by Larry EderSo, I went over the schedule of events and lists of entries, and I thought of five more quesitons. Who knew? But, powered with a large Starbucks iced Americano (in a paper cup, no less), I am ready to prognosticate!
An unknown Dejan Gebremeskel, from 2011, back to win another 3000 meters? photo by PhotoRun.net
The 2017 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix has some amazing fields, and the finish, with the NB Mile, then the NB DMR, will be spectacular! So, here are my five more questions to be answered on Saturday night, January 28, 2017, at the Reggie Lewis Center.
The 2017 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix has some amazing fields, and the finish, with the NB Mile, then the NB DMR, will be spectacular! So, here are my five more questions to be answered on Saturday night, January 28, 2017, at the Reggie Lewis Center.
1. Dejan Gebremeskel owns the 3000 meters here, will he win once again. Remeber in January 2011, when Dejan, with only one shoe, battled Mo Farah to win this exciting 3000 meters? Well, Dejan has his work cut off for him. We have Paul Chelimo, 2016 Olympic silver medalist at 5000 meters, Eric Jenkins, NB Fifth Avenue Mile Champion, Garrett Heath, three time Edinburgh Great XC champion, and Andrew Butchart, sixth place, Rio Olympic 5000m final, plus Scottish record holder for 3000 meters and 5000 meters. And then, there is Olympic bronze medalist Clayton Murphy, running the 3000 meters for the first time as a pro. One note on Clayton, he would not race this distance unless he was prepared!
2. Can Donovan Brazier win the 600 meters? The young man who broke Jim Ryun’s 50 year old NCAA record for the 800 meters is one tough runner. After his up and down 2016, Donovan is ready to roll and he is dealing with some serious 400 meter runners (Renny Quow) and Duane Solomon, who has run 1:42 for the 800 meters. The key in this race? Get out well and hold on for dear life over that last, grueling 200 meters!
3. How fast can Noah Lyles run 300 meters? One of the Lyles brothers, now an adidas sponsored athlete, Noah runs almost as fast as he talks about the sport. Noah is racing some very fast and experienced runners in the Jesse Loubier memorial 300 meters. If Vernon Norwood gets out there, it will be fast, as the 300 meters may be the perfect distance for Mr. Norwood. None the less, watch the young whipper snapper in the field, Noah Lyles and watch how he does against this savvy field. The 300 meters is one and one half laps on this MONDO track. If you want to win, you must get out like a bat out of hell and hold on for dear life (which is my main tactic suggestions for most indoor short races).
4. Whose going to win the NB Women’s 3000 meters? Let us see. Sifan Hassan, European champion, indoor, outdoor, XC, Shannon Rowbury, AR at 1,500m and 5,000 meters, World Indoor bronze at 3000m, 2009 World Champs bronze, 1500meters, Nicole Sufeuentes, Canadian star over 5000m and 1,500m, Dominique Scott, newly adidas sponsored mulitiple NCAA champ, and steepleer Stephanie Garcia are among the big racers in this one. It should be fast and furious at the finish!
5. Who can challenge Matt Centrowitz in the mile? Ben True? Hagos Gebrhewit? Jake Wightman? The mile is the perfect middle distance on this track. With some fast miles having been run here, watch for a very fast last 800 meters and screamingly fast last 400 meters! You have the Olympic champion in this race!
