Alicia Monson: time to move up

I don't think it is impossible for a major championship 10k to play out in such a way that she could medal, but I agree it's very unlikely in the 5k. In both genders the 5k is really turning into a speedster's game in championships, such that the 1500-5000 double seems eminently more possible nowadays than the 10k-5k double, which has not been how it was for most of our sport's history - El G's 2004 double was a huge splash at the time but now we've got 5k podiums full of runners whose other event, if they have one, is the 1500 rather than 10k. To the main point though, I am very excited to see what Monson can do in a marathon whenever she decides to try one. She'll bust out some fast times at 26.2 whenever she's ready to move up.

The men's 5k closed in 52.XX. No shot if you're not already a sub-4 miler. And probably need low 3:50 speed on the men's side.

On the women's side, you need sub-4 speed I think.

agreed. Her form is that of a marathoner and I have no doubt she could set the American record in the half and full marathons rather quickly upon moving up.

She’sa fine runner, great among domestic fields, but hardly a prodigy.

The 5K belongs to the 1500 crowd now, which is the only reason the 3K won't be the longest track event any time soon. Monson might be okay pacing at DL meets moving forward, maybe.

What an insightful comment. I'd never have expected that you'd have to be able to break 4 in the mile to compete against people who can average 4:03 for the mile in their 5k.

She is pretty much a lock to get a spot in 2024 OGs. It would be dumb to move up now and skip out on the Olympics. And she may still have some upward trajectory on the tract if she can work on closing faster. After the OGs and maybe 2025 WCs in Tokyo, she should make her marathon debut. She certainly seems to be Shalane 2.0.

Only 5th place? Better move up to the marathon where she'll get 13th and then you can tell her she needs to move up to ultras. Getting a medal is partly luck. She just has to keep showing up and hope 2 or 3 more east Africans have a bad day.

+1. She almost won a DL 3k once, so, you never know what's going to happen.

This is true. The women running the major marathons are pretty fast too….is Monson going to out kick Hassan or Obiri at the end of a marathon major? It’s tough all over and moving to the roads is not going to be a refuge for Monson unless she avoids the important races, and then what’s the point? Monson is every bit as likely or unlikely to win a medal in the 10 as she is to be top 3 in a marathon major.

I am excited to see what she does on the roads but don’t see it happening til 2025. Maybe this fall she’ll do a 10 miler or 15k road race

Monson is a great runner who seems to be maximizing her potential to the fullest, but the harsh truth is that her talent is a level below the very best in the world. I expect her to be a successful marathoner down the line who could push for the American Record, but the lead pack of East Africans will still be ahead of her regardless of the event.

Her best hope for a medal is a 2015 Worlds 10k type situation, where a number of the top contenders are missing for one reason or another.

I would not mind seeing her do a half in training for her 10,000.

And make sure you are in 4th place when the woman in 3rd place decides to celebrate before the finish line, and then out lean her!

How are you even going to hit world standard of 13:08 if you’re not a sub4 miler ?

I think you meant sub 3:50 miler.

I think she should remain focused on the track through 2025, but I think she has a better chance for marathon podium finishes than some posters are saying. Emily Sisson, Emma Bates, Sara Hall and Molly Seidel have all placed top 3 at WMMs or the Olympics in the last few years, and none of them ran 14:19 and 30:03. There are 27 WMMs or global championship marathons every 4 years compared with only 3 championship 10ks in that span. Most recently, if Lindsay Flanagan can run 2:27:47 for 9th at Worlds, I don’t see why Monson can’t be mixing it up with Fatima Gardadi (2:25:17) for the bronze.

Like the men, there are less 10K track races available now than there were 10+ years ago. Realistically, a pro might have 3-4 good opportunities for the track 10K each year. 2 of those will be their national championship and world championship / olympics. So that scarcity is going to favor the 1500/3000/5000 runner who will have many more racing opportunities to make money. The 10K+ runner needs to be hitting the roads to make money. That nearly eliminates a 10K track specialist.

What a miserable troll take. 5th in the world. massive fruit for the labor. loving the sport. great attitude.

Your take? give up and chase old lady money.