by Larry EderI truly enjoyed our visit to Portland Track Festival. It is everything that I had been told and more. Even with virtual fans, the meet was superb.
The women’s steeplechase, note Allie Ostrander and Sarah Vaughn up front, 2021 Portland Track Festival, May 29, 2021, photo by How Lao Photography
It is Wednesday, and I am sitting on a bench in downtown Portland, enjoying a coffee from Fleur de Lis, and posting some deep thoughts. Now that I have my first new computer in seven years, I am flying. Amazing what happens when all 26 letters work on your computer!
This is a piece on Day 1. I will do two such pieces on day 2, plus 3 more.
And tomorrow is Stumptown! So much fun, so much good coffee, so many amazing views in Oregon!
1. Mason Ferlic is coming into shape, and his barrier technique is spot on.
Mason Ferlic/Tracksmith won heat 1 in the Men’s steeple at 8:18.75. The second was Bernard Keter/US Army, in 8:20.40. Sean McGorty, Bowerman TC, in only his second steeplechase, ran 8:22.75.
Mason races like a European steeplechaser. He has leg speed (the next day he ran 3:35 for a PB), strength (won 5000m at Miles of Trials in Texas last February), and he looks poised for an mid 8:15 or 8:10 by the Trials.
The big question is where is Evan Jager? What is his fitness? We will have to see. But Mason Ferlic, Sean McGorty and Bernard Keter will all be in the battle during the US Olympic Trials.
2. The women’s steeplechase is strong, but position 3 is open.
One should have no doubt that Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerich are the top two in the steeplechase, barring something like missing a barrier. Emma Coburn ran a 9:08 in Doha and Courtney ran 9:21.13 in Portland. After that, six to eight woman, have a great chance, on the day to make the third position.
We see Colleen Quigley as a top contender, but do not know about her shape and how the battle to find a new sponsor or sponsors affected her.
3. Lesson from women’s 10,000m: Molly Seidel is really fit!
Molly did a five-mile tempo run at a 5:19 mile pace just 90 minutes before the 10,000m at Portland Track Festival. She ran 32:02.19, helping Makenne Myler to her 32:03.62 and Lauren Hurley to her 32:17.22, both under the U.S. Olympic Trials 10,000m mark of 32:25.00.
Bottom line is this. Molly Seidel is a talent. PUMA has now signed her, and is encouraging her to find her road, as she models healthy running and active lifestyle for a new generation of PUMA fans. Molly is one of the toughest athletes that I know. Remember, in her debut marathon, Molly Seidel battled the best Americans in the marathon on a tough course and made the Olympic team for Tokyo!
4. Sugaru Osaku should not be underestimated in Tokyo.
Sugaru has run 2:05.29 for the marathon. Pete Julian, his coach, will make sure that Sugaru is fit, healthy and confident prior to the Tokyo Olympics.
In Portland, Sugaru showed that he is fit. In heat 1 of the 10,000m, Sugaru won in 27:56.44, running within himself. Twelve minutes later, he began heat two, finishing just behind Acer Iverson, who won in 29:04.00. Sugaru was second in 29:04.28.
Pete Julian, the coach of Sugaru Osaku had desired a 10 mile tempo on a treadmill. Sugaru was not game and suggested that the second 10,000m could be a good substitute. And that he did. Two things we learned. Sugaru Osaku is fit, fit, fit, and Pete Julian is a combination of science and art as a coach/adviser.
5. Galen Rupp is focused on Tokyo.
Galen Rupp ran his first 10,000m since 2018 at Portland Track Festival. He floated around, seventh, sixth, then fourth, and then, pushed into second, holding it until the last lap. His 64.2 final 400m was just not a match for the 61 second last laps of Sugaru Osaku and Jacob Thomson or Yuuya Yoshida.
Galen Rupp did join the top 3 in breaking the meet record of 28:02.29. He is marathon fit, just a week or so off a good 10,000m (27:40).
An expletive was heard coming from Galen when he was told that his 28:00.37 just missed the Oly Trials standards, and his ranking was 26th, while they took 24. Galen Rupp had wanted to compete in Hayward Field, on his own terms.
He may still, but now is time to get back to building for the Tokyo Marathon. Galen has been training, much of time at home with his growing family is is happy. Supported by friends and family, Galen can focus on his goal, a third Olympic medal, and one that he sees as most consiquential.
But on Friday night, he was one of 44 men in the 10,000m. And he finished 4th…
So, it goes, as Kurt Vonnegut would say…
