2024 Paris Olympics Athletics Preview

Andie Cozzarelli [00:00:00]: The last thing I'll say too is I think from a US perspective, we're sending sort of a team that we might not have expected. So I think it's gonna be cool to see how that helps these athletes, you know, further into their career. This is gonna be a huge opportunity and a good catapult for them to get this experience and see what they can do with that.

Cory Nagler [00:00:21]: The biggest multisport event on the planet is here with the Olympics officially kicking off July 26th. We already gave you our predictions for who would make the US team. But now that the team is official, I'm back with Andy and Michael, and it's time to look ahead to the big dance in Paris. There's a ton of exciting events happening, but we're pretty biased to distance running. So we're gonna be focusing on running events from the 800 meters up to the marathon. I apologize that we did run a little bit longer on time with this one, but there's just so many talented athletes this year and interesting story lines. From Eliud Kipchoge's possible final Olympics to Stephane Hassan competing in 4 different events. We wanted to make sure we covered them all, but honestly, we probably still left out some pretty incredible talents.

Cory Nagler [00:01:03]: By the end of the show, you'll know who we think comes out on top in each event I mentioned, and how to watch the Olympics to make sure you don't miss out on any of the action. With that, let's get into it. Hello, runners, and welcome to the Run to the Top podcast, where our goal is making you a better runner with each and every episode. I'm your showrunner, Corey Nagler. And I'm not an elite runner. But together, we'll explore new strategies and topics to take your running to the next level. This podcast is created and produced by the expert team of coaches at runnersconnect.net, where you can find the best running information on the Internet as well as training plans to fit every runner and every budget It feels like only yesterday that we were talking about the US trials, but already the Olympics are right around the corner. So ready to preview Paris.

Cory Nagler [00:01:59]: Andy, Michael, so happy to have you both back with me.

Michael Hammond [00:02:02]: Yeah. We're stoked, man. This is fun.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:02:04]: Yep. Looking forward to it.

Cory Nagler [00:02:06]: Me too. And, wow, we were talking about the US trials being stacked. A lot of distance events this year are stacked, a lot of top athletes. So I think there's going to be a ton to talk about here. We were chatting before about how we want to structure this, and I think we're gonna put a bag heavy focus on the distance events. We'll work our way up from the 800 meters all the way up to the marathon. So let's kick it right off with the 800 meter men's. What are predictions?

Michael Hammond [00:02:32]: This is an interesting one. I'll I'll take this one first, Andy. I think that, I watched the diamond league over the weekend in Monaco, and that's Monaco is always like a huge hot race. It's a super fast track. There's all these rumors that it's, like, a few meters short because everybody runs crazy PRs there, but the reality is the weather's usually good. They get great pacers. And one of the more interesting races was the 800 because actually, Corey, your own countryman, Marco Arope, looked awful. I hate to say.

Michael Hammond [00:03:00]: He's last year's, world champion in Budapest. He looked fantastic when I mean, he he has looked like the guy that's that's gonna be expected to to walk away with Olympic gold, and yet 100 meters to go, he got, I think, maybe a 150, he got passed and and just looked horrendous coming down the home stretch. Could've just been an off day, so I'm not gonna by no means am I gonna write him off, but that dude, Algerian Sajady, I believe is how they they pronounce his name. I I couldn't quite hear it on the broadcast because they they kinda weren't talking about him until sort of the end, but he has now won a couple pretty big 8 100. I mean, it's you know, he's definitely looking like based on the performances over the past month or so, which is typically the best way to predict these types of things is how are they racing, like, the month or 2 leading in. He's definitely looking like the guy, but I won't count a rope out yet just because he's he's probably the most genetically gifted of all the 800 runners in the field. And then the 3rd guy, really, the 3rd guy I'll talk about is, I think, Bryce Happel, the American, is pretty interesting. He's he's one of those guys I'll it's similar to how I'll talk about Cole Hocker with the 1500.

Michael Hammond [00:04:09]: He does not have the fastest PR in the field, but he his ability to shift gears is really remarkable, and that's that is a a gift at the Olympic level. That is that is a special talent at that level. You might have guys or gals who can run really fast times, but can't necessarily, with the last 100, 150 meters of a race, shift that fast, like, have that crazy acceleration. Bryce Hopple has that, so he does not have the fastest PR in the field, but his ability to shift gears is dangerous. I I don't think he's gonna win gold, but I think he could snag snag a silver or a bronze with his ability to close. So I think it's this this is kinda one that's sort of up in the air, but, certainly, the Algerian is almost certainly the favorite at this point. There's a Frenchman running with it really well. There's obviously a rope is is the class of the field based on his past accomplishments, and then I think Hopple is is really dangerous.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:05:04]: Yeah. And I'll say the 800 is definitely one of those events that you know, I'm not as familiar with the the athletes in on the men's side, but, you know, just knowing how the 800 tends to run, like, it can be a race that can be left up to a little bit of chance if, you know, you make one small move that didn't you know, wasn't right. You know, stuff like that can have such a huge impact. I mean, we've seen it. We saw it, you know, even in the women's race in the Olympic trials, how, you know, a thing fell, and how did that impact the rest of the race. So stuff like that can have a profound impact. So it's one of those races just kinda keep sticking your your neck out, just kinda keep going for it. And so, I I it's fun to watch because I think it is one of those races that can be anybody's race at the end of the day.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:05:49]: And so it's just being in the right position at the right time and just having that kick at the end of, like, speed to hang in there. And so I I will agree with Michael that I think brass Bryce Happel watching him at the Olympic trials, he looked comfortable and smooth through all the rounds. He didn't look like he was extending him overextending himself at any point to to do what he did, and he looked just, like, really sharp. So, I'm excited to see how he does. And, yeah, I think it'll be a fun fun race to watch. And, yeah, hopefully hopefully, we can we don't see any falls, but, you know, you never know. It could be one of those action packed races.

Michael Hammond [00:06:23]: It really is a roller derby. I mean, the 800, that's some people argue that the 800 should be should have a 2 turn stagger. Am I I can't remember if I'm saying that correctly. I can't remember my my old track lingo. But, like, instead of just going around the first turn and then they all crash together, some people argue they should do more like the 400 meters or or, what event am I trying to say? Where they go all the way around, and then they they they stay in their lanes through almost a full lap of the track, and then they come in. I I don't know about that, but it man, it just always looks so insane when they because these are these are these people are running really fast, men and women's side.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:06:59]: Yeah.

Michael Hammond [00:06:59]: And they just, like, crash together. So you you're almost surprised you don't see more falls in the 800. I mean, there it's an extended sprint. Anyone who's ever run an 800 meter, it is an extended sprint. It really especially for us distance types. Let's be honest. Like, you are running pretty much as hard as you can from the gun. There's not when you're when you're more of a distance runner, I'm sure Andy can appreciate this, it's there's not a lot of, often not a lot of tactics.

Michael Hammond [00:07:22]: You just get out there and run as hard as you can the whole way. So, yeah, I I hope I just hope you're right. I hope to see a clean race. That would be I I'd hate to see a fall in the rounds or something like that, kill it, but I think those are pretty safe bets. I would love to see Hopl pull something off. I mean, I'm always gonna be root for the Americans, but I I hope that Hopl can at least pull out a medal, which I think he can.

Cory Nagler [00:07:44]: You you hate to see people get into trouble with all the carnage, but I think it's pretty likely just because of the depth of field, they're gonna be running so close together. In a typical year, 145 is probably good enough to make the finals. Whereas in this field this year, I think there's easily 5, 6 plus guys who have worked comfortably in the 143 range, if not faster.

Michael Hammond [00:08:02]: I mean, in Monaco, the the guy who got 10th last place ran 14395, last place in the in the in the diamond league. So, yeah, it's loaded loaded event. It's kinda weird that there's not necessarily the standout. You know, Donovan Brazier has been hurt for years. Rhodesia has obviously retired. You don't necessarily have that standout name, and yet it's like a studly field. So it's kinda weird to have that, that it is you don't necessarily have the standout. And, again, I had to make sure to look up the Algerian guy's name because I had never heard of him before a few weeks ago.

Michael Hammond [00:08:31]: So it's weird to not have the standout, and yet it's a loaded feel.

Cory Nagler [00:08:34]: Yeah. Just before we move on to women's, I I have to mention one name that we haven't, only because he is on World Athletics, the number one ranked athlete, which is Emmanuel Buignani, the 2nd fastest 800 meter in history. Are are you counting him out, Michael?

Michael Hammond [00:08:48]: No. I you're right. I I I totally I was I was too focused on the Monaco results because he wasn't there. You're absolutely right. He has looked tremendous. And, like, before this guy, the, Sejati, before he ran those 2 insane races the last I think it was, Paris and Monaco. Before he ran those, yeah, he was certainly the favorite. So, yeah, I mean, the that's those are probably your your pretty safe one too based on their performances as of late.

Michael Hammond [00:09:14]: And then you've got a rope, obviously, mega talented and and Hopple coming in. So, no, I I you're right. I absolutely should have mentioned him. He's obviously one of the top favorites. Could even be the favorite for gold. So it'll be interesting.

Cory Nagler [00:09:27]: Yeah. I I think he's gonna be quite competitive. I think one more name we didn't bring up, to Ben Pattison from the UK, 142, the trials. I I think he's gonna be competitive for a medal as well.

Michael Hammond [00:09:38]: Certainly. Yeah. Anyone who can one run 142 is gonna be a threat for a medal for sure, but there's just such a slew of 141 guys. It's crazy.

