I find it interesting, even tough there is no Olympics and no World Championships this year, that some of the best American runners in the country don't show up at the USATF national championships. No wonder nobody wants to watch track and field, the best athletes aren't even there. Dathan Ritzenhein, Ryan Hall, Meb Keflezighi, ok I know these guys are marathoners but they can still run a competitive 10k. That 10k last night was pathetic, Galen jogged to victory. Even Chris Solinksy no showed. We have 4 Americans currently under 13 minutes in the 5k and only one of them (Lagat is running the event tonight). I think it is a slap in the face to the USATF that these guys don't show up. What is the point of having a USA championships without the best?
Speaking of Chris Solinsky, he continues to get press for his American record and sub-27 minutes 10k! For those of you track historians he has the fastest 5k/10k combo of any American now that he also has a sub 13min 5k. I read online that his 5k PR is 25 seconds faster than Pre's and is 10k PR is 46 seconds faster than Shorter's. The best quote was in Sports Illustrated from Wayne Solinsky, Chris' dad, that said, "A wheelbarrow only goes as far as you push it. Then it just sits there." Clay and I discussed that one all day on Thursday.
Finally, they had the finals of the men's hammer throw this afternoon. Eric Flores (DIII National Record Holder) of Cal Lutheran was in the field. Even though I have never meet the guy he has been fun to follow this year since he goes to my alma mater. In a field event you get three jumps or throws and the top 8 get another three throws or jumps each. Well, Eric had the 9th farthest throw after 3 throws, with 231' 01" (a 10 foot personal best)! So the thower from DIII Cal Lutheran was 9th in the country, and second collegian, not bad. Congratualtions Eric! It is fun to see California Lutheran among the results.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
15 comments:
Why should Chris, Ryan, and Dathan show up? They have families to feed. They have chosen to run the races that best suits their careers and the 2010 USA Champs doesn't help enough. $4,000 for a 1st place award is a joke. And Ryan is pretty far removed from running track. He wants to, but it is difficult to fit into his marathon training schedule without looking real slow.
Mark, thanks for the comment. I agree with you. The $4000 award is a joke. But if the best in the country showed up, then more people might come out to watch, they'd make more money, and could give bigger prize money awards. Its like going to a Yankees game versus an Orioles game. Most people would rather see the most talented players. This is a perfect time to run a 10k for those marathoners too. They have recovered from their spring marathons. They haven't started building for a fall marathon yet. What a perfect time to do some shorter speed work in preparation for another marathon build up. And to run a sub 2:08 marathon you better be able to run a sub 28 minute 10k! Oh, and Lagat came out to win the 5k easily and he has a family to feed too. Keep the comments coming. I enjoy the discussion.
It is unfortunate that the distance events at the USATF Championships are primarliy being run by young guys & gals trying to make a name for themselves. Maybe it should be written in their shoe contracts that the best athletes are required to show up for big events. If race directors knew well in advance that all of the big names would be running then they could promote the event better. This would allow them to sell more tickets and possibly get more TV coverage. What do you think of this idea?
One reason why the big names are not there has nothing to do with the 4K, but the fact there is no OG or WC.
A second reason is the heat.
The 1500 field is pretty good.
No one will be complaining next year because of the WC.
Solinsky has made very clear that he is taking a shot at the American 5k record next weekend at Pre... it stands to reason that he would opt not race at a fairly meaningless championship in order to be sharp for a record attempt.
Karl, even if you could stack, not only the 10K (to include the marathoners), but the 5K, that it would translate into greater television coverage and thus, bigger prize awards. Perhaps it would bump the prize dollars to $5,000 across the board, but not much further.
As for Dan's first reason, what? As for his second reason, I highly doubt that the marathoners said to themselves, "I'm not going to Des Moines because it's too hot over there."
What the quality distance runners are probably saying to themselves is "it doesn't fit into my marathon training schedule" and "I'm not willing to put weeks into 10K training to avoid being punked on national t.v."
I think they would rather either (a) stick to their current marathon training and routine e.g. on Mammoth Mountain, (b) race for some real money at the Pre Classic and some rich European track meets later this summer (therefore I can't peak now, but need to peak in August).
