Louis Luchini Track and Field

July 17, 2004

Mr. Louis Luchini,

We the undersigned urge you to notify USA Track and Field that you no longer want to be considered for a spot on the 2004 US Olympic Team so that 3rd place finisher Bolota Asmeron will be given the opportunity to run an Olympic A standard.

Mr. Luchini, you clearly don't have to withdraw yourself from consideration as you've played by the rules and earned the B standard way back in April, but it's the right thing to do as it's clear that you are way past your peak this season. 4th at NCAAs, 12th here at USAs, one would be crazy to think you've got a legitimate shot of running the Olympic A standard in Europe over the next few weeks.

Compare that to Bolota Asmerom. Sure, Bolota annoyed the hell out of a lot of distance running fans when he talked big earlier in the year in an interview, but the guy came up with a great performance here at the 2004 Olympic Track and Field Trials. He battled Tim Broe for the win until 230 meters to go and clearly is in great shape. One has to at least think that he has a shot at hitting the A standard.

Given that he ran a gutsy race and finished in the top 3, he should at least be given the shot. USATF's policy of submitting the names of those with the B standard is misguided. Those with the A standard should be listed and then order of finish should be honored (Thus 8th placer Jorge Torres probably should give up his spot as well, but the injustice there doesn't seem as bad as we just want to make sure that everyone in the top 3 gets a shot, particularly Bolota as he ran such a strong race).

Mr. Luchini, we know that in your heart you probably think you somehow could pull off a miracle and hit the A standard but we as fans of the sport think you need to think with your head and not your heart. You hit your peak 3 months ago and aren't running great right now. You finished nearly 18 seconds behind Bolota at the Trials.

Looking for similar acts of true sportsmanship in sports today? Look no farther than the Tour de France where an unwritten code of conduct governs the sport. Just yesterday, Lance Armstrong apparently let a rival win the race. Today the favor was returned.

We ask that you do the same - be a true sportsman and acknowledge the fine performance of one of your rivals and let him have a shot at the Olympic Games (The only reason why perhaps you shouldn't do as we are asking is if you really think you are in awesome shape but are just an awful hot weather runner otherwise we can't think of why you'd think you'd have a shot of hitting the A this year).

Thank you for your consideration. No hard feelings either way. You have a great future, but please give it some thought.