Cory Nagler [00:09:46]: Yeah. Alright. Let's move over to the women's. And I think on this side, there is one massive name from the US who's missing on that list. But, Andy, Michael, I want to deprive you, the ability to start us off and and give your predictions here.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:10:01]: Yeah. You know, just watching the race, that final was pretty devastating to see a thing go down. It came out after that she'd been having some injury issues, which is why we didn't see her racing the way she normally does. And I remember hearing Cara repeatedly on the broadcast day. You know, she's gotta get she's gotta get out of that pack with that long back kick. She's at risk, and and then it finally happened in the final, which was definitely so hard to see happen. You know, she's definitely been one of the favorites. She was a gold medal a gold a girl gold medalist to the world championship.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:10:35]: So, you know, going into this year, it was gonna be really exciting to see how she could perform. No one really knew where she was fitness wise going into the trials, and, you know, she still was racing as if she was in peak form. So that was, you know, surprising to hear that she had been barely had run from what I heard between Prefontaine and the Olympic trials, was not running outside, was cross training a lot to get herself in the fitness that she was in. So, you know, whether or not she could have built some more going into the Olympics, you know, and had a little bit more fitness to be able to hit a get a gold medal here, we who knows? But, you know, it's sad to see that she's out of it. You know, looking at the list of athletes here that are in contention, I mean, Keeley hodge Hodgkinson has been having a really great couple of years, so it'll be interesting to see how she does our top ranked Mary Moore from Kenya. Both of them have 1 50 sixes under their belt, so they've they've got some good leg speed. I imagine that this women's race will be pretty, interesting to watch, just kind of fun to see how how it spreads out. The US is sending to their top athletes, to or their top athlete, Nia Akh Akins.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:11:42]: So, you know, she looked really good at the trials, so I'm excited to see how she can kinda fill in the shoes for the US there and, kinda compete and be up there near the front. But I think that it's gonna be an interesting race this year. You know, I think the thing Mo was one of those people that was a favorite, and now that she's out of the picture, you know, that leaves the door open to some people to sort of break out, have a have a race for themselves, and and really see who's gonna take that top spot. So it'll I think it'll be an interesting race and probably pretty exciting as well.

Michael Hammond [00:12:13]: Yeah. I think Moe is definitely the type of person that's such a presence that even though she's not even in the field, we obviously still have to talk about her. You know? Like, she's she's become such a giant in in 800 meter running that we, of course, we have to mention her even though she's not even in the field. I I took a it's funny. I kinda looked at what the general consensus response was to a thing, Moe, to to what happened at the trials. Basically, for those who aren't in the know, she about, 200 meters in not even 200 meters into the race, collided with someone else, like, that hook her back leg or something like that, went down, and ended up I don't I can't remember she finished, but either way, she did not make the Olympic team. And that's huge because this is the reigning Olympic champion who won the Olympics when she was, like, 19. So she's still very young, you know, still by far the favorite.

Michael Hammond [00:13:03]: She's potentially one of the greatest 800 meter runners of all time. I the the general consensus that I saw was a lot of sympathy, and, of course, you're gonna have the sympathy. Like, it sucks to to be the favorite, to be the person that everybody's looking to, a lot of pressure that comes with that. I do think, however, I I had to look a little bit further than that. I think this is gonna be a big learning moment for her. I think the reality is if you watch the race, she ran it it she ran, carelessly. I mean, if you look at right before with they look at the slow mo, right before she went down, she was, like, looking over towards the inside of the track to to a degree that she didn't need to. Obviously, you're always kinda peeking around your peripherals, looking around to see make sure that you can move over if you need to.

Michael Hammond [00:13:46]: But she she, like, legitimately took a glance almost to the infield in a really bizarre way and then ended up cutting in way too soon. It was no one else's fault, but almost I mean, you could argue it was no one's fault. I think if you watch the slow mo, I'm I'm not gonna straight up say, oh, she caused her own fall, but she was she was running carelessly, which as we were just saying, you can't do that. So I think it's I think it's a huge learning moment for her. I think this is where, as an athlete, she's either gonna you know, there's one of 2 ways to go. She's either gonna gonna learn from it, become better for it, become smarter for it, and end up, yeah, becoming the greatest of all time. She's got the talent for it. Or the opposite way is to to let it get you down.

Michael Hammond [00:14:28]: And and we all know when you go through something like that, and and, again, I'm I'm not pretending to have ever experienced the pressure that a thing Moe experiences, but it's easy to you know, it can be the the easier route is to to just kinda let it keep you down, to to be to let it ruin your training, to let it ruin your career even. A lot of athletes have had such a thing ruin their career, which is horrible. So I hope to see the former, and I think we will. I think with someone that that gifted and that, you know, that that hardworking, I think we'll see the former. I think we'll see her come back, but I just had I had to get my criticism out there because I I saw so many people saying she should be advanced, like, she should be put on the team anyway. And I was just like that I hate to say it. These are the rules. Like, these are everyone signed up for the same race.

Michael Hammond [00:15:09]: Everyone signed up for the same rules. But, anyway, in terms of the the field that's there, I think Hodgkinson is the favorite, and I think it's a shame that I think Moe is not there because I actually think I think Keeley Hodgkinson would have won anyway. She's looked so good, and every year, she just seems to get a little bit better, a little bit better, a little bit better. I thought last year was gonna be the year, and then Mary Mora, who I don't wanna write out, I mean, my goodness. She just comes out of nowhere. So I don't wanna write her out. If she wins, I won't exactly be surprised, but I do think that I think that Kelly Hodgkinson I think this is her year. It's gonna be a shame that it has, like, that asterisk next to it, you know, because everybody's gonna be like, oh, Moe wasn't there.

Michael Hammond [00:15:46]: That sucks for for Hodgkinson, but I I actually think she probably would've won anyway with I think Moe not quite being in her top form. And then I I think I'm glad you brought up Nia Akins. Just like I said with the men's, anyone who has that shifting ability, that ability to just close like a train the last 100 meters, anyone with that ability is a threat to win a medal in a race. Like, even if their PR is much slower than than the top girls, anyone with that sort of closing ability has the ability to snag a medal. So I I think Nia Akins could be dangerous in the, in the final.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:16:21]: Yeah. And and the last thing I'll say too is I think from a US perspective, we're sending sort of a team that we might not have expected. So I think it's gonna be cool to see how that helps these athletes, you know, further into their career. This is gonna be a huge opportunity and a good catapult for them to get this experience and see what they can do with that. So I think it you know, in in some ways, you know, sad that we're not sending a thing, Moe, but I think that it's also exciting that we have some new athletes that are getting a chance to sort of experience this. And this is just only gonna help at least the the 800 meter distance, I think, in the US. So

Michael Hammond [00:16:59]: For sure.

Cory Nagler [00:17:00]: Yeah. I got nothing to add. I think, talented field, especially at the top and sending some great US athletes. But I'll move on now to the men's 1500 meter, and I think this one is an absolutely stacked field. Like, whether you're talking international or American athletes, a lot of veteran athletes in here.

Michael Hammond [00:17:17]: Absolutely. This is definitely I mean, hey. I'm I'm a 1500 homer anyway. It's my favorite event regardless, but I think I just love seeing the Ingebrets and Kerr rivalry. I think it's something that the sport needs. I I love you know, they'll get criticized for being for saying this, for saying that. It's like, guys, this is just bringing attention. It's tremendous.

Michael Hammond [00:17:37]: I love it. I it's a shame. Look. Look. We all appreciate humility in people. We all appreciate people who can be humble and who can win with grace and stuff. And I love that, and I appreciate it on a personal level. And yet when I look at the sport as a as a more in a more macro sense, the way those two guys, their swagger is tremendous for the sport.

Michael Hammond [00:17:58]: I love them both. I love the rivalry. I think you have it's such a great dichotomy because you have Ingebretsen, the absolute, like, consummate professional. Since he was, like, 14 years old, he's been training like a pro. He's, I mean, he's only 23 now. He's still a young man. He's still young. Even for his event, he's still not quite in what you know, maybe that mid twenties would sort of be like the peak of a 1500 meter runner.

Michael Hammond [00:18:22]: And you have him who's who's also very confident and speaks with confidence, doesn't say as much. He's not quite as brash, but he he's very confident. You have that juxtaposed against Kerr who's kind of like the sort of like a a bad boy type image. You know? A little bit more, talks a little bit more smack. You know? He he kinda has had years. I mean, I I think he was very straightforward about when he he won bronze in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He basically went on, like, a party binge after that. It was so excited to win that bronze, went ballistic for, like, months, didn't wasn't training properly, wasn't living like a professional athlete.

Michael Hammond [00:19:00]: You know? Wasn't doing what he needed to do, and he suffered for it in 2022. He had a pretty relatively down year, and then he kinda got it back together. So I love that story, and I also love it juxtaposed against Ingebretsen who, again, just is, like, as close to perfect as perfect gets in terms of his life everything. Everything is just so spot on all the time. I, actually, I say that everything he did just have a kid back in June, so maybe the sleep is no. I'm sure I'm sure he's taking care of business, and I know he had said he was going to anyway. But I love the rivalry. I think, you know, if there were if there were good betting markets in track and field, it would probably be 90% of it would be eaten up by those 2.

Michael Hammond [00:19:42]: I think it's worth mentioning the other threats. Tim Chariot, Kenyon is has been such a threat. 2019 World Gold. He's obviously been tremendous for years. I think Cole Haaker, the American, that's what I what I had said about the ability to close. I think on paper, Jaren Negus is the superior 1500 meter runner because he's he's run 343 for the mile, for goodness sake. He's run 329 for the 1500. Cole Hocker's one of those guys that, if the race winds up being an upper 3 thirties race, back towards, you know, my modest PR, then Cole Hocker is the type of guy I could see winning gold.

Michael Hammond [00:20:19]: Like, I could see him winning even over Ingebretsen, even over Kerr. As good as those guys are, Hawker's ability to shift gears in that last 100 meters is unmatched, I think, in the world. But, however, Ingebretsen doesn't let it become that anymore. He these guys just aren't letting these races become those slow kickers affairs. It'll it'll be the same when we're talking about the women's 15. They're not letting it become a slower tactical affair. They're just not allowing that to happen, so instead it's just ripping it from the gun. So the question for a Hawker, for some of those other guys with these great kicks, is can they withstand that pace? Can they hang on for a 328 or faster race and still have a kick? I don't I don't know.

