Is the American 10k record in danger?

[brightonjew]

With Ritz, Meb, and abdi all going for it is in jeopeordy? realisticaly I would say it is unlikely because meb is mia and Ritz has done relativley poorly this year. What about abdi? After an unsuccessful marathon debut( 2:17 cannot cut it) is he focused enough to get the job done? Will Ritz silence his critics with an amazing time in late may? I cant wait and see.


I heard that goucher is making his 10k debut this month in Oregon in a race where rupp is going for the American Junior record. Can this be confirmed?

[mzungu]

ritz had a promising several races in europe early and an easy win at u.s. 12k, plus he ran 27:38 a year ago. I think he has a great shot at the record but will probably not get it until next year.

[rysheridan]

I thought Goucher was staying down at 5k, where did you hear he was moving up? It's about time, he can do great things if he does

http://www.mensracing.com/athletes/interviews/2005/adamgoucherxc.html

"On training for short course rather than long course:
This was the main race. I felt like this was the best preparation for me. For where I am and what I'm focusing on this year, it's really getting back in to the same things. I still want to focus on getting fast. I want to improve my 1,500 PR. I feel like if I want to run sub-13:00 in the 5K I need to run 3:34, 3:35. So I still want to focus on the shorter stuff, the faster stuff"

[Dragonsoul]

Meb can get it, he'd have to run it in Brussels this year. Abdi probably isn't fast enough. Ritz isn't fast enough this year but maybe next year I believe. Ritz had there great races and two subpar races in his xc/road season. I wonder when he's gonna race, probably Prefontaine Classic 5000 and then Usatf 10k.

Adam Goucher is fast but I am not sure if he can get the 10k record. I don't really know. The only places for a fast 10k from now on in this year are Hengelo, Ostrava, and Brussels. Cardinal Invite passed. I am not sure if the USA guys would run in Hengelo or Ostrava because of it's proximity to Prefontaine Classic, we'll see about that. Also it's not too far from Usatf champs so I doubt it. It's a possibility that we could see Meb, Abdi, Ritz in Brussels 10k but not Adam Goucher(focus on 1500/3000/5000). I have a feeling that Ritz will run in the Brussels 10k, he wants a fast time. I am not sure what Meb or Abdi will do, have they ever run in Brussels?

Keep the discussion goin!

[Mrr82]

I heard that goucher is making his 10k debut this month in Oregon in a race where rupp is going for the American Junior record. Can this be confirmed?

That is true...but like the other poster said he's concentrating on the 1500/5k this year.

[phrisbee]

If the current crop of runners doesn't get it, look for the 2004 high school class to do it. Rupp and Withrow are definitely impressing.

[s2h5k]

why doesnt abdi have the speed to go after the 10k record? he is training with bernard lagat, so im sure he will get faster. did you forget last year he ran 27:34 after running 27:00 pace much of the way? i can definately see meb, abdi, and ritz all running very close to, or under the american record this season.

[Dragonsoul]

Abdi's been running the 10k for a long time, he's not close to the record. No offense to him he's great but I don't see him dropping 22 seconds for 10k all of sudden, he's very experienced already and hasn't gotten it. I know he ran 27:34 but are you serious he ran 27:00 pace? What were his exact splits? That doesn't sound familiar. Anybody know? If he did go out extremely fast then he has a chance but I thought his 27:34 had good enough pacing, not 27:00(over 35 seconds faster than his pr before the race). Somebody post the splits

[Zat0pek]

Meb could get it again.

Ritz could, and probably will someday, but I highly doubt this is the year. WC's are the focus, and as it has been pointed out there are limited opportunities at 10,000. Next year, with no WC's or Oly's that the year is built around, is the year to chase records, especially if he stays healthy this whole year and has that base as a springboard into next year. Ritz's goals for this year should be, in this order, (1) to stay healthy and train consistently for the entire year, (2) perform well at WC's and (3) get some European circuit experience.

I agree that Abdi is a long shot. He's been at this level long enough and seems to have pretty much plateaued.

Goucher? No.

I'm a huge Goucher fan, but I feel about him the way I feel about Gabe; its just been too long since he's had a really quality performance to get excited about him until he actually produces. His 5000 PR (13:11.25) was in '99 and his 3000 PR (7:34.96) was in '01. Four years (SIX years at 5,000) is a looooong time not to improve when you consider his age. That 4-6 year (and climbing if he doesn't do it this year) dry spell in improvement happened when he was at an age that he should have been making major improvement. Sadly, both Goucher and Gabe squandered key development years of their careers. In Goucher's case, it was largely injury-related. He not only didn't improve, he didn't even come close to those performances. Goucher is a tree with tremendous potential, but it has produced very little actual fruit. I'm not saying he's done, but it becomes much harder for him to PR with each passing month. I'm rooting - hard - for the guy and would love to see him tee it up at that level again but my expectations are pretty low.

[Dragonsoul]

Abdi had a good victory in Cardinal Invite 5k. I wonder why he didn't run the 10k. Maybe he's gonna run the Brussels 10k instead? That'd be ultimate! When will Goucher race? Probably Prefontaine Classic 5000?

[Beanfontaine]

27:05 this year...who, dont know dont care but i predict 27:05

[Dragonsoul]

27:05? The only person cabable of that this year for USA is Meb. He could do it if he runs in Brussels in a perfect race where he's in shape.

[Beanfontaine]

^ yea but if the only 10k's he runs are in the u.s. against u.s. comp..forget it. 27:20 at fastest.

[Dragonsoul]

True! Dang! Meb still has a chance to get a new record. I wonder what he will do?