Train's Thoughts from the Train

By etrain11

With US's coming into focus a bit more, it's time to hit you with a few thoughts from the train while he sits on the train.

Is Evan Jager about to be the face of USA track and field?

Alex Fox briefly addressed the subject of the US's "face of the sport" in a post earlier this year and many of the names he mentioned, for one reason or another, seem to be slipping from a potential place at the throne. Nick Symmonds has struggled in 2014 and 2015 as he appears to be on the down slope of his career. The US's best runners in terms of world medals, Galen Rupp and Matt Centrowitz, are potentially about to hit a flurry of doping allegations, speculation and criticism. Not sure somebody in the middle of that, clean or not, is the guy you build an adversing campaign around.

Meanwhile Jager has been consistently and rapidly improving in the steeplechase since his Olympic Trials championship in 2012. He's owned the all time list in the event, holding the national record and a few other top 10 times. Plus he's run close to 13 flat for 5k and now adds an unreal 3:32 for 1500.

He's looking sharp for a potential first world championship medal and maybe even a sub 8 mark. And it can't hurt that he's a reasonably good looking dude who's hair has its own Twitter account because, yes, it's that good. 

If our sport is going to have a face, would really be a bad idea to have Evan's?

Does Chris Derrick have enough to make a team?

Sticking with the Shumacher clan, Chris Derrick, one of the sports brightest young runners, is battling back from an unfortunately timed injury. His first return to the track was an unimpressive (for him) mark around 13:40. Considering he ran 13:55 in high school and briefly helped the American Junior Record at 5000m down under 13:30, that's not the start he was probably hoping for.

That being said, he's got time to round into shape and he will be moving up in distance at USAs I would imagine to go after one of the 3 10k spots. I'd have to check the official lists, but I believe he got his world 10k qualifier last spring, meaning that gives him an edge on a few competitors even if he can't crack the top 3. 

We expect to see Rupp on the starting line despite the allegations surrounding him and barring disaster he will lock up on of the 3 spots. After that things are certainly in flux. Ritz is off to the marathon and Tegenkamp seems to be finished on the track as well knocking out two of the most prominent names of the last half decade. Ben True is probably going to throw his hat in the 10k ring along with the 5k and after finishing 4th in 2013's qualifiers, he's hungry for redemption. Add in the fact that he's been having a terrific spring so far highlighted by last weekends 1st ever American 5k diamond league win in NY and he seems like a good bet to take spot #2.

Can Derrick get the final slot? There's lots of young talent that may consider moving up to 10k (What's Hassan Mead's plan? Eric Jenkins?) but Derrick is now something of an experienced veteran on the U.S. scene and he won't shrink in the big moment. 

What the heck is the deal with the men's 800m?

Seriously though. Nick Symmonds and Duane Soloman have combined to dominate the US title for essentially a decade, with both men producing sub 1:43 marks as recently as 2012 and Symmonds ranking as the 2nd best 800m man in the world just two years ago! At the 2013 world championships, the US actually came fractions away from having 3 men in the 800m final (Brandon Johnson just missed qualifying) and now those 3 men are no where near the top of even their country's standings.

Boris Berian has moved into the top spot in a hurry and appears ready to fill the void. He ran an unreal 1:43.8 going toe to toe with 1:42 man Bosse from France and this guy David Rudisha who is ok at his job. Berian's PR coming into the year was about 5 seconds slower than it is now and he completely skipped the 1:44s during his trip up the all time list. He's an easy favorite in this lackluster field.

However, one of the keys to being successful in championships is understanding how to run the rounds. Symmonds was always very, very good at this because he is strong and has good endurance to pair with his speed (his raw speed is not on the level of most of these guys he was beating in his prime). 

If you are looking for experience, Charles Jock may be a sleeper pick to get involved. He already made a championship team in 2011 and he is fresh off a fantastic 600m. Jock has arguably been the best 800m man for the U.S. that spent 4 years running in college. The other names are guys like Cas Loxsom and Eric Sowinski who both have had their fair share of moments this year, including some records for Cas at 600m. 

Ryan Martin is a name that is getting over looked as a potential contender in the 800 final. He has raced very well this year and seems to have his head on straight after a few small set backs since his excellent 2012 season. 

And also Robby Andrews might be involved. So you know who I will be pulling for.

Who gets the last 1500m spot?

Manzano and Centro are money. It would be a stunner if one of them missed the team this year. Considering they have both grabbed silver on the world scene, shared the U.S. Title in the post Lagat/Webb years and have some of the best tactics on the planet, it's a battle for 3rd.

And oh my what a battle for 3rd this could be. Andrew Wheating has shown flashes of success this year and Lopez Lomong had a decent indoor campaign. Those are two guys that have traditionally grabbed the remaining spot in the 15. However, Wheating has been far from consistent or any sort of 3:30 man like he was in 2010 and Lopez should be making the move up to 5k sooner or later. But you can't count either guy out, especially considering what Wheating was able to do in 2011 and 2012 to get a spot. Hard to pick against a couple of two time Olympians.

But there is a great crop of contenders lurking. Ben Blankenship has looked amazing this year including a memorable anchor leg on the DMR at world relays and a gutsy 3:35 in Shanghai. There's also Kyle Merber who ran 3:34 this year for 1500, eliminating the "Swarthmore fluke" discussion once and for all. Garrett Heath ran 3:34 himself in a battle with the aforementioned Jager and has been in the mix year after year, waiting to try and finally get over the hump. There's also steeplechaser Cory Leslie who has tremendous 3:34 speed and may jump in this field if he prefers his chances here.

And don't forget about Mac Fleet the 2x NCAA 1500m champion who has displayed excellent tactics in recent years even if he doesn't have the mind blowing PB to show off. Jordan MacNamara, David Torrence and Will Leer are all studs in this event and can't even get a sentence to themselves in this discussion. 

So yeah, it's going to be a great race.

How do the collegiates fit in?

Here's a few names that have had strong seasons that may not be ending just yet:

Brandon Kidder in the 800m

Stanley Kebenei in the Steeple (he's an American citizen)

Chad Noelle, Daniel Winn maybe Zach Perkins or Soratos in the 1500m

Eric Jenkins in the 5k/10k

Who are some other names to keep an eye on from the collegiate side? I'm looking at you Zat.