This whole crazy situation with Mu entering, then dropping, then entering, then dropping again means something crazy has been going on behind the scene.
Do you think that Mu was insisting on running and Kersee didn't want her to run?
Or do you think that Kersee kept insisting that Mu should run, and Mu is refusing to run?
This whole crazy situation with Mu entering, then dropping, then entering, then dropping again means something crazy has been going on behind the scene.
Do you think that Mu was insisting on running and Kersee didn't want her to run?
Or do you think that Kersee kept insisting that Mu should run, and Mu is refusing to run?
My guess is the first one.
Mu once said she would love to attempt the 400/800 double someday (a la Alberto Juantorena.)
Kersee has stated that he is opposed to Mu and McLaughlin both competing in the 400 flat.
This whole crazy situation with Mu entering, then dropping, then entering, then dropping again means something crazy has been going on behind the scene.
Do you think that Mu was insisting on running and Kersee didn't want her to run?
Or do you think that Kersee kept insisting that Mu should run, and Mu is refusing to run?
My guess is the first one.
Mu once said she would love to attempt the 400/800 double someday (a la Alberto Juantorena.)
Kersee has stated that he is opposed to Mu and McLaughlin both competing in the 400 flat.
If you're right, and Mu wants to be competitive in the 400 and Kersee won't let her, then it seems unlikely that Mu will stick with Kersee long term.
I think she's with the wrong coach. She is a tremendous 400 runner but her bread & butter is the 800 and I don't think Kersee is a great coach for the 800.
Mu is not the typical runner that a coach like Mike Smith would coach but seeing what he's has been able to do with his guys in the mid distances makes me think we could see Mu on a totally different level in the 800 if she were trained by Smith and being at altitude. It will never happen, though, since Mu likes training with the sprinters too much.
I think she's with the wrong coach. She is a tremendous 400 runner but her bread & butter is the 800 and I don't think Kersee is a great coach for the 800.
Mu is not the typical runner that a coach like Mike Smith would coach but seeing what he's has been able to do with his guys in the mid distances makes me think we could see Mu on a totally different level in the 800 if she were trained by Smith and being at altitude. It will never happen, though, since Mu likes training with the sprinters too much.
I can see Mu moving to another coach, but no way is she going to move up into the mountains and train at altitude.
Plus she seems to like the fashion/modelling opportunities in LA.
But what other good 800 coach is there in the LA area? Maybe Jebreh Harris at USC and have Sammy Watson as a training partner?
I think she's with the wrong coach. She is a tremendous 400 runner but her bread & butter is the 800 and I don't think Kersee is a great coach for the 800.
Mu is not the typical runner that a coach like Mike Smith would coach but seeing what he's has been able to do with his guys in the mid distances makes me think we could see Mu on a totally different level in the 800 if she were trained by Smith and being at altitude. It will never happen, though, since Mu likes training with the sprinters too much.
I really just don't understand why people say this. She literally ran a PR last year. Ran under 1:55 for the first time.
I won't forget how this board treated Mu last year. Nonstop doubt and harassment that she proved wrong time and time again. Remember when everyone said she wouldn't make the US final in the 1500 and then she made top 3?
She did take bronze at worlds, but its been said multiple times from many different sources that it was almost entirely because of personal issues in her life - a breakup was one of them.
The whole entry, then dropping thing almost certainly has something to do with the appearance fee. It's been a big issue in the past.
Mu is a generational talent, she could possibly pull off the 400/800 double, but I am afraid we will never see her try that.
The most ridiculous part is that Kersee has publicly admitted that he doesn't want to train Athing Mu for the 400, because he doesn't want "teammates" Sydney and Athing competing in the same event. Kersee doesn't even try to hide that's what he is doing.
Every other training group in the country has more than one person running the same event. Can you imagine Bowerman saying, "Sorry, but we can only have one women who is allowed to run the 5k"?
And then to make matters worse, Kersee just said today to NBC that Sydney won't be running the 400 anyway. So Kersee could have been training Mu in the 400/800 this whole year.
I think that Mu will find a new coach right after the Olympics.
Mu is a generational talent, she could possibly pull off the 400/800 double, but I am afraid we will never see her try that.
The most ridiculous part is that Kersee has publicly admitted that he doesn't want to train Athing Mu for the 400, because he doesn't want "teammates" Sydney and Athing competing in the same event. Kersee doesn't even try to hide that's what he is doing.
Every other training group in the country has more than one person running the same event. Can you imagine Bowerman saying, "Sorry, but we can only have one women who is allowed to run the 5k"?
And then to make matters worse, Kersee just said today to NBC that Sydney won't be running the 400 anyway. So Kersee could have been training Mu in the 400/800 this whole year.
I think that Mu will find a new coach right after the Olympics.
Hopefully she will do well in Paris, however Moraa is going to be a challenge and so is Hodgkinson .....should be an interesting race. Mu should have stayed in Texas, I thought that all along, LA LA land has too many distractions.
