Marcell Jacobs, citing back injury, is out of Rabat Men's 100 meters, Mia Sorgia...

This is a busy Thursday. I am on my way now to LA for the USATF LA Grand Prix with some awesome fields! But this one had to be commented on!

So, I am enjoying the afterglow of my podcast, Coffee with Larry, sucking down Major Dickinson’s coffee (Peets), and watching the cardinals in my front yard, when an alert comes on the site owned by Elon Musk: Marcell Jacobs has a slight back injury and is out of Rabat

Meeting International Mohammed VI d’Athletisme de Rabat Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat (MAR) – 28 May 2023, compiled by World Athletics Results Services

El Bakkali delights the home crowd at the Rabat Diamond League meeting

World Champions Gudaf, Ingebrigtsen, El Bakkali and Korir highlight the Rabat Diamond League

I am annoyed, as I was looking forward to Mr. Kerley, Mr. Jacobs, and Mr. Omanyala going at it over 100 meters. That is what our sport is about, right? Seems like our sport is also about protecting your financial situation and world ranking. This is nothing new. Steve Ovett and Seb Coe would race in the very same meets, in different races (1,500m or mile) to build up some angst among fans. Athletes in the 1990s would withdraw from events citing injuries, perhaps when they just were not ready for the supreme effort.

This race, when it happens, will be riveting! @fkerley99, @crazylongjumper, @Ferdiomanyala https://t.co/QT3Iplz8CO

— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) May 25, 2023

Now the track world has responded well. I point to our friend, Mike Rodgers, who is just loving it ( I can hear Mike’s laugh about this one. Mr. Rodgers knows exactly what is going on…)

And it begins… https://t.co/KS24N5QUHS

— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) May 25, 2023

Here’s my beef. Fred Kerley is really fit, like scary fit. In front of my media seat in Doha, I watched the guy dust a field at his whim in the last 30 meters in 200 meters. In the presser, Fred Kerley gave me some time, and essentially he said one thing, ” I love to compete.” Fred wants Marcell Jacobs so bad he can taste it.

The photo below shows Fred Kerley running a 9.91 in Yokohama last weekend.

Fred Kerley, Rohan Brown, Seiko Golden Grand Prix, photo by Continental Tour Gold

And if you think Ferdinand Omanyala has a different view of taking down the Olympic champion one more notch, you do not know athletics.

Ferdinand Omanyala wins 100m in 9.84, to the delight of 60,000 fans, May 13, 2023, photo by Sila Kiplagat.

The truth is this, somewhere between a very painful back and not racing unless he is truly ready, Marcell Jacobs had an issue, and his coach, his trainer, and his team will not put him out there to be humiliated.

My guess is Marcell Jacobs will be in Florence, ready to roll. I sure hope so, because I do not want Crazy Long Jumper injured once again this year.

We need some big rivalries.

Christian Coleman and Noah Lyles have been interesting so far…

The season truly begins!

Marcel Jacobs out of Rabat Diamond league, slight injury, #rabatDL, @crazylongjumper, @fkerley99 pic.twitter.com/KiaMZKYI8m

— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) May 25, 2023

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 50-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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