Michael Hammond [00:21:06]: I'm calling Ingebretsen for the win. I think he gets redemption over the last 2 world champs where he's been out kicked by a Brit each time. Last year, Kerr. I think Kerr, as good as he is this year, I think he settles for silver here, and I think, I think Hawker sneaks up and and and snags a bronze. I think he has his has his day, sneaks up, grabs a bronze, but I'm going Ingebretsen Ingebretsen for gold.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:21:29]: Yeah. And I will add so I I watched if you watched the prefontaine classic, that was essentially like a preview of what I think we're gonna see here. And, Kurt took that one. So, you know, whether or not how that plays out, you know, sometimes having one of in an event or a showdown right before the biggest event can be a little bit of a target on your back. So whether or not he's feeling that pressure and is sort of gonna, you know, have that or if, you know, Engelbretson's gonna come into that race, little little chip on his shoulder trying to get him and trying to get catch him and do all that kind of stuff, That'll be interesting. I mean, looking at the men's world rankings, Engelbretson is the number 1, and then you're. So it's interesting to just see that how that shakes out. But, you know, in a race setting, doesn't matter what your world ranking is at the end of the day.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:22:16]: It's gonna be who's in position, who's in the right spot, and who can kick and close and do all of those things on on race day. So I think that'll be interesting. Other person I wanted to mention from the US, because we talked about your Nagus and Kohl Hockers, Hobbs Kessler, who he's he also was injured in the 8104. So I think that from that perspective, you know, he's he's gonna be an athlete that has some finishing speed as well. So, you know, if it's left open for him and he's still in the mix, what kind of kick can he bring into the play? I mean, he's he's been doing some work to be able to get his legs speed up for the 800. You know, what does that mean for his his strength there at the end of a 15? So that'll be something to also consider when we talk about, who could be in the mix there. And I think it's gonna be I think it'll be an this is probably gonna be one of the most exciting races of I think men's and women's 15 are gonna be very exciting in terms of just, like, what's gonna happen? Are we gonna see world records or any of those things coming into play? Like, what are we gonna be looking at? So I think I think it's gonna be really fun. I think I I like watching Irid Nagoos.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:23:23]: I just like him as an athlete, so I'm excited. I'm pulling for him to hopefully be up there in that top 3, get a medal, but, you know, it's it's gonna be it'll be fun to see. I think he looked like he he did pretty well. And if it the pre fun teen classic, what's wild is just how fast these guys are going that a matter of a couple of seconds in the 1500 looks like they're so far out of contention. So, I think it'll be fun to see though. How does this end up coming together? What more have each of these athletes been able to put together in, you know, the months since Prefontaine in the time period from the Olympic trials to, you know, the actual Olympics. I think that's gonna be, really fun to see. We're also gonna see most of these athletes focusing solely on this one event.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:24:10]: So they're not gonna have fatigue in the legs if they had done a double of any sort. So I think that's gonna come into play, and, yeah, I'm excited to watch these. I think that I'm these are gonna be the ones that I'm, the most excited to see. So

Michael Hammond [00:24:23]: Certainly no slight to Negus from me. I think the reality he's look. He's incredible. He's incredible. He's American record holder, 1500 mile. I think the reality for him is that he's just in a he's in a a unique position in a bit of a negative way. He's not quite as strong strength wise as Ingebretsen, and and really even Kerr, and yet he's not quite as quick as a Cole Hocker. So if the race goes crazy fast, I don't I don't think he holds on.

Michael Hammond [00:24:48]: I mean, I think that we that showed it, like you said, at Prefontaine. I don't think he holds on to Ingebretsen and Kerr. If it goes slower, he doesn't have that quite that gear shift like a Cole Hocker does, like even a Kerr does, really. So I think he's just in a in a position where he's just in a brutal time to be a 50 meter runner, really. It's just a crazy time to be running as fast as he does. He he's the type of guy with his PRs. You're like, oh, this guy that could steal gold, and he could. I don't know.

Michael Hammond [00:25:14]: I'm not gonna I won't be surprised if he certainly gets a medal. I just think that he he's got these guys have such special such special toolkits that Nagoos is a bit. He's almost stuck as like a jack of all trades. He's fast, but not quite cold haker fast. He's strong, but not Ingebretsen strong. I think he's a bit of he's almost becoming a bit of a jack of all trades. And again, I know that's insane to say that about a 3 43 miler, but, that's why I picked Hocker ahead of him. I just think that he's got that close that I think is gonna come in handy in the in the Olympic final.

Michael Hammond [00:25:46]: But, yeah, it man, what an exciting event. It's gonna be fun.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:25:50]: And I actually, the backtrack because I think it looks like Hobbs Kessler has entered in both the 8 and the 15. Is that right?

Michael Hammond [00:25:57]: I believe so. I believe he's one of both.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:25:59]: Yeah. He will have a little bit of that fatigue in his legs, but, you know, he they I think from the perspective of him in the 800, that's where he's gonna have 1500 strength going into the 800, and he's gonna have 800 speed going in 1500. So it'll be interesting to see how he where where he ends up on that For sure. That front.

Michael Hammond [00:26:15]: For sure.

Cory Nagler [00:26:15]: Yep. Yeah. And heats for both, so lots of racing for Hobbs Kessler.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:26:19]: Oh, yeah.

Michael Hammond [00:26:20]: Yeah. You gotta have the strength to that's the thing, that you gotta have the strength. That's where an Ingebretsen is is, is strong, and that's where Kerr, he's really worked on his strength. That's why he's so strong. These guy can guys can get through the rounds. I would say that's where a Cole Hawker, it's a little bit of a negative is that not again, not that he's not strong. I I can't believe I'm saying that about a sub 13 5 minute 5 k man. But when you're against Anninga Britz and or Kerr who just have obscene amounts of strength, then it's tough.

Michael Hammond [00:26:46]: So, yeah, the rounds definitely become a factor at at the Olympics. So these guys gotta be super strong to make it through and still have enough on the on the final day.

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Andie Cozzarelli [00:29:53]: Yeah. This is gonna be wild, and I, you know, I don't I don't know why. I I mean, we were just talking because I think, my opinion, 1500 too is way too fast for somebody to be treating it as, you know, like, I can do all of these events in metal, and it'll be great. That this is the one event that I'm just like, you this is another league. These are 1500 meter specialists. These these women up here in the front we just saw if you watch the Paris Diamond League, another just insane performances by a bunch of athletes. I mean, even some US women went and raced, and they weren't they didn't even make the US team, but were running just incredibly fast times PR ing at that event, and, and they didn't even win. I mean, the winning time just, I mean, Faith Kippigan was, said another world broke her world record.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:30:44]: And then you had athletes that were actually near her, which was amazing to see because most of her races and even when she set the previous world record, she was out by herself with just the lights in the track. That was that was what she was running with was those lights in the track. And now she's actually got athletes that are coming up and competing with her. And so, you know, I think from that perspective, it I if I was if, you know, if she's doing all 4 events, you know, I don't know how she's doing it. But by in my opinion, this would have been an event that I would have been like, you know what? This probably isn't worth my energy to to put forth here when I'm doing 3 other events. But, you know, it'll be interesting to see how it plays out. If you think about how many races that is, that's 3 heats of the 15, 2 heats the 5 k, 110 k and 1 marathon within a span of how what how far apart of all these? I don't even know. The marathon's at the end.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:31:39]: Correct? Or is that right? I'm

Michael Hammond [00:31:40]: gonna look that up for you, Andy. You keep going. I'll I'll look it up and

Cory Nagler [00:31:43]: Yeah. It it was something like August 5th or 6th, I think, is when she starts, and then on 11th is the marathon.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:31:49]: Wait. So, like, all of that is just gonna be just fatiguing the legs after fatiguing legs and and the marathon on top of that. It's just unheard of to really put yourself through that and still be able to compete in the marathon at a in a impactful way. And, you know, will she bring home any medals, you know, doing all of these events? And that's what really where we're gonna be sort of, you know, you know, we'll find out. But, I'm not super I mean, I it'll be interesting to watch, but I'm I'm not super confident. We'll see. You know, maybe maybe maybe she will. She'll maybe she'll have a great performance.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:32:24]: She's she ran Chicago after the world championships. But then again, she had a lot more time between the world championships in Chicago to get ready for that. And that was but that was her first marathon if I'm not I'm not mistaken. So this is gonna be still a very new experience for her, the marathon. You could have a fantastic first experience running the marathon, and then the next time you do it could be a complete disaster just from, like, something small happening. So the marathon's just not an event you can take lightly, and you just have to know that that there's so many things that could happen and you wanna be prepared. And I think running all these events ahead of time is just gonna be a lot for her body to be able to try to recover from. And it's also training not training directly for the marathon, you're having to do a lot of different work across a large spectrum.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:33:13]: So you're not only trying to focus on doing speed work that you need for the 15, you're also trying to translate that to the marathon distance where we're working an entirely different muscle group for the entirety of the race. So how do you get that? How do you train and actually meet the needs of all of those different events? That's where it's gonna be, I think, you know, a huge thing is like, oh, is she able to actually specialize any of her training towards the event that she's doing? You know, that's where it's, I think, gonna be a challenge. But it it nonetheless, she's in this race. I don't see her being probably a contender in the 15. Faith Kepgegan, like we said, the world champion, and a world record holder. She's the clear favorite, but now that we've seen some athletes getting closer to her, it's gonna be a fun race to watch as well. Jessica Hull just had a fantastic race. So I think she PR ed by 3 seconds, which in the 15 is huge PR to to run, I think, what would she run? Like, 350 or something like that.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:34:14]: So it was 350. Pretty impressive on that front.

Cory Nagler [00:34:17]: 50 5, and then also she ran a 2,000 meter world record, I think, a week or 2 after. Okay.

Michael Hammond [00:34:22]: Yeah. So ran 350, Cory. She ran 350. 50? 350.

