Project 30 - It's on!

[Marlow]

In light of the OT, I count at least 30 medals

* = Gold likely

Men
100 - Gatlin
200 - Spearmon
400 - Merritt*
1500 - Centro or Manzano
5000 - Lagat
10000 - Rupp
110H - Merritt (Richardson)
400H - One of them!
4x1
4x4*
HJ - Williams
PV - Walker
LJ - Goodwin or Claye
TJ - Taylor*, Claye
SP - Hoffa* (CC)
Dec - Eaton*, Hardee

that's 18

Women
100 - Jeter
200 - Felix* (Jeter)
400 - SRR*
1500 - Uceny or Simpson
100H - Harper
400H - Demus
4x1*
4x4*
HJ - Lowe*
PV - Suhr
LJ - Reese*, DeLoach
Hep - Fountain

That's 13 more

Some of these will NOT medal, but others unnamed will.

30+

I'll give us a 50/50 shot. Whadaya think?

[Deluxe]

Re: Project 30 - It's on!

I don't think Spearmon will beat Lemaitre and I don't think Rupp or Centro/Manzano or Lagat will medal. Other than that, not bad.

[j-a-m]

Re: Project 30 - It's on!

Great showing by many athletes at Trials; 30 still seems optimistic, though. I'd go with somewhere in the 25-28 range.

[Marlow]

Re: Project 30 - It's on!

T&FN projected 29 medals

so far we lost
1 in the m400
1 in the m400H

but we gained
1 in the m1500
1 in the mLJ
1 in the w400

so we actually ARE on track for 30 (so far) !

[odelltrclan]

Re: Project 30 - It's on!

T&FN projected 29 medals

so far we lost
1 in the m400
1 in the m400H

but we gained
1 in the m1500
1 in the mLJ
1 in the w400

so we actually ARE on track for 30 (so far) !

Total medals looking good. But, the men's gold chances are a bit bleak. Have we ever had
an Olympic Games with no men's golds? Taylor/Clay and Merritt/Richardson are probably (realistically) are only good chances left.

[donley2]

Re: Project 30 - It's on!

Did we forget a certain multi-event world record holder?

[odelltrclan]

Re: Project 30 - It's on!

Did we forget a certain multi-even world record holder?

Yes I did. Bigggggg OOOOOps!!!!!! ops:

[Dave]

Re: Project 30 - It's on!

Did they make it to 30?

[Marlow]

Re: Project 30 - It's on!

Did they make it to 30?

29, but that's much better than any since 1968 (exc. the LA 'Games').

[Dave]

Re: Project 30 - It's on!

Did they make it to 30?

29, but that's much better than any since 1968 (exc. the LA 'Games').

Agreed, and it is especially nice to see the men get medals in distance races.

[polevaultpower]

Re: Project 30 - It's on!

Team USA had nine 4th place finishes. I'd say decent odds we pick up a medal or two in the next 8 years... hopefully we don't lose any!

[Marlow]

Re: Project 30 - It's on!

I'd say decent odds we pick up a medal or two in the next 8 years... hopefully we don't lose any!

I'm excited about our prospects OUTSIDE our traditionally strong events. We'll cycle back up in the sprints. esp. the 400 and 400H. We will 'lose' in some of the newly gained areas, but gain some in areas we were weak in here. The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades (as long as USATF keeps its promise to fund 'development', both in stipends to athletes and in facility/infrastructure/science/etc. support).

[gm]

Re: Project 30 - It's on!

Did they make it to 30?

29, but that's much better than any since 1968 (exc. the LA 'Games').

Except, of course, for the 30 in 1992...

[Marlow]

Re: Project 30 - It's on!

Did they make it to 30?

29, but that's much better than any since 1968 (exc. the LA 'Games').

Except, of course, for the 30 in 1992...

I had to look, cuz I completely forgot that. Thanks for the correction.
So '30' is a good number to strive for (and surpass), but it can't happen without a dedicated national infrastructure.

[aaronk]

Re: Project 30 - It's on!

Team USA had nine 4th place finishes. I'd say decent odds we pick up a medal or two in the next 8 years... hopefully we don't lose any!

29 was a great accomplishment!!
Most of the medalists had been predicted, but a few were shockers.

However, we could have done MUCH better.
I don't have a list in front of me, so just off the top of my head, here's the ones we MISSED:

Chaunte Lowe (the most egregious failure, IMO!!)
Bernard Lagat, Lopez Lomong, and Galen Rupp in the 5K (In a race that slow, their kicks were enough to get a medal.......and if it had been fast, they're all capable of 12:50's!!!)
Morgan Uceny (But not her fault!! She fell!!)
Jill Camarena Williams (No way she'd beat the top 2, but Bronze was hers for the taking!)
Tyson Gay (One-hundreth of a second from a medal!)
The 400 (WHERE were the Americans?????)
Jesse Williams (But maybe he was OVER-rated??)
Christian Cantwell (Longest put of the year coming in, so......!!!)