2024 Athletics Thread - Road to Paris

[Karen-W]

Meanwhile, USATF may be waking up to how people feel about Eugene.

Not just Olympic trials, but U.S. Nationals in general. Flying to Eugene is logistically limiting and therefore gets expensive. And other than the University of Oregon, there’s pretty much nothing else there. I believe World Athletics head Sebastian Coe complained about how awful it was to have 2022 Worlds there.

Seriously, USATF - just pick any actual city. It’s not like the ?? isn’t a huge country with lots of great options.

Pretty sure there are airport shuttles that run from PDX all the way down the Willamette Valley to Eugene. I won't disagree that there's pretty much nothing to do there unless you're into hiking to the top of Spencer Butte or have a couple of hours to kill and can head over to the Coast or up into the Cascades. But, surely Lord Coe was aware of all this when World Athletics selected Eugene to host Worlds there. I can't feel too sorry for anyone who was upset at the lack of Michelin-starred restaurants, five-star hotels, exclusive nightclubs or direct flights into the city.

 

[just tuned in]

So Kendricks is going to the Olympics….

https://twitter.com/x/status/1805231556455547305

How long before he declares his candidacy for Congress?

 

[allezfred]

But, surely Lord Coe was aware of all this when World Athletics selected Eugene to host Worlds there. I can't feel too sorry for anyone who was upset at the lack of Michelin-starred restaurants, five-star hotels, exclusive nightclubs or direct flights into the city.

Given that Lord Coe is a two-time Olympic 1500m champion, I am sure he was well aware of the above and you are just speculating that is what he was upset about. Far more likely it was the lacklustre crowds and fan experience, especially when compared to what followed in Budapest….

 

[Karen-W]

Given that Lord Coe is a two-time Olympic 1500m champion, I am sure he was well aware of the above and you are just speculating that is what he was upset about. Far more likely it was the lacklustre crowds and fan experience, especially when compared to what followed in Budapest….

As if the crowds would have been any better in any other city in the US. You're so cute, thinking the US cares about T&F enough to show up anytime except the Olympics.

 

[allezfred]

As if the crowds would have been any better in any other city in the US. You're so cute, thinking the US cares about T&F enough to show up anytime except the Olympics.

If it had been in a major US city, diaspora from countries where athletics is huge and overseas fans would have travelled at the very least. Even Doha had a better atmosphere than Eugene…

 

[ilovepaydays]

Pretty sure there are airport shuttles that run from PDX all the way down the Willamette Valley to Eugene. I won't disagree that there's pretty much nothing to do there unless you're into hiking to the top of Spencer Butte or have a couple of hours to kill and can head over to the Coast or up into the Cascades. But, surely Lord Coe was aware of all this when World Athletics selected Eugene to host Worlds there. I can't feel too sorry for anyone who was upset at the lack of Michelin-starred restaurants, five-star hotels, exclusive nightclubs or direct flights into the city.

How long would a shuttle be from PDX? A couple of hours? That can be cumbersome for a lot of people.

As if the crowds would have been any better in any other city in the US. You're so cute, thinking the US cares about T&F enough to show up anytime except the Olympics.

I think if Nationals/Olympic trials were in a fairly decent sized city, the travel being easier would motivate more people to want to make “travel” out of. Look at what happened when USA Swimming hosted their Olympic trials in Indianapolis - they even had it in a NFL stadium. Is anyone at USATF really thinking remotely like this?

If it had been in a major US city, diaspora from countries where athletics is huge and overseas fans would have travelled at the very least. Even Doha had a better atmosphere than Eugene…

That’s a really good point - when I plan my travel either inside or outside the USA, one major thing I look at is the ease of getting flights. I just did a look of what flights are to Eugene and there’s nothing less than $1,000 without me changing planes at least twice - and I’d be traveling from the DC area.

 

[Karen-W]

How long would a shuttle be from PDX? A couple of hours? That can be cumbersome for a lot of people.

Oh, I'm not disagreeing. Heck, I don't even like driving down to Eugene from up here most days because I-5 can become pretty congested - and if there's an accident anywhere along that stretch, you're pretty much stuck in slow-to-barely-moving traffic unless you want to take a long, scenic route detour that is also going to wind up congested. And that's even truer on the weekends.

But, my point is the lack of direct flights to Eugene certainly should have been known before World Athletics awarded the event to Eugene, so whatever complaints there are about it, that's not on USATF. If it was a deal breaker then World Athletics shouldn't have even entertained the bid.