Cory Nagler [00:34:26]: Oh, sorry. I didn't quite

Michael Hammond [00:34:27]: catch it. O. Believe me. I I I yeah. It's it's mind blowing. Yeah. 350.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:34:33]: And and then, you know, even from the Americans' perspective, we watched Ellie St. Pierre win the 5 k and then double back in the 15. And if you looked at all the athletes that competed and did the 5 k 1500 double at the Olympic trials, she was the only one in contention going back into the second event that she was racing. Cole Hocker did the double and was really not in the mix as much as I think he would have liked, especially there towards the end in the 5 k. Same thing with, Elise Granny. She was hoping to be in the mix too in the 15, but she fell back pretty early. So I think that is where it's really impressive what Elle Saint Pierre was doing. She also led that race, took them out hard.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:35:13]: She pushed it from the gun after having done 2 heats of the 15, 2 heats of the 5 k. And, so I think that that's where I'm excited to see how she races with just one race on her legs. So she qualified in both the 5 k and the 15, but is going to go ahead and and stick with the 1500. So we know she has leg speed. We know she has turnover. She placed 3rd at the Prefontaine race, which was also a pretty good preview of in some ways, we didn't see Keith get beyond. We didn't see some of those athletes at that race, but, she was still in the mix with a good international field. So and and that was even that was even a PR for her at that point, and so I think she's gotten any even stronger.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:35:53]: And if that was evident from watching her at the Olympic trials, so I'm excited to see how she steps up to that level. And if she's gonna stick in there and be right there with Jessica Hall and all these other women, I think that'll be, you know, something to keep an eye on. So those are those are some people. The other person we can't count out is Nikki Hiltz. They won the 1500 with an impressive kick. They were at the Sir Walter Myler. I think I mentioned this on the, podcast we did before the Olympic trials. And they really have been racing, Like, they're enjoying it.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:36:25]: They've been running strong, and their kick is just super impressive. And and I saw that when they raced here at the Sir Walter Myler. And, I had a feeling if they were in the mix at the end of that Olympic trials race that they'd they'd take it home and and they did. So, you know, I'm excited to see how that how that plays out here. I still think though we've got such depth up front that it's gonna be, it's gonna take a pretty quick time, I think, to win this race. And I also think with Ellie St. Pierre in this race, that the race is not gonna go slow, we're not gonna see a race that's a sit and kick. So, I think I think at the very least, she's not gonna let it be that.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:37:03]: So

Michael Hammond [00:37:05]: Alright. Y'all ready for this? Stephane Hassan. Here here is Stephane Hassan's schedule at the Olympics. You ready for this? August 2nd, 5 k round 1. August 5th, 3 days later, 5 k final. August 6th, the very next day, 1500 round 1. August 8th, 2 days later, 1500 round 2. August 9th, the next day, 10 k final because 10 k is only 1 final.

Michael Hammond [00:37:30]: They don't no no heats. The next day after that, August 10th, 1500 final. The next day after that, August 11th, marathon. That's insane. I saw somebody I saw somebody joke that it's like Stephane Hassan thought she was running a, like, a high school dual meet or something where you have to, like, quadruple and and go do all the points nonsense for your team. And you're the best by far, so you just win. This is crazy. I don't know.

Michael Hammond [00:37:54]: I you're right. It's because it's just like I I understand, you know, the the concept of wanting to become a legend. Like, do something truly legendary. Do something truly memorable. But I think, I think 3 events would have already been so preposterous and insane that I don't know. I just I think she's gonna I think this is gonna blow up in her face, I hate to say. I I hate I don't wanna be negative. I think maybe the 5 k will go well because it's the first one before anything else happens.

Michael Hammond [00:38:20]: I I like that. And maybe that's the way she looked at it. It was like, look. Maybe the 5 is my best chance anyway. I'm gonna go into that fresh regardless. It's not gonna interfere with anything else. Then everything else is just icing on the cake, but we'll see. I think Faith Kip Kip Yegon, that's this race is less interesting from a who's gonna win standpoint than the men's because I think Faith Kip Gyan I mean, you know, I don't I don't see unless she just does something particularly silly or has just a a horrible day, I don't see how I don't see how she possibly gets beat.

Michael Hammond [00:38:52]: She's so good. So I think that's that's like I said, it's not boring. It's incredible that you're watching potentially the greatest of all middle distance runner of all time, you know, in her running so well, just broke her world record winning the race, but it's not gonna be particularly interesting in terms of, like, who's gonna win. So I think I think she is by far the favorite. I'd be shocked if she doesn't win. I think Jess Hall looks incredible. I don't know where this came from. All of a sudden running 350 in the 1500, I watched her 2 k world record, which is an off event.

Michael Hammond [00:39:24]: She recognized that it's not a particularly strong world record. Faith Kepigang could almost certainly break the one that she just set, but how strong she looked in it was incredible. I was just, like, blown away. I was watching it sort of like a jaw drop type moment because I with 400 meters to go, she was all alone. She's, like, even with the pace lights and all this you just it wasn't like an a moment where all of a sudden she picked it up and started going faster. It was like this gradual wind up, and it she just looked so so strong. So I like her to snag a medal. I don't think Hassan will be relevant just because I think I think she'll be too exhausted.

Michael Hammond [00:40:02]: And then I think think the Americans are interesting. I think I think I think that it will be a race that favors Saint Pierre just because she's so strong. I think Hilt's looked incredible at the US trials. And it's it's sort of that same reality that Cole Hocker is facing on the men's side where you're so good and have this this incredible ability to shift gears, but, alas, you're running with some of the with on the women's side, literally, potentially the GOAT, the greatest of all time up there and not gonna let it go slow. She's gonna make sure that it's fast. So that's what that's how I feel. I I I'm not knocking hills. I think what an incredible race at the trials.

Michael Hammond [00:40:41]: My goodness. Just that finish that finish is powerful. If you have that in your toolkit at any world championship or Olympics, that is special. But I feel like it's gonna be the same thing I said with Cole Hocker where it's like, man, if it's too fast, I just don't see, you know I don't know. I I think Saint Pierre is gonna be more the favorite American in this race because she's so strong, because I think she can withstand, though, that early pace from Faith from Faith Kipigan, from, you know, the the the Africans who will just hammer the pace. So I like Saint Pierre to to snag a bronze, I think, snag a medal. I don't think she's quite on the level of of Jess Hall. I think Jess Hall has somehow elevated herself this year, or at least this outdoor season.

Michael Hammond [00:41:25]: I mean, she got beat by LA indoors, so I think that I that that would be my order. I go Kipigon, Hall, Saint Pierre. I think that's I think that's my top 3. I think that'd be it's gonna be a thrilling race regardless, even though we I don't wanna say we know who's gonna win. Anything can happen, but, it's it's always special to be able to watch someone who who's just so incredibly gifted just just in their prime running so well with Faith Yipian. So it's gonna be fun.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:41:51]: Yeah. With her, I think you think about a lot of times they talk about, oh, you don't wanna lead the race. It's too much work. It's gonna make you tired. But that's how she's been racing every single one of her 1500 up to this point. I mean, she hasn't no pace she there's no pacer that can stay with her. She's been leading, so she's gonna race this like it's a time trial or, like, it's a another day at just going after the world championship or, you know, world championship, the world the world, record. Like, that's how she's gonna race this.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:42:18]: She's not gonna be a tactical athlete out there. This is gonna be hers from the gun, and, yeah, it'll be fun. It's fun to see

Michael Hammond [00:42:24]: all the person that could pace her right now is Jess Hull, probably, running 350. Like, she could be she's the only one that could be a pacesetter for. You know? That's how crazy it is when you get to that top level is that there there's no one that can properly pace her. She's so insanely good. This becomes an even bigger problem at the longer events because it's a lot more pacing that has to be done. You know? In a 1500, they can pace a 1000 meters, and typically that's gonna be enough. And that's you're right. With some athletes that are particularly special, I think Faith Kipigan is just so much better than everyone else that leading just even though it's it is physiologically speaking a little bit more taxing, it's just not a big deal because she's so much better.

Michael Hammond [00:43:02]: I think that's just that's just the reality, and that's what's what's harming Ingebretsen on the men's side is that he he's he's insanely good, but he's not the gap between him and Josh Kerr is not as big as the gap between Faith Kipigon and and second in the women's. You know? So she has more room for error. She's just she just there's no tactic other than letting it become a total jog affair, you know, sit and kick affair. I don't think there's any tactic where she potentially loses. I think that's just the reality. She's gonna walk into this so confident. But, yeah, it's it's funny that aspect of, like, not even having the ability to have a pacesetter, because anyone who's has the ability to pace her also wants to be in the race, hitting a PR, you know, drafting offer. So what a crazy reality when you're at the top of the mountain like that.

Michael Hammond [00:43:45]: But, yeah. Oh, man. The 1500 is gonna be incredible.

Cory Nagler [00:43:49]: Yeah. I agree. I think this one's definitely a race for silver. I would give the nod to Jes Hall, but I think Oiramir Veth was just behind, Jess at some other races. So I think she's definitely in the mix as well.

Michael Hammond [00:44:01]: It's definitely yeah. She's been so good for so long.

Cory Nagler [00:44:04]: I I see we're kind of creeping up, nearing 40 minutes in. I wanna make sure we, give some love to the other events before we get up to the marathon, which is the marquee one. So let's move on to the to the steeple, but make sure we we power through these a little. So I'll I'll start on the men's side.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:44:19]: Who

Cory Nagler [00:44:19]: are we feeling is gonna come out strong here?

Michael Hammond [00:44:22]: Men's people is interesting because, you know, you you it's kind of similar to I can't remember what other event I had said that, you know, you don't necessarily have, like, the big name favorite anymore. You know, kinda like the there were there were a group of Kenyans that kinda really have dominated the steeplechase for so long that, you know, that that aren't they've they've retired. They've since moved on. Evan Jaeger has has hasn't moved on. He ran the trials this year, but he he finished 4th, didn't quite make the team, which was a bummer. But, so you kinda have a bit of a sort of a changing of the guard, you know, going on with the steeplechase, but there's, I'm looking at the the descending the descending list just to make sure I have who's, like, who's on the world ranking. Let me pull it up real quick. Obviously, from the real quick on the Americans, I do like that kid, Kenneth Rooks.

Michael Hammond [00:45:09]: He looks really good. He's you know, it it was nice to see somebody see him be the defending champion. Last year, he won the trials coming out, and it was a bit of a surprise. You know, it was a bit like, woah. Where did this kid come from? And this year, he ran like he was the guy. You know, he ran like he was their he was the favorite. You know, there was no doubt. So I I think I I look forward to seeing how he does.

Michael Hammond [00:45:31]: As always, the steeple is a brutal event to break into because it's just totally dominated by East Africans. El Bakali, Sofiane El Bakali is obviously the the overwhelming favorite. He's He's been he's kinda another one of those guys that's been good for a while even though I I think he's, like, 27, 28 ish, and so he's he's really good. Koet from Kenya, Kibiwad from Kenya, those guys are are an unbelievable, and and Kenyans typically will employ somewhat of, like, a team tactic in the steeple they have historically at the Olympics. So and it's also it's always fascinating. We've I think we've talked about this before, but it's always fascinating how you'll have these insanely fast canyons going over the barriers and just, like, they don't use any form. They don't care about their form when they go over the barriers. They just kinda, like, just hop over it.

