2024 Athletics Thread - Road to Paris

[canbelto]

Omg poor Athing Mu!!!!

 

[Karen-W]

And Raevyn Rogers is falling behind too!

 

[canbelto]

Omg that is hard to watch.

 

[ilovepaydays]

I’m just shocked.

 

[Jammers]

That's what happens when you don't race all season. She was hardly competing going into the World championships last year and struggled too and nearly fell in the semifinals. She gets in trouble when she stays in the pack instead of taking the lead. Her coach has some weird thing about not having her race very often and you can't do that no matter how talented you are.

 

[ilovepaydays]

I’m thrilled for Nia Akins and Allie Wilson, though. Good job for Juliette Whittaker as well.

I’m still stunned. Did Athing just get tangled or stumbled? It’s worth noting that these Olympic trials were her first race all seasons. She kept pulling out of meets at the last minute.

 

[ilovepaydays]

That's what happens when you don't race all season. She was hardly competing going into the World championships last year and struggled too and nearly fell in the semifinals. She gets in trouble when she stays in the pack instead of taking the lead. Her coach has some weird thing about not having her race very often and you can't do that.

Especially considering how tactical the 800m typically is.

 

[FiveRinger]

Didn't Sanya or Ato say something about Athing dealing with injury earlier in the year or season? I'm gutted for her. I just want her to continue. I didn't see this coming. She's young enough to make the next 2 Olympic teams if she wants to.

Congrats to the winners, though!!

 

[Rukia]

I’m still stunned. Did Athing just get tangled or stumbled? It’s worth noting that these Olympic trials were her first race all seasons. She kept pulling out of meets at the last minute.

She's been dealing with a sore hamstring. I think she may have just stumbled?? I agree more races would have helped but also I guess she was trying to preserve her body. It's rough.

 

[HeatherC]

So gutted for Athing.

The ending to that 5000m was complete insanity but yet also captivating to watch live. What a race!

 

[canbelto]

That's what happens when you don't race all season. She was hardly competing going into the World championships last year and struggled too and nearly fell in the semifinals. She gets in trouble when she stays in the pack instead of taking the lead. Her coach has some weird thing about not having her race very often and you can't do that no matter how talented you are.

her coach is bob kersee right? his other prize student sydney mclaughlin also doesn't race very often.

 

[ilovepaydays]

She's been dealing with a sore hamstring. I think she may have just stumbled?? I agree more races would have helped but also I guess she was trying to preserve her body. It's rough.

Having a sprint coach (Kersee) really doesn’t help, either. Also, sometimes athletes can say they have a XYZ injury if their coach is the type who doesn’t want them to compete unless they are ? - this has happened with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone a bit too in the past, although Sydney has competed a bit in last month.

 

[Coco]

Gutted for Athing

 

[allezfred]

And this is why no other country uses first three from nationals. It’s fair, but you don’t always get to send the best team.

 

[Rukia]

And this is why no other country uses first three from nationals. It’s fair, but you don’t always get to send the best team.

I think it's kind of silly and not just in this event. Some of the other events are leaving home people with huge potential as well. Although Athing hadn't raced this season so idk she may have been left off if there was a selection process too.

 

[just tuned in]

Anna Hall is so pretty.

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

I kinda thought so. I loved the picture of her in the group hug with her sisters. What a beautiful family!

 

[Karen-W]

And this is why no other country uses first three from nationals. It’s fair, but you don’t always get to send the best team.

yes, dear, we know that nothing the US does is ever the correct/best way of doing anything - not pairs skating, not t&f, not politics... it's just such a shame you have to suffer with any continued American dominance on the global stage.

 

[ilovepaydays]

About the women’s 800m last night, I will say this: Everyone knew that the top three with the Olympic standard or invite from World Athletics based on ranking would be the team to Paris. That’s it. It sucks to have a bad day, whether in the prelims (Tausaga-Collins) or in the final (Mu), but everyone knew the rules.

With the rules that everyone knew about, Akins, Wilson, and Whittaker got it done last night. And they even ran the Olympic standard in that race.

Maybe Mu was too arrogant and thought she had it “in the bag” too much and that’s why the mistake happen. I’m personally not a fan of a committee deciding any Olympic sports in a sport like this. I don’t want more politics in a sport that’s this subjective. This isn’t figure skating where there’s judging which leads to politics with certain skaters.

 

[ilovepaydays]

yes, dear, we know that nothing the US does is ever the correct/best way of doing anything - not pairs skating, not t&f, not politics... it's just such a shame you have to suffer with any continued American dominance on the global stage.

