Look I don't mean to be overly critical of these guys, they are better runners with smarter coaches than myself, but watching the USA champs I couldn't help but feel like some guys were running the wrong race. While people like Andrew Bayer were taking smart risks and experimenting with new events and tactics others were caught up in the wrong moment. Here are my thoughts.
1. Lopez Lomong, 1500m:
I'm a big Lopez fan. His story is amazing and his running is courageous to watch. The guy has been to two Olympic squads and just recent won an indoor national championship in the mile in a battle with buddy Will Leer (ironically the two finished neck and neck again outdoors this year, this time for 3rd and 4th). He is a great combination of strength and speed: if he chooses to run the 1500 next year he will be in the hunt for the world team without question.
But I think it's time for Lopez to begin his transition to 5000m. He began his climb with a big time win at Payton Jordan that sparked some of the greatest track memes in nations history when he stopped a lap early (and still ran 13:11). He made the London Olympic team and subsequently the London Olympic final where he was in the hunt for essentially the entire race leading a few key laps as well. He finished 10th. Indoors he set what was then an American record with a 13:06.99 5k, a truly elite mark for an indoor track. At that point it appeared Lopez was ready to take a big step towards becoming an elite 5k runner.
But since that moment he has really backed away from the 5k, opting for the 15 at the last two us champs. He managed just a 3:34 a year ago and didn't qualify for the 1500 finals at the world championships.
At 29 he doesn't have the raw speed he had when he was a 1:45/3:32 type who closed US championship races in 51 seconds. However, he trains with a group of the best strength guys in the nation with Chris Derrick and Evan Jager. 1500 guy Andy Bayer who may have been able to help push Lopez in practice is switching events. If he is healthy enough to maintain higher mileage work, I think it is clear Lopez would seriously benefit from making his move to the 5000.
Two years ago it looked like a better seasoned, more experienced Lopez Lomong could be a threat for a medal at the world championships, but after two years of 1500 work and aging, he is still just as inexperienced at 5000m as ever.
2. Ben True, Watching: I'm the first one to admit the US championships in non qualifying years is not a very sexy event. The 5k in Paris was looming with alleged 12:50 type pacing. Rupp and Salazar were talking American Record. It was a Jessica Alba kinda race.
So Ben True skipped the US champs to prepare for Paris. The move backfired. The race didn't live up to it's billing as the pace lagged during a 2:40 k (that's 13:20 pace, walking for guys of this caliber). When the dust cleared True ran 13:13 for a distant 11th.
Look money comes into play here. If you get a flashy PR in Europe it probably looks better than a 3-5 type finish at USAs in a non championship year (ala Hassan Mead). But True has been struggling mightily on the diamond circuit and has not even really been close to his 13:02 that he ran at Payton Jordan. You can argue True's best races have both been early season at PJ and then in cross country at worlds. He finished last year with back to back heartbreaks at USAs and probably should be considering how best to get an advantage to make his first team on the track.
3. Robby Andrews, 800m:
Robby is an NCAA champ at 800m with a best of 1:44.71, easily one of the best pbs in the field at USAs. The 800 was event through high school and college and his speed and kick are well documented. Andrew Wheating still checks his closet for Robby each night before he goes to bed.
But I think the long grueling rounds of 800m at USAs is a bit too much for Rob. He has made the finals in this event a couple times and when he gets there he just appears spent and out of gas. His kick doesn't do him any favors when guys hold on after blazing things out in 49ish.
But the tactical affair that is the 1500 suits Robby better. I think the rounds are easier, some years it's only 2 rounds, and the 1500 heats are rarely as taxing as those 800 heats that soloman leads around the track.
Plus Rob has credentials at 1500m. RA Kickey ran 3:34 in 2012 at oxy when he went toe to toe with farah and rupp and nearly out kicked them both. He was a disappointing 5th at Olympic trials in 2012 but was a mistimed move away from being on the Olympic team at roughly 21 years old. His kick would be positively lethal in the 15 right now, in the 8 it doesn't seem like he has the ability to go out as slow as he needs to and kick down the field. I'm not sure he can be the same type of strength guy symmonds was early in his career.
In my opinion the only thing holding Robby back from being one of the favorites for 2016's 1500 squad is tactics. He needs a bit more experience in championship style 1500s so he can position himself well for a kick and use it appropriately so he doesn't use it all up on the backstretch and have nothing left for the home straight. He could have gained a lot of experience at USAs that I think would have been valuable going forward.
At just 23 years old I sincerely doubt we have heard the last of Robby Andrews. A little seasoning and this bad boy is gonna be ready for dinner.
4. Bernard Lagat, 5000m:
Honestly, of course Lagat should have ran the 5k at USAs. He gets another title, a nice but of publicity and he makes himself a favorite to advance to worlds in 2015 in this event.
But here is why he is on the list: the dude is going to be 40 years old in December! When I'm 40 I hope I can make it up the stairs in my house, meanwhile Kip is outkicking dudes half his age and showing brilliant tactics.
Look I'm just saying if I had run 3:26, held a variety of American records, had a few world championship gold medals and Olympic medals instead of busting my butt in 100 degree sacto heat, I'd probably be hanging up the spikes in my trophy case and curling up in the AC holding my an Olympic silver and pretending to be the guy in once a runner.
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