Michael Hammond [00:46:16]: They they literally don't care. They're so fast flat wise that they just they just roll. But I would say Elboccailly is probably the overwhelming favorite. He's got a great finish, so I would choose him to win, and from there, it's a bit of a crapshoot in terms of, like, who can sneak up. I would love for that guy, Kenneth Rooks, to just make the final and just be a factor. I think from there, that'd be good experience for, LA 2028, which is what we're saying for a lot of these younger athletes. Get the experience, get in there, you know, makes make it to where you show up in LA, and you've had you have an Olympics under your belt. You have the experience.

Michael Hammond [00:46:46]: You're not feeling like a like a novice.

Cory Nagler [00:46:48]: El Bicali, 809 off of off of, like, weeks of injury at Merit Cash.

Michael Hammond [00:46:54]: Yeah. That's incredible. That's so fast. So he's he's gonna gonna have more fitness coming into the Olympics. I would say he's an overwhelming favorite, but you never know. The steeple can be funky at the Olympics in terms of, like, you know, having guys come out of nowhere to to win even though they maybe they've been in the shadows lurking, but I think he's the favorite.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:47:11]: Yeah. Looking through the entry list, I was surprised to see that Evan Jaeger is on the US team.

Michael Hammond [00:47:18]: That He did he did not make the team. The guy who maybe maybe he's

Andie Cozzarelli [00:47:22]: on the entry list.

Michael Hammond [00:47:23]: That's interesting because the the guy who got 3rd got the standard. So he he is going maybe maybe there was something weird with that, but the guy who got 3rd from BYU, he ended up, like, a few days later going to Pennsylvania running the standard, which was awesome. And and he's going

Andie Cozzarelli [00:47:38]: was his name. Yeah.

Michael Hammond [00:47:39]: Corrigan. Corrigan. Correct. Yep. Yeah. So I that's interesting that Jager's listed, but he's he's definitely not on the team last I checked. Maybe I'm maybe I'm outdated information. But

Andie Cozzarelli [00:47:47]: Yeah. It's weird because I'm now I'm confused because it's showing 4 US athletes on Matthew Wilkinson, Kenneth Rooks, Evan Jaeger, and Corrigan.

Cory Nagler [00:47:59]: So I don't know their policies, but it it is possible maybe the US entered 4 athletes in case Corrigan didn't hit the standard.

Michael Hammond [00:48:07]: Maybe. That's it. Maybe it's it must be something with him in the standard, but as far as I know, he's running.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:48:12]: Yeah. Because I think the the different with Corrigan had to Corgan wasn't ranked high enough. So, and I I was actually listening to Des and Cara's podcast, so I feel like I, have been pulling things from that I listened to and heard them say, but they were talking about how he like, luckily enough, with the Stiebel being an early event, he was able to go do that race in Pennsylvania and get the standard to get him into and which is, I think, a big PR to even get that for himself. But that was what he had to do because he wasn't gonna rank high enough, and the cutoff was before the end of the Olympic trials. So he was able to go find her, which is pretty pretty cool story. I think that's pretty awesome to kind of just see that. I feel like he'll probably be on somebody who's racing off that high, and it's gonna be fun to see how he ends up. I don't think I don't I don't know that he'll be in the in the mix for anything, but I think that he's I just think he's gonna be racing this pretty gutsy, like, he's got nothing to lose now because of, you know, the way that he got there and all that is just exciting.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:49:10]: And so he's just gonna have no expectations. And, I'm excited to just see how that plays out. But, yeah, I, the men's people, I think is just sort of like, it's hard to know what's going on with it at this present moment. So it'll, but I don't, yeah, I am not as familiar with the with this event. So, yeah, I think that we're probably gonna see some of these athletes that are probably up there already, or we're gonna have like a mix of, you know, who knows who's gonna win. So yeah.

Cory Nagler [00:49:39]: Yeah. I think El Picali is to lose, but strong strong American team of, runners that are maybe not as battle tested at the Olympics or world championship level. But, let's move on to the women's side where I think the the American women, in my mind at least, have a very good shot.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:49:55]: Yeah. And I the the c pole 4 in the US, you know, has been that's been one of our strong events. And, you know, this year, though, we had we're missing a couple of our top athletes going into it. So the Olympic trials was one of those events that for the US that it was like, oh, what's this team gonna be? It's open. The door is open for anyone to make this team, and I felt like we had a pretty good showing. It looked we looked really good at the Olympic trials, so I am excited to see how that how we end up faring. You know, Val Constine looked really good throughout the entire event. And then if you look at rest of our team here, Courtney Weymouth, it just every it just looked like it was just a strong showing.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:50:36]: We had a nice, you know, it was the finish and everything was pretty exciting to see. And, I just I think that from the from this race, the US have always been strong in this event, so I'm just excited to see how they how they fare against this field. I don't think, again, they're they're just like the the men's race. I don't know that we have a bunch of clear favorites, not as many people that are, you know, super well known, from this event. So, yeah, that I don't have a a ton to say about this, but, yeah, I think it's gonna be exciting to see where we don't have our the, you know, the US favorites, Courtney Forex, who have been sort of making this race, sort of bringing it out, making it more competitive, making the sport, this event specifically a lot more exciting to watch. We don't have those people, and so it it's gonna be, I think, an interesting race.

Michael Hammond [00:51:29]: For sure. Yeah. Not much to add. I think Beatrice kept, ChipkoEdge is probably the overwhelming favorite, but it is weird. It's weird to have a steeple a steeple final, at a global championship without Emma Coburn's name being on the list. It's definitely a you know? Hey. It it happens. It's at some point, that rain had to end.

Michael Hammond [00:51:46]: She made, like, ten 10 straight teams or something like that, but it's it it makes you a little bit sad to see. You know?

Andie Cozzarelli [00:51:52]: Yeah. Yeah. Just as touch to touch on, like, the US trials, the race ended up super inter super weird. Forget the girl forget her name, but she went out super hard from the gun to get out in front and was doing the sidestep. I actually read that she was doing that because she knows she has some sort of she's not consciously doing that. And it's they she's been trying to figure out why she's doing it, but some sort of anxiety about going over the barrier. And so she went out so she get away from everybody so that she wouldn't step on someone or impede somebody, which, interesting.

Michael Hammond [00:52:28]: Man. Yeah. She got the yips for sure. I mean, that's the thing. She I I listened to her interview as well, and not to take this over, but, like, a 100%, I listened to it, and it was like a read between the lines thing. And I was like, I feel sorry for you, but you got the yips big time. Like, you you she just she cannot do it. She can't do a normal jump, and she was just like, yeah.

Michael Hammond [00:52:45]: I just do this little side step thing. I was like, that's not normal. That is not good. It looks really bad, and you're wasting so much energy, but it's just that's that's that's where you do add in I mean, the mental component is is relevant in any event, of course, but the steeple adds that one because you also have a technique element to it. It's not just go run hard and and kick as hard as you can. It's also the technique of getting over the barriers. So it's happened before to other athletes. She's not the first one.

Michael Hammond [00:53:09]: That's just the I think the most unique one I've I've ever seen in terms of of how she tried to solve it. Kudos to her for for doing her best nonetheless, not just, you know, not running the trials. But

Andie Cozzarelli [00:53:20]: Right.

Michael Hammond [00:53:20]: Yeah. Definitely definitely the yips.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:53:22]: Yeah. This event too, the other thing I'll say is this has a they have heats. So the challenge with the steeple is that, you know, you could see a fall, with getting over those those barriers. There's a there's an added level of, uncertainty with that type of thing when you're jumping over something and, you know, especially the water jump that puts can put you at risk for injury. That's, where we saw Courtney Farracks have an injury was going over a water jump. And so, same with, I think, Emma Coburn as well. There are issues with coming down there. So, that's something we hope that doesn't happen, but it could make things that we you know, falls are pretty common in steeple.

Andie Cozzarelli [00:53:59]: Just, you know, you run into somebody, you don't get over the right way. So it's just to kind of something that can add a level of, just, you know, change here with this event. So good to recognize that.

Cory Nagler [00:54:12]: Yeah. A lot of unpredictability in the steeplechase, but I wanna keep us moving. So we're gonna combine the 5000 meters and the 10000 meters. Mike, I'll kick it off with you. Do you wanna give your predictions on the men's side?

Michael Hammond [00:54:23]: Absolutely. I think the the names are pretty similar across the board from between the 510. I think you've got Yemif Kachelcha who's who's, you know, has been good for it feels like he's been good for so long. I mean, he was setting world records and and national records back in, like, 20 god, what was that? 2018 or something along those lines. Like, this guy's been really good for a long time. He's obviously a huge threat in the 10. I do believe he got left off the team in the 5 by Ethiopia, which is which is a shame, but he he would've Geberwett, Hajos Geberwett is a huge threat in the 5 k, and and and, Solomon Borrego is arguably a favorite for both, 5 and 10. And then, of of course, Joshua Cheptegei in the 10.

Michael Hammond [00:55:06]: The interesting names become, really, I think, who I think personally is the favorite for the 5 k and I think will win the 5 k is Jacob Ingebretsen. I think the the interesting thing about Ingebretsen is that I believe that he actually is a true 5,000 meter runner. I don't think he's a true 1500 meter runner. I think he's a a 5,000 meter runner who can run a really good 1500, and he's so strong and so quick that he gets away with it. You know, I think, unfortunately, that reality gets exposed when a Josh Kerr or a Jake Whiteman can step up and outkick him in the 1500 who are who, you know, Jake Whiteman has, like, a 142 or 143 800 meter personal best. So I think the but I think the reality is I really believe that Ingebretsen is a is truly a better 5,000 meter runner, and which is interesting because he's he won the world's, 5 k both the last 2 years. So he's, you know, he's shown that he has that prowess. I think I just don't think they're gonna run away from him.

Michael Hammond [00:56:02]: I think he's so strong. I think he wins the I think he wins the 5, truly. I I really think he comes back even after the 15 and and wins the 5. The 10, I think, is interesting. I think Borrego it's kind of a Borrego chariot or, I'm sorry, Cheptegei showdown. Cheptegei has not been on his game as of late, and yet he's, you know, world record holder. So, you know, you put this race back in Tokyo. He was the overwhelming favorite.

