b) I can't believe ky robinson doesn't have the time or ranking in either 5 or 10. Hasn't he wanted to go to worlds? surely he'd have been able to get either time or rankings in either, given shape he's in
You would have thought so based on NCAAs but his two races since have not gone well. 13:20.96 in Lausanne after hitting halfway at ~13:04 pace, and then fell apart at the Sunset Tour meet for a 13:36.
Lausanne was his first DL race, he ran the second kilometer at sub-13 pace, got in a little over his head, and it can’t be easy psychologically running 13:20 and finishing 40 seconds behind the winner. NBD. Sunset Tour was rough, like he was either having cramping or some other “accute” issue, or he’s overcooked and needs to shut it down.
The steeplechase is a banter discipline for people who aren't fast enough to be a 1500m runner and don't have the endurance for a 5000m.
Lamecha Girma could probably run 3:28 or 12:40 this year if he put his mind to it. So that’s not that bad.
Him and El Bakkali are the only ones keeping this event respectable. Jager coming off years of injuries finished 6th at World's last year without breaking 8:16.
More 1,500/5,000 guys should take a shot at Steeple (Im looking at you Cooper Teare). If you can run low 3:30's and 13:00, you could probably run low 8:00s if you are coordinated and can snag a medal instead of competing against a phalanx of 12:40 guys in the 5.
While the level of competition seems less deep in the steeple, it doesn't make it any easier. A lot of 1500/5000 people who don't steeple may have better top end speed or endurance, but they might lack the overall athletic skills and coordination of a steepler. Consistently getting through a steeple race clean is tough, and getting back up and getting after it after a bad fall or wipeout is even harder.
If it was so easy to switch over to steeple and medal, a lot more borderline runners would. Beamish is doing well because he is much more athletic than guys like his fellow coffee club hosts who seem clumsy. I don't know that teare has the balance and coordination to steeple. If we are looking for an american 1500/5000 guy to convert to the steeple to dominate, look no further than Hobbs Kessler, a strong rock climber. Another season struggling to make a US team at the 1500, might be enough to consider what he can do over the barriers like Jager did.
While the level of competition seems less deep in the steeple, it doesn't make it any easier. A lot of 1500/5000 people who don't steeple may have better top end speed or endurance, but they might lack the overall athletic skills and coordination of a steepler. Consistently getting through a steeple race clean is tough, and getting back up and getting after it after a bad fall or wipeout is even harder.
If it was so easy to switch over to steeple and medal, a lot more borderline runners would. Beamish is doing well because he is much more athletic than guys like his fellow coffee club hosts who seem clumsy. I don't know that teare has the balance and coordination to steeple. If we are looking for an american 1500/5000 guy to convert to the steeple to dominate, look no further than Hobbs Kessler, a strong rock climber. Another season struggling to make a US team at the 1500, might be enough to consider what he can do over the barriers like Jager did.
Kessler is far too young to give up on his 1500m. Secondly, isn't his training partner (other than Flanagan and Beadlescomb) Mason Ferlic? Not sure Ron would be keen on two guys directly competing for national team spots training together.
While the level of competition seems less deep in the steeple, it doesn't make it any easier. A lot of 1500/5000 people who don't steeple may have better top end speed or endurance, but they might lack the overall athletic skills and coordination of a steepler. Consistently getting through a steeple race clean is tough, and getting back up and getting after it after a bad fall or wipeout is even harder.
If it was so easy to switch over to steeple and medal, a lot more borderline runners would. Beamish is doing well because he is much more athletic than guys like his fellow coffee club hosts who seem clumsy. I don't know that teare has the balance and coordination to steeple. If we are looking for an american 1500/5000 guy to convert to the steeple to dominate, look no further than Hobbs Kessler, a strong rock climber. Another season struggling to make a US team at the 1500, might be enough to consider what he can do over the barriers like Jager did.
Kessler is far too young to give up on his 1500m. Secondly, isn't his training partner (other than Flanagan and Beadlescomb) Mason Ferlic? Not sure Ron would be keen on two guys directly competing for national team spots training together.
There are only 3 spots in the 1500m each time and personally I think that Nuguse and a fully fit Hocker would always beat Kessler. That leaves a lot of good players fighting for one spot. Maybe steeples isn’t such a crazy option. Beamish on the other hand has flexibility to drop to 1500 if he wanted to and easily be the number 2 guy in NZ.