The 2017 Track & Field Thread

[ilovepaydays]

It's a new year, track & field fans! Time for a 2017 thread!

What are you excited to see this year? Right now, indoor track seems interesting, but I am wondering about the Boston Marathon, with Galen Rupp, Shalane Flanagan, Desiree Linden, Meb Keflezighi, Jared Ward, and Abdi Abdirahman as the top Americans entering.

And making her marathon debut at Boston? Jordan Hasay, who ran a 1:08:40 first ever half marathon in Houston last weekend. With 90+% humidity. Just saying.

And Worlds in London are six months away, but I wonder what Allyson Felix is going to do. And Usain Bolt. And Andre DeGrasse. And Elaine Thompson. And Keni Harrison. And Wayde van Niekerk.

Retirements (so far):
Jessica Ennis-Hill
Nick Symmonds (Not surprising, but it looks like he is making it a "Farwell Tour" promoting Brooks and his Run Gum company.)
Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen-Eaton - Post at weareeaton.com

 

[ilovepaydays]

BREAKING - Jamaica loses gold medal from 2008 Olympic men's 4X100m relay.

Sad for Usain Bolt. I am glad drug cheats are getting caught, but it shouldn't take this long to figure this out. Ideally, they should get caught before they get to the starting line.

 

[Buzz]

Just saw this and my heart goes out to the rest of the Jamaican team. But cheats should be caught and punished and it really shouldn't have taken this long.

 

[gk_891]

I also feel bad for the Jamaican team. It probably wasn't needed either since Jamaica won that relay race by a huge margin. It wasn't even close.

Does anyone know what will happen with the other teams? Will the teams from Trinidad & Tobago and Japan receive gold and silver? And will Brazil (who had finished fourth) receive bronze?

 

[ilovepaydays]

Does anyone know what will happen with the other teams? Will the teams Trinidad & Tobago and Japan receive gold and silver? And will Brazil (who had finished fourth) receive bronze?

I believe the medals will be redistributed.

Side point: As a much as I love Team USA, it's that the Japanese men has given us a clinic about how you don't need the fastest sprinters to do a great relay. You just need four sprinters who can be fast enough, exchange correctly, and hold on to the baton. The Japanese men also won silver in Rio and the U.S. men were DQed after initially finishing 3rd.

 

[gk_891]

I believe the medals will be redistributed.

Side point: As a much as I love Team USA, it's that the Japanese men has given us a clinic about how you don't need the fastest sprinters to do a great relay. You just need four sprinters who can be fast enough, exchange correctly, and hold on to the baton. The Japanese men also won silver in Rio and the U.S. men were DQed after initially finishing 3rd.

Some of those Japanese sprinters were actually faster than some might think. Sure, they weren't as fast as Jamaica but they were up there. But yes, their exchanges were done very smoothly which unquestionably helped them do so well.

 

[gk_891]

Some of those Japanese sprinters were actually faster than some might think. Sure, they weren't as fast as Jamaica but they were up there. But yes, their exchanges were done very smoothly which unquestionably helped them do so well.

Sorry, I might've been thinking about the Chinese relay team at the 2015 World championships. I think it was their times were actually comparable to the others. Not sure about the Japanese team last year in Rio.

 

[ilovepaydays]

U.S. women's distance running just got a lot more competitive: Sally Kipyego became a U.S. citizen yesterday.

Kipyego (for Kenya) was the 2012 Olympic silver medalist in the 10K and was 2nd in the NYC marathon last year.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Some interesting news coming from the IAAF. What are your thoughts?

Ban on Russian athletes to be extended to 2017 London World Championships
• IAAF says Russia still refuses to acknowledge extent of doping problems
• 35 Russian athletes have already applied to compete under a neutral flag
https://www.iaaf.org/news/press-release/transfer-allegiance-council-meeting-russia
IAAF Freezes Transfer of Allegiance Process - This is HUGE. Especially for countries like Turkey, Qatar, and Bahrain that have been accused of "bribing" African athletes in order to win world/Olympic medals.

Meanwhile - Beijing 2008 Olympic champion Dawn Harper-Nelson handed three-month ban. I don't understand how athletes (especially this experienced) still make mistakes like this. Is it really that hard to do a search at a website like this and determine if a drug you need is prohibited and either: 1) work with your doctor and see a nonbanned drug works for your condition, or 2) apply and hopefully get approved for a TUE?

 

[Dave of the North]

Some interesting news coming from the IAAF. What are your thoughts?

Ban on Russian athletes to be extended to 2017 London World Championships
• IAAF says Russia still refuses to acknowledge extent of doping problems
• 35 Russian athletes have already applied to compete under a neutral flag
IAAF Freezes Transfer of Allegiance Process - This is HUGE. Especially for countries like Turkey, Qatar, and Bahrain that have been accused of "bribing" African athletes in order to win world/Olympic medals.