Michael Hammond [00:56:26]: Now he he doesn't look as good. So I think he's on paper, PR wise, he's super interesting, but I do think he's vulnerable. I would I would probably say Selimane Burega is is probably the favorite. Aragawi from Ethiopia is incredible as well. And then from the American side, the the, really, the one name, Nico Young and Woody Kincaid are great, and I think they'll I I love that especially Nico is competing at the Olympics, get that experience, but Grant is definitely the one who's relevant. He's just that guy who's been knocking on the door right there in that, like, 5th, 6th position. It's like he's ready. He's right there to reach out and grab a medal, and yet he hasn't been able to.

Michael Hammond [00:57:05]: I think that I I man, I want him to so bad. I I want him to to get up and get that medal. I think he's just that guy that struggles with that finish. It's just that those guys can kick. Those guys can run 51 seconds for a 400 at the end of a of a hard 5 k. Ingebretsen, Borrega, Kuchelca, or the end of a 10. They can all do that. I don't know that Grant Fisher can do that.

Michael Hammond [00:57:29]: And I think if you watch, for instance, indoors when he got out kicked in that 2 mile by Josh Kerr and and got got whipped by him the last 200 meters, I think that kind of exposes Grant Fisher's weakness. It's just he he he is a that dude can absolutely grind from a mile out, from 2,000 meters out in a 5 k, but just doesn't quite have that finish. I would love to see him sneak in for a medal in one of them. Probably the 10 k would be the more likely one, but it's gonna be tough. These guys can kick. Again, they can run 51 seconds at the end of a of a hard race. So I hope he's able to sneak in there for a medal, but I think he, I I I hate to say if I had to predict, if I was a betting man on it, I would probably put him at more like 4th or 5th in in 4th, 5th, or 6th in in both, but I I sincerely hope he proves me wrong and and snags a medal. He's really like a Galen Rupp.

Michael Hammond [00:58:22]: He's basically another Galen Rupp. Rupp actually did get those I mean, he got 2 medals actually, 1 in the 10 and 1 in the marathon, but most every other result of his was exactly like Fischer's where it was like 6th or 7th or 5th or just outside the metal contention because he couldn't close in 51 at the end of these insane, you know, 5 ks. So I hope he proves me wrong. I'd love to see it. He's he's just a class act type guy. Easy to root for, Grant Fisher. So I hope he pulls out the medal. It's gonna be a huge challenge for him, though.

Cory Nagler [00:58:56]: Yeah. Uphill battle, I think it's interesting he doesn't focus on the 10,000 meters since it it seems to me I I tend to agree that it's probably his better metal hope.

Michael Hammond [00:59:05]: And yet he's also a 12 45, 5000 meter runner. You know? So he's like, man, I've I've got the the chance in both. So I see why he does both, and, typically, the schedule favors it reasonably well-to-do both. Like, you're you're gonna typically be able to recover. But I see what you mean in terms of, like, your mental focus going all into one thing. I think for him, it's just kinda like he has to just catch the race on the day, sort of like Rupp did in the 2012. I mean, Rupp was really good. Don't get me wrong, but he kinda caught the race.

Michael Hammond [00:59:34]: The race went it was kinda weird having, like, these guys that you thought would be able to outkick him and usually did. At 2011 Worlds, they outkicked him, yet he showed up in 2012, caught the right day, got that kick, and got silver. I think Fischer is in a similar position where he needs to catch that day. He needs to maybe catch someone tiny bit off their game, you know, catch someone I don't wanna say, like, get lucky by any means because Grant Fisher has made his own luck, but he needs to catch someone on that day. And I think maybe at that point, it's just doing the 2 races is just a matter of increasing your odds, increasing the likelihood of that even happening. So I'm behind him doing both. I he's super competitive. I I like him a lot.

Michael Hammond [01:00:14]: I hope he snags a medal. I'll be thrilled if he does because he he deserves it, you know, with how hard he works and how good he is, but it's you know, these races are brutal. This is how brutal it is at the top level. You can be a 1246, you know, 26 whatever 40 guy or no. I'm sorry. 2630 and and still not potentially not be a metal contender. That's how tough it is. It's brutal.

Cory Nagler [01:00:35]: I I do hope my hometown athlete, Mo Ahmed, manages to snag a metal. But after that, I will be rooting for Grant Fisher.

Michael Hammond [01:00:42]: The the fact that I'm that he's our he's a me and he was me and Andy's year in college. I love that. I love that he's still still going so strong. Not just still going, but still competitive. So, yeah, I'm right with you, Corey. He's another one of those guys that's just so easy to root for. You know? So, yeah, love to see MoaMed. He's always a contender, so I I will not be surprised to see him snag a medal.

Cory Nagler [01:01:03]: Yeah. Lot of good athletes. Alright. Andy, do you wanna take it over 5 and sorry. 5000 meter and 10000 meter on the women's side?

Andie Cozzarelli [01:01:10]: Yeah. So, you know, I think starting I wanna go back to the 10 k a little bit and then go back to the 5 k. At the Prix Fontaine Classic, we saw a world record go down. It was set up because, actually, Tigay, I don't know how to say her. Tigay is it Tigay? I don't know how to say

Michael Hammond [01:01:27]: her name. Tigay. I think it's Tigay. Yeah.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:01:29]: She, led that race. She was going for the the record there. She was trying to get that world record. Pacers that they had set up for that race could only last for 2,000 meters because it was so fast. And, Beatrice Chibette, who actually ended up winning that race and actually setting the world record, she wasn't really there to she wasn't there for the intentions of of setting a world record. She was there for the Kenyan Olympic trials themselves. And so, she went with her, she sat, she looked so good throughout the entire race. She was just looked like she was chomping at the bit there.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:02:04]: And when she took off, she took off and, she she just dusted it and and crushed that race and really and she actually had to reel that world record back in. So, which, you know, didn't have a ton of time when she finally did take off. I think she waited and waited, and then she looked like she had so much energy left when she did that she dropped that pace down, got the world record, finished strong. And so for for her, I think, like, the 10 k is is gonna be I I'm excited to see how she does. I think she's gonna be a favorite in that event. You know, just from listening to that race, they also talked about, Sagay, because she, beat, Chibet, you know, previously in the 5 k. And so they're both now I think they're both they're both top athletes in both the 5 and the 10. And so it's interesting to just see that because they're the top 2 ranked in, in the world rankings for the 5 k and, in that.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:02:59]: So you when you look at that, you know, who's gonna end up taking that. But I think, to gay in the in, sagay in the in the 5 k that, you know, maybe that's her strength a little bit more. She's got the leg speed and the ability, whereas maybe Chibet has a little bit more of that longevity at the distance. And so, so I'm I'm pulling for Chibet here for the the 10 k and probably take the Sagay for the 5 k. So, those are kind of my my my initial thoughts. Stephane Hassan, like we said, is in this race. 5 k, probably her best shot. She's gonna go hard from the gun because that's how she is.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:03:31]: She's a hard She's a strong runner. She's competitive. She wants to win. And so I see her really going for it in this 5 k. I I don't see her holding back just because she's got 3 other events. I see her just really pushing for it, even probably in the prelim or in the prelim for the 5 k. I see her trying to kinda trying to make sure the race goes honest, and so I think that she'll be in the mix. We'll see if she's able to medal here at this at the 5 k with it being her one of her first events.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:03:58]: So that'll be something to keep an eye on from from that perspective. As far as US athletes go, I mean, our our best athlete, our winner of the Olympic trials is not competing in this event, El St Pierre. But, you know, watching the Olympic trials, Elise Cranney gave her a run for her money and was right in the mix there. So I'm excited to see how Elise does, you know, here at the Olympics to see if she's gonna hang. But, you know, when I was watching that pre Fontaine classic meet, a lot of these the Kenyan athletes and those Ethiopians in the field were just leaps and bounds ahead of, you know, everyone else there. And, Kalati, who won our the 10 k in the US, she was in that race and didn't really she she ran a strong race. I won't say that she didn't, but she wasn't really in contention with those women up front who were setting that world record. So that's something that I think that it's gonna be kind of a spread out race.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:04:53]: I don't think it's gonna be super tight. I think we're gonna see some clear favorites from the gun and that'll be sort of how it how it shakes out.

Cory Nagler [01:05:00]: Yeah. Andy, I just have to interject here on the 5,000 meters. We spent all this time talking about how Faith Kipiagon is at the 1500 meter, but as I look her up in the entry list, she's actually only entered in the 5,000 meters. So is, is she the clear cut favorite?

Andie Cozzarelli [01:05:14]: You mean, Faith Kipiagon?

Cory Nagler [01:05:16]: Yep. Kipiagon?

Michael Hammond [01:05:17]: She's not in the 1500?

Cory Nagler [01:05:19]: As I'm looking her up, right now in the in the entries, it looks like she's only entered in the 5,000 meter.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:05:26]: That's big. Yeah. That's big. I don't know. I she's she's 10th ranked, and I didn't even notice that I was going through this and I skimmed through and didn't see her name even in the 5 k. But now that I'm looking at it, she's 10th ranked in the, in the world rankings. And so, you know, I that's surprising if she's not in the 15.

Michael Hammond [01:05:44]: I have her in the 15, by the way. Just to I just looked it up from what I have. Okay. I have her in the 15 entered.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:05:51]: Okay. Okay. Okay. How spread out are those events?

Cory Nagler [01:05:54]: Yeah. When she she She must be in both then.

Michael Hammond [01:05:57]: She's in both. Yeah. Yeah. She's in both. Yeah. So 15 oh, just to reiterate, yes, the 5 k is before the 1500, so that could be interesting for face to be gone. Remember, because we were talking about this with Stephane Hassan. It's August 2nd, 5 k, round 1.

Michael Hammond [01:06:09]: August 5th, 5 k final. The next day, August 6th, 1500 round 1.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:06:14]: Right.

Michael Hammond [01:06:14]: 2 days later, 15 round 2. One day later or I'm sorry. 2 days after that, 15 final. So plenty of rest for the between the 15 rounds, but for Kip Yagun and, obviously, Sifan Hassan, the the challenge is gonna be coming right back after that 5 k final. I think Kip Yagun is good enough to do it, but it's still brutal.

Cory Nagler [01:06:31]: She's she's the world champion from last year.

Michael Hammond [01:06:34]: Right. Exactly. So she's that's the thing. She's she's such a threat in both, but and she's she's gonna be able to recover fine. You know? I I don't think it'll be too much of a challenge. I I say that. It's not gonna be easy, but

Andie Cozzarelli [01:06:44]: it's Yeah. I mean, I don't know.