I will disagree slightly on this - the U.S. dominates overall, but it can be very different with each event. But you could make a really good argument that the “cutthroat” nature of U.S. track & field (as well as in swimming) is why the U.S. does as well as it does overall. If you can survive U.S. Nationals/Trials, then you should have more confidence at Worlds or the Olympics.

 

[Rukia]

Maybe Mu was too arrogant and thought she had it “in the bag” too much and that’s why the mistake happen.

Why would you think she was arrogant? She knew she was underraced. She knew she had work to do. She said her goal was top 3. She wasn't acting like she had it in the bag.

But I also think that any system that just goes on one competition is not a good system. Even the best athletes have bad days/meets. ?‍

 

[ilovepaydays]

Why would you think she was arrogant? She knew she was underraced. She knew she had work to do. She said her goal was top 3. She wasn't acting like she had it in the bag.

But I also think that any system that just goes on one competition is not a good system. Even the best athletes have bad days/meets. ?‍

Juliette Whittaker ran 1:58.45 last night - even among the world class, that’s a fantastic time. You have to 100% ready to go in order to run that well.

What I’m interested in is what Athing does with this now. Does she quit? Does she change coaches? Or does she comeback - we have a great example with Sha’Carri. I’m amazed at how well she’s turned things around since 2021-2022.

 

[Tesla]

But I also think that any system that just goes on one competition is not a good system. Even the best athletes have bad days/meets.

But that's the nature of sport. Guaranteed that if Athing were selected for the Olympics over any of the top 3 and she bombed, people would be upset over her getting picked over one of the other women. The competitors knew the rules. She knew what she had to do. Hopefully, this will make her stronger. If she's injured, she can fully heal and come up with a new strategy. Having Olympic trials be your first competition of the year is pretty crazy.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Update: Mu’s appeal has been denied.

 

[allezfred]

yes, dear, we know that nothing the US does is ever the correct/best way of doing anything - not pairs skating, not t&f, not politics... it's just such a shame you have to suffer with any continued American dominance on the global stage.

I see you decided again to get your knickers in a twist and have a go at me without acknowledging that I said the selection process was fair. Perhaps you are the one, dear, that needs to calm down and not take everything that I post as a slight against the US.

 

[Karen-W]

I see you decided again to get your knickers in a twist and have a go at me without acknowledging that I said the selection process was fair. Perhaps you are the one, dear, that needs to calm down and not take everything that I post as a slight against the US.

Heh. Backhanded compliment from you, it was in saying the selection process is fair when you follow it up with "you don't always get to send the best team."

 

[kwanfan1818]

No one was arguing that the runners didn't know what the selection process is or that it is unfair. The point raised is whether it is wise and results in the best team.

 

[allezfred]

Heh. Backhanded compliment from you, it was in saying the selection process is fair when you follow it up with "you don't always get to send the best team."

It’s a statement of fact (eg Dan O’Brien 1992). Don’t know why it upsets you so much. ?‍

 

[canbelto]

I mean ... Mu has had injuries. She wasn't not racing bc she was being a diva, she's had a lingering hamstring injury.

 

[Karen-W]

It’s a statement of fact (eg Dan O’Brien 1992). Don’t know why it upsets you so much. ?‍

It's just another of a long string of examples where you criticize the US and imply that the process isn't working to produce the best (in your view) results. And, sure, I can grant you that US pairs have never been "the best" in the world, but as @ilovepaydays pointed out with regard to this particular race and field, it was going to be a do-or-die race because they are all that good.

Beyond that, as @canbelto points out below...

I mean ... Mu has had injuries. She wasn't not racing bc she was being a diva, she's had a lingering hamstring injury.

Given that Mu has been dealing with a lingering injury and hasn't raced all season, it's a stretch to imply that "the best" was left off this team by selecting the team based on this one meet's results. If she was in top form, sure, I'd be right there in thinking that a fluke fall shouldn't keep her off the team but I'm also willing to take a gamble on the three women who DID deliver last night doing well in Paris. I mean, you know me, I'm the FSUer who still holds a grudge against the USFS for leaving Ilia off the Beijing Olympic team. I can appreciate BOW as much as the next person but I also think that Nats/Oly Trials should weigh very heavily in any selection process.

 

[Rukia]

omg i'm not arguing for athing i said she probably had no case for this season i just said I think it's a terrible system lol I stand by that