Meanwhile - Beijing 2008 Olympic champion Dawn Harper-Nelson handed three-month ban. I don't understand how athletes (especially this experienced) still make mistakes like this. Is it really that hard to do a search at a website like this and determine if a drug you need is prohibited and either: 1) work with your doctor and see a nonbanned drug works for your condition, or 2) apply and hopefully get approved for a TUE?

I take hydrochlorothiazide. I guess I better stop taking it or I won't be able to compete at the Olympics...oh, wait.

 

[ilovepaydays]

I take hydrochlorothiazide. I guess I better stop taking it or I won't be able to compete at the Olympics...oh, wait.

I'm just that someone with Harper-Nelson's experience made a mistake like this. I believe that TUEs are relatively easy to get as long as it's not something like testosterone.

 

[douglasottawa]

BREAKING - Jamaica loses gold medal from 2008 Olympic men's 4X100m relay.

Sad for Usain Bolt. I am glad drug cheats are getting caught, but it shouldn't take this long to figure this out. Ideally, they should get caught before they get to the starting line.

Honestly do we know Bolt is even clean? I am not accusing Bolt of being a doper, just in this day and age anyone that amazing I wouldnt want to bet my life on their being clean if some kind of super test what went back years were developed. No matter who they are.

The women (women drugs more impactful than men since they are mostly male hormones) in many events are running slower times than 70s and 80s though, so I guess drug testing atleast way improved from when Samaranch was IOC leader.

 

[douglasottawa]

Some of those Japanese sprinters were actually faster than some might think. Sure, they weren't as fast as Jamaica but they were up there. But yes, their exchanges were done very smoothly which unquestionably helped them do so well.

What was the best Japanese finish in the 100 metres though? I dont remember.

 

[gk_891]

What was the best Japanese finish in the 100 metres though? I dont remember.

I don't remember either. I do remember some were arguing that their final runner (the runner who is half-Jamaican) is the reason why they won the silver medal. But I do remember that his time wasn't even the fastest within the Japanese team. I'm willing to bet they were faster than some are willing to give them credit for. It wasn't just their smooth baton passes.

 

[Seerek]

What was the best Japanese finish in the 100 metres though? I dont remember.

Interesting fact: Asuka Cambridge (semifinalist in the 100m in addition to the relay silver) was in fact born in Jamaica. He's 23, so we'll be seeing more of him in the years towards Tokyo 2020.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Feyisa Lilisa news update: He has reunited with his family today here in the U.S.

Great news! I was seriously scared for his family in Ethiopia given the protest he did in Rio.

Apparently Feyisa was able to come to the U.S. on a "special skills" visa and he was eventually able to get his family visas to come here. They plan to live in the Flagstaff, AZ area (which is probably excellent for distance running training).

Feyisa plans to compete in the London Marathon this summer. I wonder if he is going to be allowed to compete for Ethiopia or will he have to be a neutral athlete?

 

[allezfred]

Ivana Spanovic from Serbia jumped 7.24 at European indoors today to record third longest ever distance indoors.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Ivana is amazing! Also at Europeans - Laura Muir is on a roll!

U.S. Indoor Nationals was also fun to watch. Especially Ajee Wilson, Clayton Murphy, Erik Sowinski, Vashti Cunningham, and Michelle Carter.

Of course, some of these are at their peak now - outdoors is another story.

 

[allezfred]

Laura Muir is on a roll!

One of the officials tried to stop her having a victory lap when she won the 1500m. She wasn't having any of it.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Laura Muir plans on 1500m/5000m double at World Championships.

If USATF was smart (but they aren't), they would schedule U.S. Nationals so that those who have a realistic shot at multiple events (800m/1500m, 1500m/5000m, etc.) can compete in them. The rounds make it impossible to logistically do. I'm thinking about Clayton Murphy as an example.

U.S. Nationals is only over 4 days (June 22-25). The 5K/10K is doable because the 5K usually doesn't have a prelim, just a final. The 10K is always just a final and it's usually opening night.

The 200m/400m double at U.S. Nationals is going to be brutal for Allyson Felix to attempt.

 

[ilovepaydays]

It's outdoor track and marathon season! Who else is excited?

Some interesting articles:
Rio Olympic marathon champion Sumgong fails drugs test - Thoughts? Should Kenya (and/or maybe Ethiopia?) be on IAAF's list to be banned like Russia is right now?

