Wellyopolis

July 3, 2004

the uneven state of American distance running

The U.S. men have just two A-standard qualifiers in the 5000 metres, six in the 10000, and eight in the maraton (where the A qualifying times have been relaxed from previous Olympics), and just two A-qualifiers in the 3000m steeples.

By contrast there are 27 A-qualifiers in the 100m and 38 in the 200m.

Things are pretty much the same for the women, a few A-qualifiers in the distance events and 20-odd in the sprints.

Are the sprint times too easy? Are the distance times too hard? Are there more sprinters who are drug users?

Hopefully the trials will produce some more A qualifying times, but anything being held in Sacramento in July is not designed to produce a quick 10000m time.

Posted by robe0419 at July 3, 2004 2:18 PM