Author: Ed Bagley Added: September 30, 2008
Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley Despite all of the United States' great success in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, there was next to nothing to cheer about its middle distance runners in the track and field competition. America's hopes rode squarely on the shoulders of Bernard Lagat and Ryan Hall. The Kenyan-born Lagat had become an American citizen and was a proven winner in international competition, and Hall had become our American-born hope to medal and perhaps win in the marathon. Lagat sought gold in the 1500 and 5000-meter runs. In the end, neither of them was even close enough to think about sniffing a medal. Worse yet, all of America's men and women competitors in the 800, 1500, 5000, 10,000, 3,000 steeplechase and the marathon could muster only 1 of 36 possible medals. If it was not for Shalane Flanagan's third-place finish in the 10,000, the United States would not have won a single medal in the middle distance events. Her 30:22.22 clocking was good enough for the bronze medal and an American record. The next best American finish was Shannon Rowbury's 7th place in the 1500 in 4:03.58. Rowbury's 7th place was the highest finish ever by an American woman in an Olympic 1,500-meter final. The United States did not even have any qualifiers who made it to the finals in the men's and women's 800 and the men's 1500. Lagat was eliminated in the semifinal heat for the 1500. The medalists in the 1500 clocked 3:32.94, 3:33.11 and 3:34.16. Lagat was considered among the favorites in the race, having won both the1500 and 5000 titles at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka (Japan) last year. He went 3:34.77 in the 1500 and 13:45.87 in the 5000. In the Olympic 5000, Lagat was way out of the money, finishing 9th in 13:26.89. Apparently, competition at the World Championships in Osaka was not nearly as difficult as it was in the Olympics since Lagat won the 1500 title in 13:45.87. The medalists in the 5000 at the Olympics clocked 12:57.82, 13:02.80 and 13:06.22. Legate is known for his finishing speed. In both the 1500 and 5000 at the U. S. Olympic trials (which he won), he was content to go with a slow pace and simply out sprint his competition in the last lap. Having seen his Olympic 5000 effort, I would put Lagat's last 400 at 52 and change. The problem was, unlike the U. S. trials, all of his competition in the Olympics ran as fast or faster. For all the hoopla and bragging rights at the World Championships, the World Championships are simply not as big, not as important, not as competitive and not as fast as the Olympic Games. There is a reason why the Summer Olympics are held only once every 4 years. Once it was clear that Lagat would not perform at his best, we then learned of an injured left Achilles tendon. Whatever. Hopes were high for Ryan Hall because in April of this year he placed 5th at the Flora London Marathon in 2:06.17, breaking his own record for the fastest ever marathon run by an American-born citizen. The marathon winner at the Beijing Olympics ran 2:06.32 to set an Olympic record. America's best finisher in the marathon was Dathan Ritzenhein in 2:11.59. Hall was 10th in 2:12.33 and Brian Sell was 22nd in 2:16.07. Both Ritzenhein and Hall got some valuable experience in Olympic competition, but no medals. America could not buy a medal in any of the other events—the men's 10,000 and 3000 steeplechase, and the women's 5000, 3000 steeplechase and marathon. Such is the state of middle distance running in the United States in 2007. Our American record-holder in the mile, Alan Webb, did not even qualify for the U. S. Olympic Team in the 1500. Seems some grand training plan of Webb's went awry. Whatever. When the day of the Olympic Trials or Olympic finals comes, you have to compete despite your physical, mental or emotional condition. You either qualify or you do not. You either medal in the competition or you do not. The Olympic Games are not a dress rehearsal. Is there hope for improvement in America's middle distance runners? I'm glad you finally asked. There are currently two answers to that question. First, well, certainly, there is always hope. Second, it reminds one of a cowboy movie with a two-member posse, there is Slim and none. Unless our middle distance runners develop some genuine desire and belief that they can actually beat foreign runners, we are always going to be over-hyped and under-performed. We will never be the lead dog in the pack, we will always be looking at someone else's backside, and Iditarod is a long race.
--- Read my other articles on the 2008 Beijing Olympics, including:
"Michael Phelps' 2008 Olympic Legacy: 8 Gold Medal Victories, 7 World Records"
"Phelps' 8 Gold Medals Could Net Him $100 Million in Future Income"
"So How Long Has Michael Phelps Been Training to Be a Champion?"
Find my Blog at:
http://www.edbagleyblog.com
http://www.edbagleyblog.com/Sports.html
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