I know this has been asked several times. Let's continue the discussion.
I know this has been asked several times. Let's continue the discussion.
If it would be anybody moving up, it would be a 400m hurdler.
So Kerron Clement? Bershawn Jackson? Angelo Taylor?
That's an interesting angle. Good 400m hurdlers have the speed plus incredible strength to be able to jump hurdles as well. If they threw in some base training - 800m champs for sure!
I still believe that if Bryshon Nellums fully recovers he could be one hell of a middle distance runner. He has a stride like Wilson Kipketer.
mmm not exactly...
you know how 800m guys are either 400/800 guys or 800/1500 guys?
well it works the same way for 400 hurdlers..
the 400 IH guys who are also really good at the 400 (Taylor & KC) wouldn't be as at the 800 as you might imagine...
they are good at the 400 IH b/c they are good 400m runners and efficient at hurdling... the 400 IH is more like running a 500m or 600y ..not an 800...that's a totally different world...
What about Wariner? He has a KD type build but more speed -- seems like he could rip a fast 800.
Mr. Arms wrote:
the 400 IH is more like running a 500m or 600y ..not an 800...that's a totally different world...
No, it isn´t. When Danny Harris was the best hurdler in the world his girlfriend was 2,00 800 runner Maria Akraka, and he did the same training as she did, except for distance running (he did hurdle drills, of course). I watched him doing 2x600 with 15 min rest in 1,14/1,16 which was exactly what Peter Rono managed, so he clearly had the speed endurance to run a fast 800.
Very good points by everybody. I just wanted to say...most people, when talking about Jeremy Wariner say "well he would be an incredible 800m runner, because running a 50 for his first 400 would be a jog. A 50 en route to an 800 isn't a jog for anybody. There's a reason Kipketer's record has lasted a little while. I think he would churn out an incredible 800, provided that he trained for it. I believe he's discussed the 800 before, saying he either has no interest at this time or that he simply wont do it period, I honestly forget which. All I'm saying is, it ain't gonna be easy. Having said this you all have valid points in that they are all most likely capable of running a world class 800, and possibly a record 800 if they trained specifically for it. I'd imagine however that most of the 400/400h guys have little interest at this time given their success in their respective events. But what the hell do I know...for all I know Wariner's gearing up for an 8 right now
No, you would have more chance of spelling his name correctly!
He's 15kg heavier than Wariner who couldn't do it either.
Merritt gained too much muscle once he started juicing. Even if he slimmed down, it doesn't mean he could run a good 800. Most 400 hurdle guys who've run the 800 haven't actually done all that well. There's been a few, very few, who've run well in the two lapper, but the 400H and 800 are very different races.
There have been very few world-class 800 runners who were previously world-class at a shorter event. Far fewer than most other events. And in most cases history is a better predictor of the future than opinions.
Tamsyn Lewis, World Indoor 800m champion from 2007(?), started training for 400mH in november last year and won the Australian title in 56 in her 3rd or 4th race ever. the two events are comparable
dukerdog wrote:
There have been very few world-class 800 runners who were previously world-class at a shorter event. Far fewer than most other events. And in most cases history is a better predictor of the future than opinions.
Perhaps not world class, but the best womans 800 runner in the world was a sprinter only a few years ago no?
Bershawn has the slightest build of those 3 and therefore I think he'd transition the best to the 800.
I didn't say there were none. I said there were far fewer than other events. Name all the greats you can at the 400-800. You can name twice as many for any other doubling of the distance combo.
Although this doesn't seem to be as true for women as for men.
I watched him win a joke indoor heat in '08 in 2:07. He told me he didn't want to run the 800.
nope wrote:
...he did the same training as she did, except for distance running (he did hurdle drills, of course).
Mr. Arms - I think your line here explains the difference. I think without this aerobic training, no 400m makes it past the 600m without tanking. The question is a nice hypothetical, but the reality is most of these sprint guys HATE distance running and will never put in the work necessary to be a sub-1:44 800 runner. They're already at the top of their game, why move up? The interesting thing would be to convince a second tier, skinny, 400m runner who's PR is in the 45s to move up.
I also think Lashwan is carrying too much upper body mass to make the transition.
As an aside, anyone know what Johnny Gray's 400m PR was?
i don't think the 800(or coe and kipketer) are getting enough respect here. plenty of good 400m runners have tried to move up..some with great success(gary reed) and many others without much success. i think that 400m speed is obviously crucial to a world class 800m but just because one can run a world class 400m doesn't mean they could do a world class 800m. it totally depends which angle you're coming at it from...and it seems that all olympic finalist 400m runners are running competitive 200m times and never even touching an 800m in a season.my two cents, given a couple of years of racing and training for 800m merritt or warriner could probably get sub 145 but i don't think either of them have the mentality for it..
He ran 46.3 in 1983 at 23. Not sure if he ran faster after this, although 1:12.81 for 600m would suggest he could go under 46.0.
dukerdog wrote:
I didn't say there were none. I said there were far fewer than other events. Name all the greats you can at the 400-800. You can name twice as many for any other doubling of the distance combo.
Although this doesn't seem to be as true for women as for men.
Yes but one of those few examples is freakin double gold medalist Alberto Juantorena. Another is Kratochvilova, who owned the world record in both distances! How about Ana Quirot? Just because few people do it might not be an indication of compatability. Just that it hasn't seriously been tried too many times.