Dan O'Brien

[asu]

I noticed that Dan O'Brien is entered in the LJ at the Baldy Castillo meet at Arizona State this weekend. So is Billy Mills (Ohio State).
http://thesundevils.ocsn.com/sports/c-t ... 04aaa.html

[hijumpsteve]

Re: Dan O'Brien

take a closer look.... Dan is also entered in the 100, 110HH, SP, and DT, and maybe I missed some others !

[Diego Sahagún]

Re: Dan O'Brien

He's also entered in the HJ. Gracias for the link asu

[5k Guy]

Re: Dan O'Brien

Is Dan making a comeback????

[asu]

Re: Dan O'Brien

I have seen Dan training in a park near my home in Scottsdale, Arizona. The last time I spoke with him was about a year ago and he said he was competing in 2003, but I never saw any results for him. I think he needs to get a qualifying score if he wants to be in the trials.

[Realist]

Re: Dan O'Brien

Since he hasn't finished a decathlon since 1998 I would say that is a pretty good guess. Of course John Chaplin lets anybody into the meet who wants in so what's the difference?

[gh]

Re: Dan O'Brien

For those who have forgotten (or never knew), note that USATF does have a mechanism for "legends" to make it into the OT (and other major champs).

Anybody who won a medal at Sydney, Lisbon, Edmonton, Birmingham or Paris (the OG and World Champs in last 4 years) can enter the OT without a proper qualifying mark. Or who was a national champion in that event in '03.

This means, just for the sake of noting it, that Michael Johnson could show up on the starting line in Sacramento. No, not trying to start any rumors, just noting that the system is setup in such a way that he could do it.

[No Name]

Re: Dan O'Brien

You mean Michael Johnson is making a comeback???!!!!

[Jon]

Re: Dan O'Brien

>You mean Michael Johnson is making a comeback???!!!!


LOL - I think this deserves it's own topic....! ;-)

[dj]

Re: Dan O'Brien

>Is Dan making a comeback????

If he is, count me in!!!

[5k Guy]

Re: Dan O'Brien

Ok its offical then. 2004 is the year of the comeback.

We'll all meet at the US Oly Trials this summer.

(of course some of us will be only watching ;-)

[xcollx]

Re: Dan O'Brien

More like the year of the last gasp. Injuries notwithstanding, it always struck that O'Brien's head was his worst problem, not his body. With his hatred for the 1500 so strong he'd let it get in the way of getting records/wins that were in his reach. Not the mark of a true champ...could've gotten more from his talent.

[decafan]

Re: Dan O'Brien

>More like the year of the last gasp. Injuries notwithstanding, it always struck
>that O'Brien's head was his worst problem, not his body. With his hatred for
>the 1500 so strong he'd let it get in the way of getting records/wins that were
>in his reach. Not the mark of a true champ...could've gotten more from his
>talent.

Hmmm, exactly what "win" did Dan let slip away in the 1500m? Barcelona was lost to the pole vault at the Trials. Sidney was lost to a foot injury prior to the Trials. Atlanta was won with a big-time jav toss and a gutsy 1500m.
As much as Dan hated the 1500m, he never once lost a championship event because of it. I agree that he could have gotten more out of his talent, but his Atlanta Gold was the stuff of a true champion.

[asu]

Re: Dan O'Brien

He didn't qualify for the finals.
13 Dan O'Brien Unattached 6.68m -0.9 21-11.00

[asu]

Re: Dan O'Brien

6.68 LJ, 14.52 HH, 14.25 SP, 11.06 100m
He was announced as competing in the HJ and DT, but apparently didn't. I heard him tell someone he is aiming for the Trials. All the results were announced in metrics, which doesn't usually happen. Maybe this thread can take the place of the ever present Webb ones.