The “upcoming young pros” thread got me wondering about the USA’s next Olympic team. On the men’s side it seems like we may see the same old faces (Kemper, Joe U., etc.) in 2008, but with Sheila gone and Barb and Susan edging toward retirement (??), we may see a changing of the guard on the women’s side. Stensland? Jenny Marine? Becky Lavelle is very strong this year, but I don’t know how old she is. Others?
Hunter Kemper
Andy Potts
Dave Kuendig
.
Hunter Kemper, Andy Potts, Jarrod Shoemaker…
Sure is quiet in here…wonder why that is(?).
Julie Swail has upped her game considerably.
Men: Seemly awfully wide open after Kemper and Potts. I don’t see those guys slowing down much in the next three years. For the third spot I will go with a semi-darkhorse in Derek Kite. He will be getting up there in age in 2008 but he has arguably the strongest run background having run for the legendary Lubbock Christian program (NAIA). Reed seems to lead the ‘chase pack’ behind the top two but a lot can happen in three years. Of course, Libby & Co. may just take Fleishman for the third spot simply to justify the full decade they have invested in him.
Women: Totally wide open. Bennett seems to be the front runner (assuming the leading ladies actually do retire). She’ll probably be extra motivated for 08 having barely missed last time around. I like Swail but wonder if her age will catch up to her by 08. However, she is ‘young’ in the bike/run so she may be on a different biological clock than others. It’s not unheard of for female marathoners to do well close to age 40, so maybe the same will apply here. Jessi seems to be getting hurt too much. If McLarty can lose some of her swimming muscle and get her run down to 36-37ish she is the female Potts. Because she has run before in junior/u-23, I think she can get it done (since running is not completely new to her). Oenick had the best year of the youngsters but they are so raw and three years is a long time for the situation to develop more fully.
“Seemly awfully wide open after Kemper and Potts.”
jarrod shoemaker should be our best olympian by 2008.
Women: Becky, Laura B., and a player to be named later.
Men: Hunter, Andy, and somebody who isn’t even on the radar screen at the moment.
How bout Steve Duplinsky? Unless he’s going to focus on running for the next few years, he can be a real threat when he grows up a bit.
yep thats my vote too … I think Jarrod might be one of the future oly stars
“How bout Steve Duplinsky?”
he’s a senior in high school, which means he’d be a junior in college and perhaps beholden to a program that causes him to focus on running.
otoh, he clobbered matt centrowitz by 45 seconds 5 weeks ago, a guy who ran 9:13 for 2 miles on the track last year. what does that correlate to? i shudder to think. then he wins by a minute two weeks later, with a course record of 14:30 over 3.05 miles. two days ago he beat the field again in new york city. he’s currently picked to finish 4th in the northeast region foot locker regional, which puts him in close to 9-flat for 3200m shape.
now, this is still a far cry away from the running form shoemaker exhibits. however, the olympics are 3 years away and duplinsky’s just a puppy.
i think it all depends on whether he keeps his eye on running over the next 4 years, or is still a triathlete. if the former, he’s our man for 2012. if the latter then, yes, i think he makes the team in 2008.
Stensland has no prayer. Good at marketing herself, but not nearly as good at actual triathlon racing.
NSTG baby!!! Bringing it back to Clermont where it all started
M: Nate Korteum, Branden Rakita, and Haven Barnes.
F: Malayka Homo, Rebecca Wassner, and Sarah Groff.
jarrod shoemaker should be our best olympian by 2008.
“How bout Steve Duplinsky?”
i think it all depends on whether he keeps his eye on running over the next 4 years, or is still a triathlete. if the former, he’s our man for 2012. if the latter then, yes, i think he makes the team in 2008.
Based on the above…Possible Team USA 2008: Shoemaker, Duplinsky, (Hunter, Potts, ?)
I have a hard time envisioning both Kemper and Potts not being on the team. Hunter is a constant and will continue to be for a while. Potts has closed the gap somewhat, and can be a ‘Walton with a run’ thanks to his much improved bike/run combo (e.g. top run split at Alcatraz). Despite the limitless potential of both Shoemaker and Duplinsky, it is just hard to imagine BOTH kids knocking off one of these veterans (who are both still improving themselves).
BRIAN HAGUE (20, Chicago)
Hague ranked #1 on the USAT 18-19 All American list in 2004.
*2004 Highlights: *
1st @ Harbor Lights,
1st @ Chicago Sprint.
Nice Guy Eddy…you from Chicago?
Eric
Yep
Brian is a great guy. I think he can really do great things in triathlon after he graduates.
Ah, same here…well Naperville to be exact…
GO SOX!
Eric
I will put a plug in for Sarah Haskins. She has had a break through year. Won against a strong feild at LA. Been racing pretty close to Swall all year.