Many of you undoubtedly heard Larry Rawson describe on Sunday's broadcast how he charts the progress (or lack of same) in U.S. distance running.
He noted that there are nine events from the 800 meters on up, which I take to be the M/W 800, M/W 1,500, M/W 5,000, M/W 10,000, and M Steeplechase (the marathon apparently was excluded).
He then stated that the U.S. had eight finalists in these events in Edmonton (2001) and only had six this time in Paris.
I would argue that the situation is EVEN WORSE. I just reviewed the Paris finalists in the distances and five of the six U.S. athletes were from the 10,000, which has no heats and goes right to a final. The only barrier to having finalists in the 10,000's is the "A" standard (which, sad to say, my fellow Michigan Wolverine alumnus Katie McGregor did not meet).
In distance races requiring heats, all of ONE American athlete (Jorge Torres in the 5,000) actually qualified for a final (and he came in last in the final).
He noted that there are nine events from the 800 meters on up, which I take to be the M/W 800, M/W 1,500, M/W 5,000, M/W 10,000, and M Steeplechase (the marathon apparently was excluded).
He then stated that the U.S. had eight finalists in these events in Edmonton (2001) and only had six this time in Paris.
I would argue that the situation is EVEN WORSE. I just reviewed the Paris finalists in the distances and five of the six U.S. athletes were from the 10,000, which has no heats and goes right to a final. The only barrier to having finalists in the 10,000's is the "A" standard (which, sad to say, my fellow Michigan Wolverine alumnus Katie McGregor did not meet).
In distance races requiring heats, all of ONE American athlete (Jorge Torres in the 5,000) actually qualified for a final (and he came in last in the final).
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