posted Feb 16, 2007

It is high time that team selections were made naturally at the trials (indoors & outdoors), which means the first three finishers in each event are automatically selected for all Euro/World/Olympic championships. That way the trials would have real drama, as in US Track and Field Trials, they would attact much bigger audiences and athletes like Gardener coming in seventh would know they were not good enough on the day to qualify for the team. The rest is just supposition on the part of the "selecters"! Makes sense doesn't it?

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posted Feb 16, 2007

I now believe even more now that Ennis will beat Sotherton.

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posted Feb 18, 2007

haha smudger guess your eating some humble pie after watching James Thie run at Norwich union grand prix yesterday. Great run james good luck at the europeans!

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posted Feb 20, 2007

Why the "ha ha"? Did you see the quality of the field? Did you notice that the race was won by a 5000m specialist, beating the man who is going to the Euro indoors to run almost the same distance? Who should have been sharpest & quickest? Out of the first two in that race, who is going to transform good indoor form into world class outdoor performances? Go figure.

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posted Feb 22, 2007

dear smudgercls(or who ever you are!)

again why bash me! i ran the devil mile the hard way- i got caught up in the mix at on the first few laps and mo ran it better. i was saving something for another sprint if needed at 1000m and 1200m- but nothing happened and mo was gone. he is flying and yes i have had better form but please dont bash me for taking second in a really strange race- that was not a true test of my current fitness.

I am very proud of myself for making it to the euro's after being very unfit in october after a very bad hamstring injury and illness that wrecked my summer. I have worked very hard with no current lottery support- unlike alot of athletes that have not made the birm team. I was three years older than all the aaa;s 1500m field and i love this sport and will continue to run for as long as i can. so in 7 years time i should the oldest by 10years! basically im sorry that you are so happy that mo will have a great summer and that you think i wont. basically its people like you that kill this sport, and i have no more time for your negative rubbish.

let me ask you a question? what world middle distance event have you finished 4th in??? but i suppose thats rubbish and i should give up as i clearly have no future in the sport!

thanks again for the support and i really hope you have nothing to do in this sport regarding kids and coaching, or so help us all!

cheers james thie

www.jamesthie.com

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posted Feb 23, 2007

Dear James,

I'm not trying to "bash" you personally. One of my previous postings raised a question on how/when our middle distance runners are going to get to the next level so we (athletics fans) can enjoy the prospect of many athletes running qualifying times and doing battle at the trials. The question "how many middle distance events have I finished 4th in at a world level" is irrelevant. Would you say that to Peter Coe or Frank Horwill if they questioned your progression or performance? Only recently we have seen in the press Colin Jackson's outspoken comments on Benjamin & Williams' fitness and regimes etc. Who's to say that there isn't a similar crisis in the middle distance events? As an athletics fan first and foremost I would love to see, more than anything, you run 3:35 this summer, qualify for the worlds and get through the first round. My questions only relate to how this is going to happen. I don't think i'm killing this sport at all. I don't think Bill Sweatnam is killing swimming, I don't think Jackson's comments produced such negativity in his athletes. If I'm talking rubbish, please prove me wrong. Finally in terms of kids and coaching: anyone i'm involved with has a clear goal and a programme on how to get there. Seb Coe's predicted year on year progression was mapped out to give him a 3:29 1500. This was when the WR was 3:32! Please, instead of getting so defensive, run an outdoor pb this year and get a medal in the summer. Cheers, Smudger

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posted Feb 23, 2007

who have you coached or what did you achieve as an athlete? i put my name to my posts as i believe what i say and will stand by it. i think you should read back through your posts to check that what you say is really negitive. plus i didnt make the comment to coe or horwill- i made it to you!

what i have always tried to do is get the most out of my athletics and i feel i have been successful most of time in that regard. you may disagree but only i know my sitaution and whats going on behind the scene.

you must also realise that without the indoors i would not be able to make a living out of this sport. i would of course of like more support through the years but that has not happened, so i just get on with it.

next time but your name where your mouth is, and trust me an outdoor pb this summer will not in any shape or size be for you! it will be for those that have encouraged and supported me through the good and bad times,

cheers james thie

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posted Mar 1, 2007

I have just seen that james Brewer has been added to the GB Indoor team. This is fantastic for James as he is a great kid, even if he still has my CD, but what a great step for Dave Collins to take. This man looks as if he actually has the managerial talent to take GB Athletics somewhere

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posted Mar 5, 2007

A fantastic weekend of athletics with a young team. Particularly loved the womens 400 relay.

Also hoped that James Thie would do well given the stuff already commented on. Would be interested to know from James why he was never really able to get into contention. Not much to sort out really other than the hairstyle!

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posted Mar 5, 2007

Gardener's gold shows the problem of relying on the US team trial method of selection. It causes plenty of controversy there, and they do have a much bigger pool to choose from.
Well done everyone on the GB team for a great weekend.

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