That's right, the Trials are category B. The person who thinks it's GL thinks got "national" championships (which this is) confused with "area" championships (Euros, NACACs, etc).
(And the points are different for the steeple, 5k, and 10k than the other events, which is why everyone keeps getting that wrong.)
After tonight, Wolfe should be #46 so he would need four scratches. I don't believe Beamish is running the 5k, one of the Americans would get taken out, so two more scratches?
Mills, Nordas, or Mechaal could scratch for the 1500, but not likely since the 1500 is first at the Olympics.
Yeah Mills I don’t think would help even. They have guys with the standard.
That's right, the Trials are category B. The person who thinks it's GL thinks got "national" championships (which this is) confused with "area" championships (Euros, NACACs, etc).
(And the points are different for the steeple, 5k, and 10k than the other events, which is why everyone keeps getting that wrong.)
It’s not Grahams choice whether Wolfe goes, it’s a matter of if Parker Wolfe qualifies to go. If he doesn’t Graham goes. Would be happy to see either go. Parker has looked great the last few races and Graham seemed unstoppable last fall, got an injury that almost seemed like would ruin his Olympic chances, and then bounced back with an awesome performance tonight. Congrats to both men either way.
Yeah for the record I'd actually be pumped to watch Blanks race at Paris. He was an absolute stud in cross country and I'm sure he'll represent team USA well. It's just funny that (as someone else pointed out) Wolfe has now beat him head-to-head multiple times but Blanks has a decent shot at going instead of him.
So he’s gonna lose a spot to a guy he’s beaten head to head in their last two races? Makes sense
Blanks smoked him in November and again in December, and he'd probably be back in better shape than Wolfe by August.
If Wolfe could have hung with Blanks at the BU Season Opener he wouldn't be in this predicament. Or he could have got in that Olympic Standard race at the Terrier Classic. Instead he ran a 3k all by himself at the Scarlet & White meet.
After tonight, Wolfe should be #46 so he would need four scratches. I don't believe Beamish is running the 5k, one of the Americans would get taken out, so two more scratches?
Mills, Nordas, or Mechaal could scratch for the 1500, but not likely since the 1500 is first at the Olympics.
Two Americans (Teare and Nico) and Beamish would be scratching. So he needs one more.
So he’s gonna lose a spot to a guy he’s beaten head to head in their last two races? Makes sense
Our sport makes no sense
In Blanks’ last 2 races before injury (NCAA XC and BU5k), he beat Wolfe by 35 seconds and 10 seconds (with an NCAA title and NCAA record enroute). Two months ago, Blanks was running 13:37 for 5k and getting smoked. He is a freak talent and getting fitter with every passing week.
I’m not in favor of the rankings system by any means, but it does in some ways protect for injury cases like this where Blanks was in stunning form before getting hurt. Taking into account his body of work over the last 8months, he is a deserving Olympian. To make it sound like it’s some disgrace or that he is definitively worse a candidate than Wolfe is disingenuous and neglecting context.
With all that being said, just go back to A standard / B standard system. It was way easier.
It's definitely bs if he doesn't go. Anyone with a clue can see that he is in 12:55 shape and has such a high race IQ that he can upset much faster runners. He has a much better chance at medaling than the dorks time trialing 13:04s in rabbited races with perfect weather.