I think if Nationals/Olympic trials were in a fairly decent sized city, the travel being easier would motivate more people to want to make “travel” out of. Look at what happened when USA Swimming hosted their Olympic trials in Indianapolis - they even had it in a NFL stadium. Is anyone at USATF really thinking remotely like this?

And there were days mid-week when it was nowhere near filled. That's the nature of the beast with any major competition, even an Olympic Trials, that spans the course of 6-10 days. People often don't show up during the middle of the week because of work and other commitments - or they only want to go for part of the event. I think it's a challenge for all Olympic sports nowadays.

That’s a really good point - when I plan my travel either inside or outside the USA, one major thing I look at is the ease of getting flights. I just did a look of what flights are to Eugene and there’s nothing less than $1,000 without me changing planes at least twice - and I’d be traveling from the DC area.

There's a deplorable lack of direct flights between Portland and DC, so it doesn't surprise me that you'd have to connect twice to get to Eugene by air.

 

[FiveRinger]

We need Leslie Jones and Snoop Dogg commentating in Paris.

Snoop will be in Paris. I can’t wait. Kevin Hart and his show on Peacock during Tokyo was the funniest thing I have ever seen. Snoop already told Jimmy Fallon that he’s going to meet the horse that was doing the Crip Walk…..I mean won Dressage in Tokyo ???

 

[ilovepaydays]

Now Kerley needs Oakley to give him a flashier kit. The all black is a bit lame.

Update: Kerley now has a clothing sponsorship - and it’s THIS. ?

Fred Kerley is kind of hot, ngl

Wow Fred Kerley just has gorgeous bone structure.

Warning to you about the Instagram post I’ve linked above. It’s pretty ? ?

 

[Rukia]

Warning to you about the Instagram post I’ve linked above. It’s pretty ? ?

I hate skims but I appreciate this photoshoot i contain legions

 

[ilovepaydays]

Grant Holloway is very good at the 110m hurdles, y’all! ?

12.93 in the first round!!!!!!!

 

[ilovepaydays]

DANG. Laulauga Tausaga-Collins, the 2023 world champion is the discus, is OUT in the prelims after three fouls.

Earlier last weekend, Brooke Andersen (hammer throw - 2022 world champion) and KC Lightfoot (American record holder - pole vault) went out early with fouls as well.

? ?

 

[canbelto]

I just realized that the 1500 is a distance race that's also sort of a sprint.

 

[ilovepaydays]

I just realized that the 1500 is a distance race that's also sort of a sprint.

You basically have to have the endurance of a 5K with the speed & tactics of an 800m runner. Which is pretty hard to train and execute.

Thrilled that Hocker won. Hocker, Nuguse, and Kessler made the 1500m team. I like it. ?

 

[FiveRinger]

I'm getting as much T&F in as I can. The Olympic Trials are keeping me busy. Last week it was swimming and diving plus T&F. This weekend it's gymnastics, T&F along with Thursday's debate. I'm so excited!!

 

[ilovepaydays]

Long jump has always looked like fun to me - assuming you land properly in the sand pit, of course. WHEEEE! ?

 

[Jammers]

How great will it be for a Olympics to be held with a crowd for the first time sine Pyeongchang in 2018? Tokyo just didn't feel like a summer Olympics with no people and you could tell it affected the athletes even though there were great performances.

 

[ilovepaydays]

These fluff pieces - are we seriously still going pretend to believe that JJK was clean? ?

I do like Anna Hall’s leopard adidas kit, though.

 

[canbelto]

Anna Hall is so pretty.

ETA: she's biracial? Wow. Did not know that.

 

[canbelto]

JJK looks better today than she did in the 80s when she was competing. I guess black don't crack.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Men’s 400m final coming up. This should fun to watch.

 

[Karen-W]

Whooooeeeee - Michael Norman almost blew it there!

 

[ilovepaydays]

WHOA! Michael Norman imploded during that last 100m. Good enough for hold on for second, though. That was scary to watch, though. ?

Quincy Wilson finished 6th - I think that will be good enough for the relay pool. I think Raj Benjamin from the 400m hurdles will be included in the pool as well.

 

[Rukia]

I do like Anna Hall’s leopard adidas kit, though.

I thought it was a cow print ?

 

[Karen-W]

what a finish to the Women's 5000m!!!!!

 

[ilovepaydays]

I thought it was a cow print ?

Oops! Maybe it was! ?

Women’s 800m final is coming up!

 

[Rukia]

Oops! Maybe it was! ?

I naturally assume I'm wrong lol

 

[Karen-W]

OMG! Athing Mu is down!

 

[Rukia]

NOOOOOOOOOOO ATHING

 

[ilovepaydays]

Um, WHAT!! ? ? ?