Mixed Results for the Nike Oregon Project at Prague Half Marathon According to Coach Salazar

By Adam Kopet, DyeStat Editor

It was not a perfect day at the Prague Half Marathon for the Nike Oregon Project on Saturday. There was both good and bad news, according to coach Alberto Salazar, speaking to Ken Goe of the Oregonian.

First, the bad. Galen Rupp, who pulled out of the Aramco Houston Half Marathon in January because of plantar fasciitis, might still be suffering from the lingering effects. His race was hampered by foot pain.

Salazar believes the cobblestones in the early stages of the race exacerbated Rupp's foot pain. While the pain itself ebbed and flowed throughout the remainder of the race, it never did go away. He finished 11th in 1:01:59.

This situation places Rupp's Boston Marathon debut in jeopardy. The April 17 race is fast approaching and his injury has continued to linger. Rupp and Salazar will evaluate the injury and have not yet decided whether or not Rupp will toe the line in Boston.

Turning to the good, Jordan Hasay finished an impressive sixth in a race that saw the winner, Joyciline Jepkosgei, break four world records on the day. Hasay became the third American woman to break 1:08:00 with her time of 1:07:55.

The original plan for Hasay was to go back to the track after she makes her marathon debut in Boston, with an eye on making the World Championships in the 10,000 meters. However, with her recent success on the roads, Salazar is beginning to think she might skip the track this year all together.

Such a change in plans would be a bold move, but it would set Hasay up nicely for a fall marathon. Her performance in Boston will give a good indication of what she might do with the rest of her 2017 season.