Anonymous, ok I understand that Chris is saving his race for Pre, but the interview that I saw said he wanted to WIN at Pre, not go for a record. They may have a rabbit but it could still be a tactical race on sub-record pace. If USATF is so meaningless on a non OG or WC year then why even have the meet? All the best races are in Europe anyway, right? And since Chris and Dathan didn't show up does Galen's 10k or Lagat's 5k win hold any value? I understand that Pre is important for appearance $$ etc, so maybe having USATF so close is just a scheduling error. Wouldn't it be nice to have some meets in the US that actually meant something? Instead, when asked what their racing plans are for the summer, almost everyone answers, "I'm going to Europe." And who can blame them, that is where the fans, money, and competition are.
By the way, the last time they ran the 5k at Pre was 2004 and the winner ran 13:26.78. No one has every run a sub-13 min 5k at Hayward Field! I looked it up. The only smokin' time for races above 3k in the last 10 years was Bekele's 10k in 2007 (26:25.97!).
Mark, I agree with you, they would, and did, get "punked on national TV." Isn't that sad?
I disagree that marathoners don't have time for 10k training. What has Dathan been doing for the last year? His last marathon was London 2009 (April). Since then he has run 10ks, 5k, cross country, and a half marathon. I'd say he has plenty of time, even if he is running a fall marathon. I personally think these marathoners that are running shorter distances this year to work on their speed, while maintaining high mileage, are the smartest in the bunch. The marathon still comes down to who is the fastest!
I am a big fan of Chris Solinsky, so I hope he proves me wrong at Pre. But unless Bekele is there, I doubt they go under 13 minutes.
FYI from Track & Field News:
"The men’s 5000 holds similar record-setting potential. A sub-13:00 clocking has never been achieved in the U.S.; this is the field that can finally do it. Some of the fastest runners of 2010 are in the race, led by Kenyans Eliud Kipchoge and Mathew Kisorio, plus Ethiopians Imane Merga and Tariku Bekele. Their times this year: 12:51.21, 12:57.83, 12:53.81, and 12:53.97. Add in Kenyan Edwin Soi, ranked No. 8 in the world by T&FN, and American stars Chris Solinsky and Matt Tegenkamp (both of whom are members of the sub-13:00 club), and no fewer than ten runners in the field have broken 13-minutes either last year or this. The best time ever run on American soil? 13:02.90 by Micah Kogo of Kenya. The Prefontaine Classic and Hayward Field record is 13:07.83, set by Luke Kipkosgei in 1998. Something’s got to give."
Ok Mark, that sounds like the kind of field that will have a few, if not all under 13 minutes. Too bad Lagat ran at USATF. It would have been fun to see him at Pre too! He used to run the mile, 2 mile, or 3k there every year.
They should just skip Nationals all together when there is nothing to qualify for, it seems pointless.
Although there was a USA national record set for the Women's High Jump today! Did you see that?
http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view_video/236827-2010-outdoor-track-and-field-season/343958-chaunte-lowe-high-jump-ar-2.05
Karl, as for whether or not U.S. marathoners had time for the past couple months to train for a 10K this week is not for me to say. I am not coaching these elite American runners. These people have their strengths, weaknesses, routines, contractual agreements, injuries, plans, etc. that are mostly unseen to even the average track buff.
If I was coaching them, and they were planning on a Fall marathon, I would probably have them avoid track racing in the early summer, especially if they are injury prone. Instead, I would have them continue working on their base during this time. Perhaps in August, during their build-up, they could race a 10K in Europe and/or a half marathon somewhere, but certainly not in late June.
Karl, I think the Pre will be great. And it would have been real nice to see Bernard in the 5,000m mix. But he mentioned today that he was interested in running a fast 1500m and fast 3,000m in the near future. And after the Pre, we still have 8 European Diamond League meets to watch. I bet you'll see Bernard tearing it up over there!
As for Lowe, I did see her get that record. And I'm sure Vlasic was watching as well.
Mark, thanks for all your comments. I know these guys are professionals and they have to look out for their best interest. It is kind of like the World Baseball Classic. It would be fun to see all the best players there, but they have to be selectvie about how much they play...and how much money they can make!
Hey Mark, it is great having someone with your knowledge commenting on Karl's blog. After reading your comments I am really pumped up for the men's 5000 at Pre.
Post a Comment