European Championships Team Announcement

[LuckySpikes]

Kind of you to indulge me, LuckySpikes!
1) Laura - still can't believe she hung on to that early pace - I was confidently saying to the two people sat next to me (er, Donavan Brazier and Sonia O'Sullivan - who'd vacated the seats left by Dina's Mum and Dad!!!) that she'd blow up. That was one of many embarrassing wrong predictions I've made in athletics stadiums. I was also screaming "Wait .. .. .no, he's gone too early!!!" when Jake attacked. My finest moment however, was back in Atlanta in 96 telling all around me that Frankie Fredericks was about to beat MJ.
...

Ha, with predictions like that I think we'd all appreciate having a back marker in the Euros Prediction Contest.

Sounds like a fabulous time had by you and yours! However, I'm glad to hear that Brum does atmosphere better than Eugene!

I've been listening to the House of Run podcast since about 2013 and for many, many years I thought they were saying "Priest Rail" ! E.g., when listeners emailed in asking for recommendations of what to do in Eugene during the US Champs, they'd say "Definitely go on Pre's Trail" (not "go for a run on Pre's Trail.") So, all those years I was imagining a nice train ride, out to the coast, along and back perhaps.

[Sovietvest]

I'm thinking she's got enough margin to play with. It could work the other way also - maybe she's feeling a bit fresher having not had a long hard winter?

I trust you had a good time in Eugene?! What were your 3 highlights in or out of the stadium? I can guess Jake's win was one, so give us 3 others!

Kind of you to indulge me, LuckySpikes!
1) Laura - still can't believe she hung on to that early pace - I was confidently saying to the two people sat next to me (er, Donavan Brazier and Sonia O'Sullivan - who'd vacated the seats left by Dina's Mum and Dad!!!) that she'd blow up. That was one of many embarrassing wrong predictions I've made in athletics stadiums. I was also screaming "Wait .. .. .no, he's gone too early!!!" when Jake attacked. My finest moment however, was back in Atlanta in 96 telling all around me that Frankie Fredericks was about to beat MJ.
2) Running on Pre's Trail - just mentioned Korir in another post but also saw Gidey and Cheruiyot and a host of other athletes there (and in the local supermarket). It was like living in Stellar Street for athletics.
3) My daughter, who runs 400, getting her photo with SMU - who was lovely.
4) Eating my bodyweight for breakfast at The Original Pancake House and lunch at Track Town Pizza.
5) The seats in the stadium - like the most luxurious multiplex cinema seats with loads of leg room and cup holders.

Just to balance this all out I should add that I also spent two nights in cheap seats at Birmingham. The atmosphere was streets ahead of Eugene. Obviously crowd size was a factor but the noise per person (if that's a thing) was much louder in Brum and the overall levels of engagement in the action was so much higher. Way more attention given by the crowd to the field events. Scott Lincoln and Naomi Metzger got way more attention and received much louder cheers than Rojas or Crouser. Most bizarre of all, the crowd reaction to Jake in Eugene was nothing compared to the ear-splitting noise when our Decathlete kicked to a 4:50 second place in the Birmingham Dec 1500!!

[LuckySpikes]

I think Muir might be vulnerable. Athletes who miss a big portion of winter training often fail to hold their peak as long as they would otherwise. I think if the Euros pans out like the Commies race did then Muir might get caught at the end by Ennanoui or even Mageean. Sabatini is worth watching, too.

I'm thinking she's got enough margin to play with. It could work the other way also - maybe she's feeling a bit fresher having not had a long hard winter?

I trust you had a good time in Eugene?! What were your 3 highlights in or out of the stadium? I can guess Jake's win was one, so give us 3 others!

[Sovietvest]

Clearly no point in a prediction contest cos the super duper experts, self styled, already know the winners. Anybody denying our vast superiority in nearly all the track events in Munich is a miserable sod.😁😁😁

I think Muir might be vulnerable. Athletes who miss a big portion of winter training often fail to hold their peak as long as they would otherwise. I think if the Euros pans out like the Commies race did then Muir might get caught at the end by Ennanoui or even Mageean. Sabatini is worth watching, too.

[marra]

No idea, but he's not on the entries list. British Athletics hasn't confirmed any changes yet to my knowledge, I'm just comparing the team selection announcement with the list.

[SprintRelayFan]

Why is chalmers out?

[Occasional Hope]

I thought WA rules were usually that anyone named to the individual 100 or 400 was automatically part of a relay squad.

[MysteryBrick]

Hahaha. Calling Muir the favourite in Munich isn't exactly a hard call...

[jjimbojames]

Bol announced on Instagram she’s going for the 400m/400H double. I know there’s no mixed relay and she’ll have a bye in both individual events, but five 400s (assuming she doesn’t run the relay heats) in the space of a week is going some!

[MR_ME]

Okay so who do you think is likely to challenge Muir for the gold and how will they defeat a fit and healthy runner who has managed 3.55 this year?

[marra]

Scanning the entries versus the GB team announcement, Holly B and Emily Borthwick both look like they've dropped out with no replacement. Understandable for both.

As Stew-Coach says, Josh Faulds in the 400H for Chalmers.

Anna Purchase looks to have been added to the Hammer.

Ugen out of LJ, Irozoru in.

No MHS in the relay squad. I'm not sure if we can still add him anyway given he'll be there for the individual, though it wouldn't surprise me if he skipped it.

There's a bunch of events that we have 5 or 6 people listed - the original named team and presumably potential replacements in case of late withdrawals.

[marilyn1]

Looking at the fastest times in the womens 1500m this year and Laura Muir has 6 seconds on the next fastest European. It should be another straight forward victory for her in Munich. Unless Hassan is taking part?

Clearly no point in a prediction contest cos the super duper experts, self styled, already know the winners. Anybody denying our vast superiority in nearly all the track events in Munich is a miserable sod.😁😁😁

[Stew-Coach]

Amendments already being made, Josh Faulds added to the team for 400mH

[Chafford1]

If DAS is fully fit and recovered, she'll win both the 100m and 200m, if not Kambundji is consistent and in great form. DN for a minor medal in the 100m - needs to work on her start and also she seemed unable to cope with the pressure of being a gold medal contender at the CGs. Fastest time 10.90 in the semis but only 11.07 in the final, whereas ETH and Julien Alfred both ran faster in the final than in the semis.

[alfie]

Whatever happens , Marilyn will find a reason to look on the black side

But yes obviously some athletes will find three competitions in a short time a bit of a struggle : so what ? This year is an unusual set of circumstances and unlikely to be seen again. I actually think GB will still do pretty well but won't read too much into results good or bad : even though they have not had CWG to contend with , other European nations will be at less than full strength (eg no Hassan) and to a great extent everyone will have an eye on the next two years.

Best to just watch the whole thing and enjoy it for what it is - "surprises" both good and bad included. If everything always went exactly as expected the sport would be a lot less interesting to watch...