Athing Mu OUT of Millrose

is brandon miller update

“My athletes get medals. I don’t owe track fans nothing!”

I read that as the appearance fee was insufficient.

So hard to know what’s going on with Mu. Her talent level is off the charts. Her accomplishments to date are epic. Still, you get the vague sense behind the scenes she struggles with motivation or something. I’m sure I’m reading to much into this, still, it’s a little strange when the USA’s best mid distance talent races so rarely.

I don’t think it is motivation that she struggles with. I just think that she sees the bigger picture and racing frequently is not necessary. I do think she should not have associated herself with Kersee.

I get the sense she doesn’t handle losing very well, based on her response to the mile she dropped out of last year.

I assume she’s dodging Ajee. That was predictable. I’m sure she will be fine come time for the summer racing season.

My first thought was the rather underperforming Kersee folks at NB Indoor Grand Prix.

I hope that’s all it is.

There was a super interesting article last week in the NYT about the golfer Anthony Kim. Does anybody remember him? It got me to thinking about Mu for no particular reason other than a sense I get when I hear her interviewed.

“He Was Compared to Tiger Woods. So Why Did He Walk Away From Golf?

Is it OK for an athlete — or anyone, really — to have an extraordinary gift and not use it? The golfer Anthony Kim apparently decided, emphatically, that it is.”

Anyway, as a lowly fan Mu makes me nervous that she’ll walk away in her prime even if it means leaving lots of medals and lots of money on the table.

Bummer. Is she dodging Ajee? Or doesn't want the comparison with Hodgkinson 600m WB from last week?

I think it’s sort of insulting to her to think she’s “dodging” people she’s beat over and over and over, or that she’s afraid to lose to them. I guess the question would be, why would she even in a position where she might lose to Ajee or fail in comparison to Keely? If she’s been hurt or ill, just say it. It seems like there is something more foundational at play.

It seems like she only sets herself up for a race when she thinks she can win. She overestimated herself on the Millrose mile last year and dropped with 300m to go and didn't stay for interviews or offer any explanation. Of course she's obligated to run USA's and World's. She barely won USA's over Wilson and only beat Hodgkinson by 0.07 s at world's. It may have scared her off from racing after World's, but ironically it was actually Moraa who was probably more of a threat in the later part of the year to beat her. Doesn't Ajee never lose at the Armory? Now she withdraws from the meet entirely.

I get she wants to always win like everyone, but if only winning will make her happy, that's concerning. It's okay to lose. For what it's worth, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone just did.

People do get to live their own life

Yes, 100%. Again from her interviews and media presence, Mu always strikes me as somebody who has interests and ambitions far beyond T&F.

Like what?

Mu has zero fear of Ajee Wilson..no one says you have to take Indoors that seriously..but not to race at all..let alone against somebody good? Wow..I had same critique of McLaughlin.

That's exactly what it is. She took a break after last season, had to move to LA, started with a new coach, and she isn't quite ready for prime time.

Right now I don't think Athing can beat Ajee or break Keely's new 600 record. So because of those 2 reasons neither Athing nor Bobby Kersee want her to race right now.

She'll be ready for outdoors. And she should be even faster than last year.

Will she compete at all this winter? USA's?

And you will keep having that critique for the next few years because with Bobby Kersee as their coach they won't be running many races. Maybe good for them, but bad for fans.

I can definitely see that Hodgkinson is a woman on a mission. And maybe Ajee is starting to sneak into Mu's head for some reason.