Michael Hammond [01:06:45]: She makes it look easy.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:06:47]: With as close as as Jessica Hall was getting to her in the 15 there at the end in that last race, if she's got any amount of fatigue, where do we look what are we looking looking at? That's that's what I'm I'm thinking. It's like the the the gap was narrowing a little bit there in the 15 just based on the Paris Diamond League, which is showing athletes at their peak because they're they're getting ready for the Olympics. They're not they're not saving anything. So they're going into this. We're seeing that we're seeing athletes get faster as they're getting closer. And so, they're gonna be ready and primed. And, you know, if that if that gap was narrowing and now you're adding a little fatigue on Faith Kip Yegon's legs, just having done the 5 k, that's going to add, I think, a level of uncertainty there a little bit. So, yeah, that that throws something into the mix, from that perspective.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:07:33]: But yeah.

Michael Hammond [01:07:34]: Yeah. Andy, just to add one more layer to that, I do think the thing is the thing that's working in Faith Pipigan's favor is that it's it's yeah. It sounds bad like one day of rest between the 5 k final and the 1500, but it's just the 1500 round 1. I think when you're as good as Faith Kipugan, the 1500 rounds, I'm not gonna say they're easy or they're not important or she can just treat them as a joke. But when you're as good as she is, world record holder I don't wanna quite say this, but it's a breeze. It's relatively speaking a breeze. So she yes. It is only one day of rest after the 5, but it's that's just for round 1.

Michael Hammond [01:08:07]: Then she gets 2 days of rest for round 2, which, again, not a breeze, but she will be heavily favored to make it through relatively comfortably, then 2 days rest for the final. I think she'll be plenty rested for the final.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:08:20]: Yeah. So well, it'll be interesting how she sticks in there too though with knowing that we've got some still some really strong athletes in the 5, and, you know, where will she fall in there? And then how will that translate to the I think there's also something to be said about if you're doing 2 events with the first one, depending on how it goes and how you, that can affect your mindset going into your second. I think that we we we know these athletes are strong, but we just we sometimes we don't recognize some of the psychology that can happen if, you know, we just you get there and it's just something happens and that can affect your second race. I mean, I experienced it in a much different level, but at my regionals by last year did not race well in my in the 10 k, and I still had to run a 5 k, still had to double back to the 5 ks. And I was a mess after the 10 ks because that was my primary event. And so that didn't translate well for me. I had to get my head right in a just a matter of a couple of days. And so not that that's gonna happen, but I think that's also something we have to just recognize in each of these athletes that are doing 2 races in a in a stage this big, that it's not just something they can very easily swallow and get through.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:09:37]: Some of them are maybe really used to it, but you never know what could be going on behind the scenes for them. And so those are some things we also want to be considerate of, in my opinion as well. But yeah, that's I it's interesting because they they have plenty of rest there, but they still talk about, like, oh, they're probably tired, and we saw it in the Olympic trials, and maybe they're not at the same level that Faith Kip Yagan is not at. But I still, I still think that into a certain extent, like even those rest days, it starts to wear on you that you're just pushing to your limits. And I, you know, she's not gonna have to push to her limits to probably to to qualify through these rounds. It will be interesting to see how she raises them. You know, Ellie St. Pierre in the Olympic trials was somebody who wanted to win her races, whether they were prelims or semis or any of those things she wants to win.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:10:27]: And so if that's something that she's gonna be doing as well, like, you know, how much does that take out of the legs, you know, that kind of stuff will be a factor. But, yeah, it'll be it'll be fun to see now that that added level of, you know, how does this all end up. But, yeah, that I think the 5 and the 10 will be interesting. But, yeah, I I think from the US, I I don't see a lot of US athletes really getting a good shot at being able to kinda be in contention. I forgot to mention in the 10 k, we have Parker Valby, the American in the she's just running the 10 k this time. She's a college she's coming out of college, super young, made the team, was 4th in the 5 k at the US Olympic trials, actually would have made the team in the 5 k with Elle St. Pierre dropping out, but chose to just do the 10 k in the Olympics. This is gonna be you know, she just went from being, like, a standout in college, not having competition, to then being at a Olympic trials with competition, still was able to handle that, make the team, and now she's gonna be stepping up to an even more extreme position, with, you know, athletes that have got have run minutes faster.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:11:37]: So it'll be fun to kind of see how, how that, how that all goes for her. You know, it's gonna be good experience regardless, but I still think like out, out clear favorites out front, we're gonna see Tigay and we're gonna see Faith Kepke gone and we're gonna see those athletes up front, Chebet. And, yeah, I don't I don't know where to say that we are gonna see any of the the US athletes falling, but hopefully still in the top 10. So

Cory Nagler [01:12:02]: Yeah. Hard to say. There's just so many good athletes. We definitely have to move on what I think for at least this crowd is gonna be the marquee events, which is the marathon. And then I wanna quickly at the end, just touch on how viewers can watch these events. Maybe we'll take a similar format to before. So, Michael, do you wanna maybe wanna start us off, give us a preview of the men's field for the marathon?

Michael Hammond [01:12:20]: Absolutely. Yeah. I I've this is something I've mentioned on our podcast before is that the Olympic marathon is really interesting because in some cases, in a lot of cases, the Olympic marathon is actually, relatively speaking, easier to do well in for, like, for instance, the Americans. The reason I know that sounds crazy because it's the Olympics. The reason is because countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda that typically have these ins insane depth at the marathon. They're only allowed to send 3, 4 if they have the or I'm sorry. That's at worlds if they have the reigning champion. So they're only allowed to send 3 athletes.

Michael Hammond [01:12:57]: That becomes a challenge be for them because they have to pick their top 3. They don't really do necessarily trials like we do. They have to pick their top 3. Oftentimes, the person that they leave off, the 4th person, the the the runner-up, is almost certainly someone who could medal. That happens so often with, like, Kenya, for instance, is that their 4th person could probably be a threat to medal. So so that's good news from a from, like, an American standpoint is that, yeah, your athletes definitely have a better shot in terms of that's why it's you'll see an athlete maybe get a medal at the Olympics or or get close to it and yet not even break top 10 at, like, Boston or at New York or something like that because those majors can often be more competitive than even the Olympics. That's kind of the the interesting added thing to the to any of these races, but especially the marathon. I think the marathon, the big the big thing the big question mark is where is Eliud Kipchoge at.

Michael Hammond [01:13:48]: I think he's, you know, obviously the greatest marathoner who's ever lived at this point. I think it's it's a matter of has father time finally caught up with this man who has appeared ageless before basically the last year or 2. He I mean, this is a guy who I'll be I'm just gonna say this. Like, when he was competing, he I think he was a, a world junior champion or something along those lines. There were a lot of rumors swirling that he wasn't even a proper junior, like, that he was actually a little bit older than what he was claiming. So it's it's funny to think of that now that back then they were saying, no. He's not 18. He's 20 or whatever.

Michael Hammond [01:14:25]: It's like, alright. Well, in that case, when he was 36 breaking the world record, he was actually 38, which is even which is just crazier. Has father time caught up with him? I think I think, unfortunately, it probably has. It it just it is what it is. This guy's been training at an insane level so hard for so long. At some point, the young guns are gonna come up and and and take your number. That's just kind of the reality of the sport. I think it's, you know, it'd be I'd be hard pressed not to mention Kelvin Kipton, how how unfortunate it is to not have him, to not have him in the race.

Michael Hammond [01:14:56]: I think he would be the overwhelming favorite for gold if if he were alive today. He obviously, unfortunately passed in a in a car accident, back earlier this year shortly after winning, Chicago, right, that he just destroyed last year.

Cory Nagler [01:15:10]: Chicago.

Michael Hammond [01:15:11]: Yeah. Chicago. I mean, god, he looked like he looked like the next great, like, the truly the next the guy who's gonna take the torch from Kipchoge. Unfortunately, he's not there. So I I think from there, it becomes if you if you had to say the favorites, it'd probably be Chibet. Evan Chibet is obviously a a a huge favorite. He's he's looked he's been really good for a long time. I think one one person that I think their story will be really interesting is, is, from, well, from Kipchoge's past era is, is Kenenisa Bekele from Ethiopia.

Michael Hammond [01:15:47]: He's I I believe he was named to the team. I'm gonna I'm gonna regret if I if I'm using, poor information, but he's an interesting one because I think he's either 40 or very fast approaching it. This is a guy who used to be the world record holder in the 5 10 k, won Olympic gold in in 2004 in the 5 k, won the 10 5 10 double in o eight. Absolute legend. In my opinion, quite possibly the greatest distance runner of all time when you put everything together. 5 k, 10 k, and marathon, quite possibly the greatest of all time. But I think I just would love to see him if this is his final one, I would love to see him go out with a bang. I I truly think he has maybe the greatest running form I've ever seen in terms like, I know it's hard to argue against, like, Akyp Cho gay, but I truly think I watch Bekele.

Michael Hammond [01:16:35]: He has the perfect stature. He's he's relatively shorter, which is actually, physiologically speaking, is better for the marathon. He's so slight. He's and he just has such an insanely effortless look to him. I've always I've always been a a Bukele fan. I've always liked liked seeing him because he just he's such a stud back in his day, but I think I would love to see him, you know, maybe even maybe even pull off a a medal. Then so Evan Chabat is is I think his PR is only 203, but he's won, like, 6 major marathons. He's he's just he's just a winner.

Cory Nagler [01:17:09]: Michael, I don't wanna cut you off, and this supports your theory of how deep Kenya is, but I believe he was actually left off the team. So I've got here

Michael Hammond [01:17:15]: Tibet was? Oh my goodness. Here we go. Yeah.

Cory Nagler [01:17:17]: So the the Olympic team from Kenya is Kipchoge Kipruto, who came second at Chicago to Kipdom, and then, Manau. Is that how it's pronounced?

Michael Hammond [01:17:25]: Yeah. So that's what I'm this is what I'm saying. It's so the the reality is Evan Chabot would almost certainly be 4th, but they probably went because, again, his PR is not quite as quick. He's only I think he's only run 203, and yet he's just a winner. I that's a that's a challenge. That probably was a little bit of a controversial thing choosing Kipchoge, who hasn't quite had the good results as of late, but, of course, if you're team Kenya, it's hard to pick against Kipchoge. So in that case, I would say Kipruto Kipruto is probably the favorite. I think Cissei Lima has been incredible in major marathons.

