Olympic Trials Preview--Men

I'm going to try to fit this into 1 post, so let's not waste space!
I'll be listing the events in the order of the Finals!!
Given are the Meet Records and the names to watch!
Please refer to the Meet Schedule I provided earlier for all the dates and times of each event!
Note: The OT Meet Records are NOT the same as the USATF Championship MR's!!  Also, MR's set in the 1980 OT's are included, even though we boycotted those Games!!

20000 Walk (1:23:00.1)
Trevor Barron was once seen as America's great Walker of the future--then he "retired".  But he's back, hopefully better than ever!  (That MR is his!!) 
Nick Christie and John Nunn should be the other Rio team members! 
Also watch for Emmanuel Corvera.
This event will be held in Salem on a one kilometer course!!
The MR could fall, except it's supposed to be in the 80's, and these races are normally tactical--just to make the team!!

SP (72-7, or 22.12)
Joe Kovacs has been fairly consistent, so he should win this! 
Reese Hoffa is the best of the "oldies". 
Ryan Crouser just PR'ed, and seems ready for a big move up!! 
Also look for Kurt Roberts, Darrell Hill, Jordan Clarke as 3 "middle grounders" to watch. 
But don't forget a couple of  stalwarts--Ryan Whiting and the comebacking Adam Nelson, who turns 41 on July 7th!!
MR is vulnerable, especially with Kovacs!!

10000 (27:25.33)
Will Galen Rupp want to win, or just make the team?
He's been beaten recently, so I'm predicting Ben True is going to win this!  Rupp should be close, however.  Third spot might be a dogfight, with Hassan Mead, Eric Jenkins, and Sam Chelanga with the best chances.
Also keep eyes on Diego Estrada, Len Korir, Shadrack Kipchirchir, and the Ancient One, Bernard Lagat!
In fact, I wouldn't be at all shocked to see him on the Podium!!
As for the MR, this is a Championship race, and you know how THOSE usually go!!
Then again, we have some fast dudes here!!

Decathlon (9039 points)
Ashton Eaton.
Okay, you can go back to sleep now!
Assuming he doesn't get speared by a javelin or a pole (LOL), he'll be going to Rio!
Watch his first 2 events to see if he's on a WR pace!
But that's doubtful!!
Trey Hardee is a HUGE question mark, IMHO!
He's been injury prone, and I just can't put ALL my trust in him to make this team!
(I'll probably be crying later for being such a dumb ass!!)
Anyway, look for Jeremy Taiwo and Zach Ziemek to possibly steal Hardee's Rio ticket!
Devon Williams, Harrison Williams, and Curtis Beach are 3 others to watch.

LJ (28-9, or 8.76))
That MR is safe!
In fact, I'd be super pleased if even ONE jump (windy or not!!) went 28 feet!!
Marquise Goodwin & Marquis Dendy could top the Podium.
Jarrion Lawson should pick up the 3rd spot. 
But Jeff Henderson, Will Claye, and Mike Hartfield are certainly threats!

400 (43.44)
Without Kirani James or Wayde Van Niekerk to challenge him, don't expect LaShawn Merritt to get the Meet Record!
(Although he might break 44!!)
David Verburg is a steady sub-45 guy, and Gil Roberts has had a good year so far.
Michael's Cherry & Berry are ones to watch, as are Vernon Norwood, Arman Hall, and Jeremy Wariner!
But want a real shock candidate?
Look to see if HS'er Michael Norman makes it to the final!!

100 (9.77)
The G-Men are back--aka Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay!
As for Trayvon Bromell, only question is if he's 100% healthy!!
If he is, he's pretty much a lock for 3rd!  (Or higher??)
Marvin Bracy is the super dark horse here.
But also expect Ryan Bailey, Mike Rodgers, and Clay Vaughn to make it at least as far as the semi's!
A REAL shock threat is HS'er Noah Lyles!!
The MR could fall, but probably won't--even with Hayward Field's notorious winds!!

PV (19-4.25, or 5.90)
Sam Kendricks is our own Little Bubka (or Lavillenie??).
He should win here!
And even threaten the MR!
Jake Blankenship is good, but NOT a lock!!
Devin King had a good spring, and might have the momentum to make the team!
Brad Walker is an oldie, but hasn't shown much recently.
Watch also for Joey Uhle, Mike Arnold, Audie Wyatt, and the HSR holder, Chris Nilsen!
(Would be nice if Nilsen at least made the final!!)

JT (270-4, or 82.40)
A weak event that could use some juice!
Regrettably, the juice can isn't even half full!
Nonetheless, expect Riley Dolazel and Cy Hostetler to rule the roost here!
Tim Glover might sneak into the 3rd spot, ahead of Sean Furey, and 2 Sam's--Humphreys and Crouser!
Even though it's not a great field, the MR could fall!!

