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Relays
Jun 30, 2009 17:57:33 GMT -8
Post by zoser on Jun 30, 2009 17:57:33 GMT -8
Tyson, Rodgers, Doc, Rae, Travis, Shawn, Leroy, Wallace. I am fairly sure this is the relay pool we are looking at. Allyson, Muna, Carmelita, Lauryn, Marshevette, Alex Anderson. Do we use Allyson again? Who runs the relay for the men? Tyson lock, Doc lock. Shawn semi lock. Rodgers 1st leg??? Wallace used like Allyson??? Good choices but not as clear as past years.
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Relays
Jul 1, 2009 6:24:24 GMT -8
Post by sprint logic on Jul 1, 2009 6:24:24 GMT -8
This is almost too easy for us to screw up - but they will try. As I look at it for the men we have a clear 4 this time - Tyson, Doc, Shawn, Mike. I like Wallace on the relay, always have, but Shawn has become a beast on the curve and MUST be on there. Tyson is Tyson. Doc is a vet and is as fast as ever. The man on the bubble is Rodgers, and how do you leave off the man that has won everything since May?
My first pass at an order would be Shawn to Mike to Tyson to Doc. Only two men in the world can run with Crawford on the corner and neither will be leading off against him. Tyson will blow it wide open on the second bend. Doc's strength is his finish. My only issue with Rodgers is that he is a starter and the second leg is best with a strong finisher. Which is where Wallace comes in. He and Gay have been here many times before, and my gut says this works best with Wally on second stick - but how do you tell Mike he doesn't get to run?
So that's my dilemma. I prefer Wally on THAT squad as it allows everyone to do what they do BEST and that is how you put together a relay team. If we try to make everyone happy, then you have to run Rodgers and you would HAVE to lead him. Then you have to go Mike to Doc to Shawn to Tyson - and I'm not sure that that team is as fast as the first one! Rae, Travis, Leroy are all nice sprinters but don't fit in this mix unless someone gets injured.
For the women we can lead Lauryn and run Muna on third. They are our best turn runners. Gotta anchor Jeter - period. So now you're looking at Allyson, Vette, and Anderson on the backstretch. And I think either one can get it done. I might would go with Allyson because she's been there before. And she is clearly the best in flight once up and running. But Vette is a horse and I like what I've seen of Anderson. But Williams to Felix to Lee to Jeter is veteran and fast and should probably be the squad.
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Relays
Jul 1, 2009 7:17:46 GMT -8
Post by balance on Jul 1, 2009 7:17:46 GMT -8
I don't think you can just leave your national champion off the relay team. That just doesn't happen. Rodgers has proven his speed. He should be there. Why not anchor him? Why not anchor Gay?
The women have plenty of speed without Allyson Felix. I see her being more needed in the 4x4.
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Relays
Jul 1, 2009 8:15:48 GMT -8
Post by sprint logic on Jul 1, 2009 8:15:48 GMT -8
I'm not so sure that being national champion equates to great relay runner. And I think that is where we get confused sometimes in putting teams together. We had a lot of problems in the 90's with dropped batons because we tried to force the "first four past the post" into relay squads. Tim Montgomery, Tim Harden, Brian Lewis, and Coby Miller were all fast, but none too great in relay mode.
And I remember back in '72 when co-world record holder Rey Robinson wasn't on the squad at all. So there is precedence.
The relay, in my opinion should be treated like its own event instead of an extension of the 100. Personally I love 200 meter sprinters on the relay because they typically finish strong and can push better through the zones. This decade Spearmon to Gay has been mid 37 every time out regardless of what talent has been around them - World Cup '06, World's '07.
So I just think we need to put the best "group" on the track. Crawford is not the fastest 100 man, or even close right now, but who is going to beat him on the turn other than Gay or Bolt - and he'll run them close!
I'm just not sure the 100 should automatically get you a relay berth.
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wfh
New Member
Posts: 30
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Relays
Jul 2, 2009 8:26:11 GMT -8
Post by wfh on Jul 2, 2009 8:26:11 GMT -8
On the men's side Dix not being healthy and not making the team messed everything up. If Dix was healthy and on the squad, Wallace isn't even in consideration for the final rlay. Truth be told, I think Wallace is getting by on reputation and not on performance. He has a great finish in the final 50 of a 200 but that doesn't make him a lock for 2nd to me. And for those who love to recount his days on 2nd passing to Tyson while they were at Arkansas (and even as early pros) they don't have even remotely close to the same relationship as they once did so that "chemistry" is a myrh IMO.
That being said, they very well may try running him on 2nd. Personally, I'd have no problem running Rodgers-Edwards-Gay-Patton. I think that'd put the US in the lead and Patton could definitely hold off a charging Asafa if Dixon could.
Now hopefully the US staff will allow Tyson to run 3rd but there is the possibility that they'll try to anchor him.
As for the women I see the "pool" the same way as zoser does in reality although I don't necessarily agree with it. What I mean is that grouping of Allyson, Muna, Lauryn, Jet, Vet and Alex consists of 4 "straight runners" and 2 "curve runners" which, IMO, almost makes Alex unecessary. Given how they ran Angela Williams and Mechelle Lewis in the heat in Beijing in favor of Muna (who doubled in Beijing and is doubling again) makes me feel like we'd be better served with another curve runner in favor of Alex.