Michael Hammond [01:17:57]: Tola, Tamirat Tola has been incredible in major marathons. Those are big names to watch, but probably at this point, probably Kipruto. If I if I had to pick a favorite, it I would probably pick him to for the win.

Cory Nagler [01:18:12]: Yeah. I'm I'm with you. I'll be rooting for Cam Levins, Connor Matz, Clayton Young, all our North American runners, but I think Kipruto is is an unbelievable talent.

Michael Hammond [01:18:21]: I think Connor Mance has Connor I mean I mean, hey. Clayton Young looked better than Mance at the US trials for sure. I know Connor Mance beat him, quote, unquote, but, but Clayton Young looked better. I think Connor Mance is that guy that it's like I'm waiting for him to drop that 204. You know? He seems like the guy. He seems like he's got that toolkit. What did we just say? Like, shorter, slight? You know? He looks like he looks like he could be that guy. He does look, if I may say, very labored all the time.

Michael Hammond [01:18:48]: I don't know if you guys would agree. He always looks like he's running as hard as he possibly can. It's funny it's funny that you'll have a Matt Centrowitz who can be winning, you know, winning Olympic gold, running 50.0 for the last lap of the Olympic 1500 and look like he's, like, jogging. And And yet you have a Connor Mance who's out on a 7 minute pace easy run. Looks like he's running as hard as he possibly can. It's such a what a weird sport we have sometimes. But but I think he has the toolkit to to potentially be one of the great American marathoners. He just thus far hasn't quite made that that jump to where we're talking about him in a medal contention or talking about him for a top, you know, 3 or 4, world marathon major.

Michael Hammond [01:19:26]: But Clayton Young looked unbelievable at the at the trials. He really did. So, yeah, I I I hope for the best for those guys. I hope they sneak in there, get a get a nice top ten, you know, maybe even do a Molly Seidl and and snag a medal. You know? I mean, hey. Nobody was talking about Molly Seidl going into Tokyo. Nobody. And yet she just ran the perfect race, was prepared for the day.

Michael Hammond [01:19:48]: So I've seen how those guys are training, Manson and Young. It wouldn't it's one of those things that I wouldn't I would be very surprised, but I wouldn't necessarily be totally shocked to see them pull one of those off too. Like we just said, Evans Chabette, who is probably one of the best marathoners in the world, got left off the team. That's the reality of the Olympics is that they got a they can only do 3. So, I, yeah, I think the Americans will do really well, and and I think up front, it'll be Kenyan domination.

Cory Nagler [01:20:15]: Yep. Alright. We gotta wrap up soon, but, Andy, you wanna finish this off with the women's side of the marathon?

Andie Cozzarelli [01:20:20]: Yeah. On the women's side, we're looking at a Seifah who's run 211 last year at, I think, Chicago

Cory Nagler [01:20:26]: I think it was Berlin.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:20:27]: Right? Berlin Berlin marathon and then ran 216 this year. So she's, you know, a clear favorite. The the thing that's interesting is, like, again, we're talking about Stephane Hassan. She's second on the world athletics on the, like, world ranking, but, like, that which is she's run 214 in in Chicago and ran super strong to do that coming off the world championships, but, like, that all those races ahead of that, it's sad because I do think that she also has potential in the marathon to be in contention here. And, but she's kind of, you know, whether or not she's going to get there with enough juice in the legs to be able to hang on through an entire marathon is gonna be the part that I think kinda takes her out of contention here. That that being said, I think, like, you go back a little bit. We still have a lot of the Kenyan Ethiopian runners have just been kinda dominating here on the women's side in a lot of the events. You know, even Chicago last year when we saw, you know, Stephane Hassan, have her.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:21:27]: I think that was her first marathon, sort of break out there a little bit. And so I I guess no. 2nd marathon. She ran London earlier that year, ran 218, 2/13, Sivan Hassan. So it sucks to see her, you know, take her out of the picture, but I just don't think with all those races in her legs, she's gonna be be be there. I just don't I think that the you know, her racing all of those and then doing the marathon last, it just kinda discredits how difficult the marathon is. There's so much more that you need to be able to be prepared. You need to have the tapered legs.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:22:02]: You need all of those things. You need to have be able to have that space in your legs for all the fill refill all that glycogen. And if you're continually burning it and burning it, not giving enough recovery, I just don't see it happening. So, you know, from the US side, I am super excited just to see maybe we can have, Fiona have a little bit of Molly Seidel moment. We're big fans of her here, Runners Connect, having been a, you know, prior coach. But, yeah, always pulling for her. She's also local to the area I live, so it'll be really fun to be able to see her. You know, she's local to the area now.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:22:37]: She lives the team that she trains with is in based in kinda Cary, Durham, Raleigh area where I am. And so it'd be awesome to see her. This will be her 2nd marathon, so very similar to Sydel where it's hard to know. The Olympic trials isn't always gonna be the best estimate of overall ability in the marathon, especially when it's run-in a place like Orlando where the heat becomes a factor. I think in the marathon, the other thing to consider is, you know, weather has such a profound impact and that can have that can be the if weather ends up great, then we typically see a lot of the favorites upfront. When the weather ends up a little bit shaky, that's where we start to see some of these things where some people do better in the heat. Some people are are able to stay or have that strength to be able to hang in there better in the heat. So, you know, it depends on sort of how this weather shakes out.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:23:27]: I do think from the US perspective, a lot of these athletes are probably training for through some pretty big heat. We've been having pretty bad. It's been really warm here. So, you know, maybe they'll have that work to their advantage about training through that, and it should be cooler in Paris just knowing that, you know, there when it's hot there, it's typically not as hot as it is here. So it's kind of like that could work to their advantage. But it also could work to all of the athletes advantages if they're training anywhere warm, that weather is gonna end up kind of being like perfect conditions for a fast marathon and really to see those leaders just lead from the start and just break away and have a kinda run away with it sort of thing. So, I just, you know, looking through a lot of the the athletes here just based on world rankings and the teams that we've they're being sent both in Kenya and Ethiopia, I see sort of, Asafa being the, our first, you know, then coming through here, probably and, you know, you sort of go back there. And then I think once you get there, it's where you get some people who are close in that 218 to 220 mark.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:24:30]: And that's where I think it's gonna be. I I feel like we're probably gonna have a clear cut first too and then maybe more of a race for 3rd. That's that's what I am gonna say most likely. So

Cory Nagler [01:24:41]: Yeah. Just to weigh in on one extra athlete, I I have to give, my pick as well the medal being Helen O'Beary after watching her, run an absolutely phenomenal race at Boston, but otherwise, completely agree.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:24:53]: Yeah. Yeah. I find it hard to know, like, after an athlete races Boston, like how, how do we know how to categorize that? Because it's a course that requires a lot of tact, like tacticalness, like you have to be able to race it smart, and also shows a lot of the athletes strength. So when the course if the course kind of lends towards that being a strong runner, I see that lending to those athletes in that favor. If the course ends up being a little bit flatter and less less hills and stuff like that, then you see more of the the the athletes who have just run fast times being pretty out front. So I think, yeah, I think she'll be there in the mix. And it'll just see how how that, you know, Boston strength that she built going into that race, if it translates well to the course at the at the Olympics.

Michael Hammond [01:25:38]: I think I read that it's hilly. I think I read that the Paris course is hilly. So, yeah, there you go. Well, Boston winner certainly is gonna be, you know like you said, that could be a bet. It's not necessarily applicable if it's flat, but if it's hilly, heck yeah. That's definitely applicable. So a berry's gotta be a favorite.

Cory Nagler [01:25:53]: Yeah. Don't don't quote me on this, but I was listening to a video Conor Manser Clayton Young posted talking about the chorus, and it was like 2 or 3 times the elevation of Boston. It'll be hot just like it was the day of Boston. So it does mimic those conditions well.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:26:05]: Okay. Alright.

Michael Hammond [01:26:06]: Brutal, which which like you said, Andy, can be it's almost like that's what creates the crapshoot. That's what creates the anything can happen. Maybe not to, like, Boston 2018 level, but nonetheless can you're gonna get some surprises. Something is going to go off script. So, oh, man, that's fun.

Cory Nagler [01:26:23]: Yeah. Alright. I'm super excited for all these events after this discussion. Just before we conclude, and here Michael, do you have any idea how viewers watching from the US can actually tune into the Olympics?

Michael Hammond [01:26:34]: Pretty much everything has been on, NBC, I think. NBC? Yeah. NBC, I believe.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:26:39]: Yeah. I believe it is. NBC because Kara Goucher is one of the she's be there for broadcasting purposes, so I'm pretty sure it's NBC, which means it's probably also on Peacock.

Michael Hammond [01:26:51]: Peacock. And it's worth it. For those listening, it's worth it to get Peacock because you're also gonna get a bunch of, like, I mean, I watched the Diamond League, Monaco on Peacock, which was awesome. It was a it was a solid production, so you're gonna get the Olympics, and I think it's, like, $8 a month to to get Peacocks, to get, like, the basic level. So Yeah. Peacock, if you don't have cable, NBC, if you do, it's certainly gonna be on there. There. And I think they have exclusive rights, so I don't think there's gonna be any, you know, switching between this and that.

Michael Hammond [01:27:19]: I believe it's all NBC and Peacock. Perfect.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:27:22]: Yeah. Okay. I think so.

Cory Nagler [01:27:24]: We will link both in the show notes then, and, I will have to do my own research from Canada for how to watch. But, Andy, Michael, this was fantastic. Thanks for joining me again.

Michael Hammond [01:27:33]: Yeah. It was fun, Corey. Thank you. Yeah.

Andie Cozzarelli [01:27:34]: Thanks for having us.

Cory Nagler [01:27:36]: Absolutely. My pleasure. Thanks for listening to the Run to the Top podcast. I'm the showrunner at Runners Connect, where as always, our mission is to help you become a better runner with every episode. You can connect with me on Instagram at corey_ Worth your strap up by searching Corey Nagler. And please consider connecting with the rest of our team at runnersconnect.net. If you're loving the show, you access to contests, and consider subscribing to our newsletter by going to runnersconnect.netforward/podcast. I'll see you on the next show.

Cory Nagler [01:28:29]: But until then, happy running, everyone.