I think she's with the wrong coach. She is a tremendous 400 runner but her bread & butter is the 800 and I don't think Kersee is a great coach for the 800.
Mu is not the typical runner that a coach like Mike Smith would coach but seeing what he's has been able to do with his guys in the mid distances makes me think we could see Mu on a totally different level in the 800 if she were trained by Smith and being at altitude. It will never happen, though, since Mu likes training with the sprinters too much.
I can see Mu moving to another coach, but no way is she going to move up into the mountains and train at altitude.
Plus she seems to like the fashion/modelling opportunities in LA.
But what other good 800 coach is there in the LA area? Maybe Jebreh Harris at USC and have Sammy Watson as a training partner?
Here is the deal with the LA fashion/modelling "opportunities" - they are not opportunities for someone like Mu because she is already somewhat of an icon and she also has an iconic look. Do you think she should sign with one of the LA modelling agencies and "climb the ladder?" Big mistake, she doesn't need to climb any ladder she is a world beating, Olympic champion, once in 75 years talent on the track who also has a very good look for modelling. Her best bet for modelling and fashion is to sign with an international agency like IMG and only accept high-end print work for brands like Rolex, Ferrari, major cosmetics and clothing lines. Forget about the runway that is for the models who are not at the top (though top models do occasionally walk the runway.) Signing with an agency limits models to the particular agency's clientele. Models are often contractually allowed to sign with different agencies in different cities, but so what then they are under two sets of limitations. Thinking at an even more elite level, she could find an individual agent and do each assignment as a custom/one-off agreement using her contract (one drafted for her by an appropriate attorney) and not be tied to any agency. The bottom line is for someone like, her signing with some agency in LA (or anywhere) puts her into a box and limits her options. She doesn't need that, she is already iconic and only needs to come to the attention of the high-end brands that will surely benefit from featuring her in advertisements. She doesn't need to be located in any specific city for that to happen thought some have advantages.
Now, taking the above approach to the modelling/fashion work she wishes, the next question is if she did decide to change coaches what area could she live in that offers the best coach and also is a good home base for dealing with modelling/fashion work and also would be a great place to live? I think the answer is pretty simple: she could move to Palo Alto and train with JJ Clark at Stanford. Downtown Palo Alto is one of the best places in the world to live. She could roll out of bed over to the Stanford track which is a wonderful place to train. She would have comradery with the Stanford 400/800 ladies. There are two major airports less than 30 miles from Palo Alto. She could work with local photographers to build her photo portfolio, for less than it costs to do so in LA (although that expense should not be any problem for her.) San Francisco is 30 miles away from Palo Alto and has some good photo and video studios and the Bay Area has a number of very talented photographers. San Francisco is a beautiful, sophisticated city containing many great locations for photo shoots. (Yes it has gone downhill in some ways but the crime and poop problem is way overstated and photo shoots always include security details.) She could also take trips to LA (or wherever) to work on any particular assignment.
I am not affiliated in any way with Stanford, Coach JJ Clark, the Stanford track program, IMG or anything else just mentioned.
Mu once said she would love to attempt the 400/800 double someday (a la Alberto Juantorena.)
Kersee has stated that he is opposed to Mu and McLaughlin both competing in the 400 flat.
Mu’s current body type looks more like 800 and above than below. She’s lithe but has very little muscle definition like sprinters including lappers typically do.
This whole crazy situation with Mu entering, then dropping, then entering, then dropping again means something crazy has been going on behind the scene.
Do you think that Mu was insisting on running and Kersee didn't want her to run?
Or do you think that Kersee kept insisting that Mu should run, and Mu is refusing to run?
Either way, hard to believe that this sort of turmoil is good for anyone - especially someone trying to do something historic like win back to back 800m titles.
It's just this weird mix of a coach who is basically insane, money (I'm sure), the fact that she's only turning 22 in a matter of days and already has been feeling the weight of expectations to the degree she almost took an entire season off. None of this is good.
Just get her as far the f--- away from Bobby Kersee as possible. If I was Nike this is where I would be stepping in for the good of her well being first and foremost and then my investment in her.
I think she's with the wrong coach. She is a tremendous 400 runner but her bread & butter is the 800 and I don't think Kersee is a great coach for the 800.
Mu is not the typical runner that a coach like Mike Smith would coach but seeing what he's has been able to do with his guys in the mid distances makes me think we could see Mu on a totally different level in the 800 if she were trained by Smith and being at altitude. It will never happen, though, since Mu likes training with the sprinters too much.
I can see Mu moving to another coach, but no way is she going to move up into the mountains and train at altitude.
Plus she seems to like the fashion/modelling opportunities in LA.
But what other good 800 coach is there in the LA area? Maybe Jebreh Harris at USC and have Sammy Watson as a training partner?