800 (1:42.80)
That MR is SOOOOOO close to the American Record, and I would LOVE it if both went down!!
With new stars like Boris Berian and Donavan Brazier, we might just see a "fast" race--meaning sub-1:44!
But sub-1:43?
Doubtful!
Berian is one of my Super Heroes--for his forcing Nike to surrender in their lawsuit against this former McDonald's burger flipper!!
But Brazier--however talented he is--is still too young to have established real consistency!
So I'm picking him for 4th!
Eric Sowinski has the wheels, and Duane Solomon has the savvy!
Caz Loxsom, Brannon Kidder, and Clay Murphy are others to watch.
Nick Symmonds---who's going to lead a HUGE protest here (giving out 24,000 strips of black tape, asking all athletes and everyone in the stands to wear it, wanting athletes to be allowed to advertise their sponsors on their uniforms and/or bodies!!)-is injured, but has said he'll jump hoops to get to the track!!
Love you guys---Boris & Nick!!!

HT (262-10, or 80.12)
Old standbys AG Kruger and Kibwe Johnson should lead this soft trio, with Rudy Winkler possibly adding some spice!
The MR is VERY safe!!
Conor McCullough, Sean Donnelly, amd Mike Lihrman are possibles--at least to make it out of Qualifying!

DT (225-4, or 68.69)
The Men's Throws--except for the SP--aren't even NEAR World Class--and the Discus is no different!
But Tavis Bailey has been having a solid 2016, so watch for him to make it to the top of the ladder!
Jared Schuurmans is a strong veteran, , and Rodney Brown is good for a team spot too.
Jason Young is a threat for that 3rd spot, as are younger throwers, Mason Finley and Sam Mattis!

3000SC (8:15.02)
The MR could fall, especially with Evan Jager in the field!
Remember that 57 (!!) last lap he ran not long ago?? 
WITH hurdles and water pit!!
Dan Huling is solid for the 2nd spot, while Cory Leslie is another who's been having a good 2016.
Don Cabral, Andy Bayer, Craig Forys are also comers, while Stan Kebenai and Mason Ferlic are dark horses!

TJ (58-4, or 17.78)
Will Christian Taylor break the MR?
In fact, will he threaten the WORLD Record??
If those tricky Hayward winds turn just right.....!!!!
Omar Craddock and Will Claye are fairly solid bets for the other team spots!
But watch for surprise leaps forward (Pun intended!!) by Chris Benard, Chris Carter, and Eric Sloan!

5000 (13:22.67)
Galen Rupp is entered here, but he's looking toward a Marathon and 10000 double!
So even if he does run this---and win!---it's almost a certainty he won't run this event in Rio!!
Thus I'm NOT including him in my Preview here!!
Ryan Hill has the kick to take this, but kicks are also the forte's of Eric Jenkins and Ben True!
Even if the race is a bit tactical, fast finishes could bring them in the vicinity of the MR!!
(BTW, Rupp holds that mark!!)
Watch too for Hassan Mead, Garrett Heath, Paul Chelimo, Shadrack Kipchirchir, and even Bernard Lagat--although he's likely to pass this event if he makes the 10K team---unless he runs it (like Rupp) just as a workout!!

200 (19.66)
Those G guys are back, but expect only Justin Gatlin to make this event's podium!
While Tyson Gay can be formidable here, look for Ameer Webb to follow Gatlin to the tape, with Walter Dix and Trayvon Bromell SOLID threats!!
Two HS'ers could add some fuel to the fire--Michael Norman and Noah Lyles!
And don't forget Isiah Young and the veteran, Wallace Spearmon!
I'd watch the wind reading if they get close to 19.66!!

110H (12.92)
Supposed to be one of our strongest events, but recently it's been "foreigners" who have led the way.
But David Oliver doesn't believe in losing--to anyone!!
And I doubt he'll lose here!!
Aries Merritt will probably be the crowd's favorite--win OR lose!!!
That 3rd spot is up for grabs--with Ronnie Ash probably just a wee bit ahead of the others, who include Aleec Harris, Jason Richardson, Devon Allen, Ryan Wilson, and Jarret Eaton!
The MR is pretty safe!

HJ (7-8.50, or 2.35)
Erik Kynard is such a LOCK, you can throw away the key!!
Jesse Williams is a strong veteran, but I'm seeing him just missing the Rio squad.
Replacing him could be newbies like Avion Jones and Bryan McBride!
Jeron Robinson, Randy Cunningham, Brad Adkins, and Ricky Robertson are others to watch!
If Kynard is HOT, the MR could go down  (as long as the BAR doesn't!!).

400H (47.37)
No MR here!
But the Dutch & Futch Show could prevail, with maybe Bershawn Jackson sneaking in between them!!
That's Johnny Dutch and Eric Futch, BTW!!
Look for veterans like Kerron Clement, Jeshua Anderson, and Michael Tinsley to make things interesting!
A "shock" candidate is Taylor McLaughlin!!

1500 (3:35.15)
The meet's closer!!
But Steve Scott's "boycott year" MR will probably survive!
Matthew Centrowitz is pretty close to the "solidest" of locks here!!
But if it's a tactical race, there's a bunch of good kickers who could make Centro sweat a little!!
They include Ben Blankenship, Robby Andrews, and Leo Manzano.
I'm leaving King Leo the Lionhearted OFF the podium.
He runs too hot & cold for me to be confident of him making it!
Watch for Will Leer, Colby Alexander, Izaic Yorks, and Jeff See.
If Kyle Merber can get away from his Twitter habit for a few minutes, he might shoot some arrows at the ones ahead of him!!

I'll have the Women's Preview up in a few hours!!
See you then!