Paul Oberjuerge: Shani-Chad Over, for Now
Contrary to what I wrote earlier this week, Chad Hedrick and Shani Davis WERE scheduled to compete again. In the 10,000-meter race Friday, the final on the men's schedule.
Thursday, however, Davis withdrew from the race, and will be replaced by teammate Charles Leveille.
What's the deal?
I don't think this is about Shani being weary of the Shani-Chad melodrama. Though that could be a lesser factor.
I think it's mostly about the 10K being a WAY longer race than Shani is comfortable with. He was 11th, as I recall, in the 5,000, and fading badly at the end. I'm not sure how many times he's even attempted the 10K.
The 10K is more up Chad's alley. If he didn't fall, he would have beaten Shani, anyway, and probably by a large margin.
Chad may not win the 10K. He was talkin' tough a couple of weeks ago, about winning everything out there, but the 10K will be his fifth race in 14 days, and the most grueling. Fourteen-plus minutes of misery.
So, the Shani-Chad Show is over, for now. In terms of head-to-head, anyway.
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