NBC Sports Group and the IAAF Diamond League have partnered on a media rights agreement for exclusive TV rights to the league’s events through 2019

Sally Pearson back on track after lost years - Apparently, Pearson (fractured wrist from 2015) still can't bend her wrist backwards, do a proper push-up, and has problems picking up her dinner plate. I'm not sure how successful her comeback will be, because the U.S. women will have four spots in the 100m hurdles and their depth in INSANE.

Interesting - The IAAF is considering changing the race walk event at Worlds/Olympics from the 20K & 50K to only having a half marathon (21.5K). Thoughts? I may get flack for this opinion, but I've thought for awhile that the 10K should be taken off the track and be a road race.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Sigh......Olympic 100H Champ Brianna Rollins Gets 1 Year Suspension For Missing Three Drug Tests

Press release from USADA

Is it really that hard to make a drug test, much less three? I wonder how much this will cost her. Will her sponsor (Nike) end up dropping her because she can't compete in enough meets?

Anyway, that's one way that making the Worlds team will be made a tiny bit easier. That event is like Hunger Games in the U.S. I think whoever makes the team could end up sweeping the podium again like they did in Rio.

Speaking of the World Championships - the official mascot has been revealed. Goodness, that looks stupid.

-----------------------

Meanwhile - Anyone else excited about the World Relays this weekend?

Will the U.S. dominate the all the relays? Or will the 4X100m men get DQ'ed.........AGAIN!

 

[Buzz]

Beijing Olympic high jump silver medalist Germaine Mason has died in a motorcycle accident on the island of Jamaica. He was just 34 years old. R.I.P.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/39657369

 

[Braulio]

2015 Pole Vault World Champion Shawn Barber comes out as gay

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/trackandfield/shawn-barber-comes-out-1.4084200

 

[Erin]

I think it's great that he came out. I do find the juxtaposition a little odd that in the same story they are mentioning his excuse for the positive cocaine test was a result of kissing a woman. I felt like that excuse was already an odd/flimsy one at the time and well, it seems a little odder and flimsier now. Perhaps he was experimenting or hadn't yet figured himself out (I have a very close friend who didn't admit to himself he was gay until he was 23 or 24). I'm just always suspicious of drug excuses in track and field...and it probably wouldn't have occurred to me if it weren't in the same article.

 

[Braulio]

For me that story about the way he got the cocaine into his system was a bit weird...

Anyway good for Shawn, hope he can get some redemption this upcoming world championships from the disapointing Olympic Games showing

 

[Vagabond]

Paula Radcliffe and Jonathan Edwards to lose world records after rules tweak

Paula Radcliffe and Jonathan Edwards are set to be stripped of their world and European records under new rules that will require anyone breaking a major record to have been tested numerous times in the months beforehand – and to have the sample taken after their record performance still available for retesting....

The proposal would also mean that historical world records, including Mike Powell’s extraordinary world long jump of 8.95m, from 1991, and Hicham El Guerrouj’s 1500m time of 3min 26.00sec, from 1998, would be stripped from the books. Others that have long been seen as dubious, such as Florence Griffiths-Joyner’s 100m and 200m world records, set in 1988, and numerous world bests set by eastern bloc athletes during the Cold War, when state-sponsored doping was rife and there was no out-of-competition testing, would also be deleted.

It seems harsh and unfair for any athlete who set a record without doping, but if there's no way for the IAAF to know who such people are or were, it's better to start afresh. I remember that something similar happened in weightlifting, which changed all of the weight classifications once in order to wipe out old records.

 

[ilovepaydays]

It seems harsh and unfair for any athlete who set a record without doping, but if there's no way for the IAAF to know who such people are or were, it's better to start afresh. I remember that something similar happened in weightlifting, which changed all of the weight classifications once in order to wipe out old records.

Well, I've always been every time I watch track & field and Flo Jo's 100/200m and Jackie-Joyner Kersee's heptathlon records have been mentioned. No woman has come close to touching those records set in 1988.

I guess it would depend on how many times "numerous times" means - I'm thinking about Genzebe Dibaba's 1500m record set in 2015, for example. And then her coach Jama Aden was arrested in Spain in a raid (where EPO was found) just before the Rio Olympics.......

 

[Seerek]

I'm thinking about Genzebe Dibaba's 1500m record set in 2015, for example. And then her coach Jama Aden was arrested in Spain in a raid (where EPO was found) just before the Rio Olympics.......

Interesting you bring up Dibaba - she's going to try the 800m this week at Doha Diamond League.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Interesting you bring up Dibaba - she's going to try the 800m this week at Doha Diamond League.

If Genzebe either 1) Beats 1:58, and/or outkicks Caster Semenya, that will be too good to be true.

Doha DL is going go to have some insanly good matchups this Friday. I can't wait!