Not to say Alex isn't capable but Texas hasn't even had a 4x1 in 2 years and then to expect Alex to be thrust on a relay coming off the disappointment of Beijing is unrealistic.
That being said, I think the BEST team would be Lauryn-Vet-Muna-Jet. I think its possible that they ACTUALLY run Allyson instead of Vet in the final but I don't agree with it...personally I'd take Vet on a 4x1 over Allyson any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
The heat is a bit more of a mystery to me. Personally I'd keep the relay as is for both rounds..maybe swap out someone for Muna in the heat if need be. I don't think its necessary to run 6 women but it depends on how the staff see it. Some of the BS from last year should be eliminated with them being required to be in London and the other meet in early August but I'm still holding my breath before I believe anything I'm hearin.
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Relays
Jul 2, 2009 8:43:52 GMT -8
Post by zoser on Jul 2, 2009 8:43:52 GMT -8
We can leave Rodgers off actually. We have a tremendous four available, however this will be a point of contention all summer.
SL I like that womens line up a lot! LW - AF - ML - CJ! 41.1 in the works
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Relays
Jul 2, 2009 15:50:05 GMT -8
Post by sprint logic on Jul 2, 2009 15:50:05 GMT -8
I hear what you're saying about Spearmon. But it hasn't been that long. Last year was the first without him and it was disaster. Wally and Tyson were the core of the '07 group that got Dixon that lead!
Having said that I could live without him, but not without Crawford. Crawford and Tyson MUST run the bends if we are to be successful. Patton would have to anchor with that configuration which means we have to decide on the backstretch. Spearmon on experience, Edwards on current "heart" - because I believe he will give it everything he has he's so excited to be there! Rodgers just doesn't have the finish for me.
The women I can go with Lauryn to Felix or Vette to Muna to Jet. Vette will probably be fresher and might accelerate a tad earlier than Felix. 41.1? If they pass its possible. And I think the men could go under 37 with perfect passing - mostly cause the bends will be blasting!
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wfh
New Member
Posts: 30
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Relays
Jul 3, 2009 8:52:36 GMT -8
Post by wfh on Jul 3, 2009 8:52:36 GMT -8
The disaster didn't occur on Spearmon's typical leg though (2nd) so I can't buy that as an excuse that he needs to be on there. I don't think we're at all doomed if he's on there, he just wouldn't be my personal choice.
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Relays
Jul 3, 2009 11:03:45 GMT -8
Post by sprint logic on Jul 3, 2009 11:03:45 GMT -8
IF Spearmon is running 19.8 in Europe then I say he's the choice. If Edwards continues to run 10.0x or even dips to 9.9x then I think he is the choice. But I think the other legs should be as mentioned - Crawford to second leg to Tyson to Doc.
In reality this time around the second leg should be maintainence - maintaining what Crawford gets on first leg and getting the baton to Tyson. If that person can open up anything that is a bonus.
I'm not saying Spearmon "has" to be the guy, just saying that history says we know he can get it done, and do so without letting the stick hit the ground.
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wfh
New Member
Posts: 30
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Relays
Jul 3, 2009 11:39:41 GMT -8
Post by wfh on Jul 3, 2009 11:39:41 GMT -8
Fair enough. And Dix is actually still eligible should they select him to the pool.
If he were to be healthy enough by London to participate in the relays and then maintain that health up to WCs we could have an ace in the hole.
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Relays
Jul 3, 2009 16:32:02 GMT -8
Post by sprint logic on Jul 3, 2009 16:32:02 GMT -8
Dix was a lock early on. That leadoff he ran at Penn was art. With him in the mix we actually could have anchored Tyson - Dix to Doc to Crawford to Tyson - now THAT would have been awesome.
If he's eligible and can come back and clock 9.9 low I wouldn't hesitate to go with that lineup.
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Relays
Jul 6, 2009 6:14:27 GMT -8
Post by balance on Jul 6, 2009 6:14:27 GMT -8
So you would look to a man that failed to make the final over the national champion? Does Rodgers not warrant any respect for the relay? I'm just really surprised that he seems to be the last choice of everyone in the discussion and he is currently the leader on the clock for the US and has been on such a streak.
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Relays
Jul 7, 2009 6:06:54 GMT -8
Post by sprint logic on Jul 7, 2009 6:06:54 GMT -8
Not for me. Looking for sprinters that fit a need and have experience. We need to win this one, just like we needed to win after getting beat by Canada back in '96. We lose on occasion, but when we do we have to get back to business.
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Relays
Jul 7, 2009 22:01:13 GMT -8
Post by zoser on Jul 7, 2009 22:01:13 GMT -8
balance yes, until Rodgers shows me different. I am thinking about putting the best team possible on the track. BTW Dix was not named to the relay pool. Doesn't mean it cannot change but he is not of the 6 going to battle. MOre important than determining personnel and order is watching the soap opera that is about who is choosing
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Relays
Jul 8, 2009 6:12:49 GMT -8
Post by sprint logic on Jul 8, 2009 6:12:49 GMT -8
The "Soap Opera" is what hurts us the most. Like I said before, personnel and positioning for this squad is pretty much a given! We have two clear turn runners and two or three clear stretch runners. Add in experience and it sorts itself out. We'll see how the soap opera goes. I may have to make a call or two! LOL.
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