races there.

If anyone doubts Quigley's ability to run flat races, here is her final lap from last year's indoor nationals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTsY5Z-yVtU

BTC gals will be going down to Albuquerque now that they are breaking camp in CO:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8cT2coAgQz/

YMMV wrote:

Shelby v. Elle will be the best matchup in U.S. indoor history if both are fresh.

In my mind, to what degree Houlihan will have peaked for the race or not really adds to the intrigue. Last year she was outkicked by Quigley, so was probably not in top form. Right now Purrier looks to be, intentionally or not, either in top form or close to it.

It's one thing for Purrier to have outkicked Koko last week, and it was certainly a good kick, but how it will compare to Houlihan's even if Shelby is not in peak condition is the $64 question. Should be really interesting see how things play out.

I think the Bowerman group will be much smarter than Koko and not let Purrier suck their wheel regardless of the distance. And they have better finishing kicks.

It's at altitude, no pacers and so it will be more tactical than Millrose. Houlihan in shape would have been strong enough to win Millrose and must probably still considered the favorite for USA's.

She HATES being called Elinor. She spells her name as ‘Elle’ which you might think rhymes with Belle, but it is pronounced ‘Ellie’, rhyming with Kelly.

Simpsoness wrote:

I haven't been paying close attention. No Simpson? Too bad. Be nice if she still had some good runs in her against Houlihan and Purrier.

Simpson sprain ankle getting off her High Horse ?