Athing Mu had a TORN Hamstring + her team wants the Trials systems overhauled to protect stars

I think something is wrong with the Trials system and I don't have the solution. Maybe Trials for 2 and select 1? Not sure and I don't have the answer but I don't like the reasoning "you aren't going to be a factor in Paris anyway" argument. Being an Olympian in itself is a big thing, even if it's not your first. Making a team has a huge bonus I am sure.

If we are going with that argument then we have to back up to, well why be in the Trials if you aren't going to make the team? Or why do you even run at all if you aren't going to be an Olympic Gold medalist? You can be as extreme as you want.

But Rojo I think you may be missing the point here. You are zeroing in on the specifics of Mu’s case here. That is not really germane here. If you overhaul the selection system, it may or may not be a good idea, but Mu’s specific case here is not germane because it would be impacting many athletes over the next few decades, for example. Whether the system should be overhauled is a matter of opinion, and NOBODY on earth knows the answer.

I agree. Miss Mu is physically fragile right now. Do you want to give a relay squad spot to an athlete who is currently injury prone?

You don't give a relay spot to a non-400 runner who finished last in their event at the trials.

If they change the selection process for 2028 (or even 2025) where there is 1 auto bid given, then the favourite for the auto bid would never run the Oly trials? Why would they? Why run the risk of finishing 6th at the Trials and have selectors remove your auto bid status?

Should the auto bid claimant have to perform a fitness test 2 weeks prior to the Games?

Would this change the entire texture of the Trials? Would the auto bid CHEAPEN the Trials process?

How say u?

Rojo, should Galen on a thyroid TUE be moved back 200 meters in a 10,000 track race?

Why not?

Two thoughts:

1. It's funny that Kersee calls for a discretionary spot when it's very hard to argue Mu deserves one this year. Akins, Wilson, and Whittaker are all fit, healthy, and have won major races this calendar year. Mu only raced at trials (where she didn't run faster than any of those 3) and is nursing a torn hammy. If I was a USATF selector, I'd want Whittaker over Mu in Paris.

2. I hope Mu leaves Kersee. His whole thing is getting his stars ready for the Olympics, and look what happened. Waiting so late to open her season meant that Mu was screwed when she had a setback. Hiding the extent of her injury just brought more pressure and attention.

cry me a river

And yet, here you are…

She's an actual female who ran 1:58 off 2 weeks training

Do you not think she could run 1:55 in Parid?

How many diamond league's has Whittaker won? She's nowhere close to 1:54. I don't care about a watered down NCAA

Hard no on the second part. Honestly, even if you set up a system to “protect” the stars (and she certainly would qualify for that tag if healthy), how could you justify sending a star with a torn hamstring over a healthy person?

And Sleepy Joe had "a cold" last night to explain his horrible performance.

If we're going by Diamond League wins, let's give the 3rd spot to Ajee Wilson. I care about what form people are in right now, and Whittaker has showed that she's able to race well across multiple rounds in NCAAs and Trials.

"cutthroat process" as in the top three make it?

Can we STOP with the whining, and the overhauls, and the "system is the problem" mentality always???

the system was the problem in USA gymnastics because the system sent teenage girls to a camp in the middle of no where Texas with little oversight and allowed Larry Nassar unfettered access to them with little protection.

the system was the problem in cycling when teams and whole federation protected known dopers.

heck, the system was the problem when Mary Cain was abused by Salazar and had no where to go to when it was happening.

But when the US system has a trials that involve no "selection" no room for bias whatsoever, that becomes a problem because one runner who couldn't be bothered to race and prepare, tripped up??

tell it to someone who cares, Athing.

I'm sorry but between her, and Natosha complaining about race strategy and Shelby complaining about positive tests, I'm done with whiners. It's not the system's fault you couldn't work within it.

Why should an injured runner be sent to the Olympics? Why should a runner who can't finish the trials race be sent to the Olympics? Why should someone who hasn't run a 400 in YEARS be added to the 4x400 squad?

Selection by committee is for tiny countries where a trials race would be impractical. In America it's a necessity, and the most equitable way to select a team. Automatically sending the defending champ, top two + one, etc etc are all garbage ideas. Finish top three or gtfo.

We had three ladies kick azz in the 800. Ran fast times and hit the standard. The idea that one should be booted and replaced with falling injured never-races Athing Mu is DISGUSTING.

As with most of these crap articles this one contains two big problems: 1) odds are high that Mu wouldn't have made the team even had she stayed on her feet and 2) the fall was her own damn fault for cutting in like a battering ram; it wasn't incidental or caused by anyone else.

Bye bye Mu. And best of luck to Sage in the 1500. Take my energy!!
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What a battle of wits we have here. One thinks we should rerun races if a star falls (re-running an 800 after anything over 100m is absurd btw) and the other actually believes Mu only trained for 2 weeks.

You are done with whiners? You are voting for one.

No, assuming the tear is only partial (meaning its torn but not all the way through so not severing the hamstring completely), she could run on it. I have. It would hurt but it would be possible.

Sounds like she wasn't completely healthy and in shape and not the best candidate to represent in France. Seems like the process worked.

Oh, and sorry competitive sports are tough and you don't always win. What a bunch of sore losers.