coach d wrote:
Until that tweet from Nick himself, I thought maybe he was working on overdistance and not speed. But it sounds like Nick is indeed having problems.
I see Charles Jock from time to time at the UCI track--very nice kid I might add. Nick does indeed have something to worry about. I think Jock is going to come to the OT as a 1:43 guy and right now, I think I'd bet on Jock winning the OT 800, not Symmonds.
Jock
Andrews
Ryan Martin (UC Santa Barbara)
Loxsom
Maybe not all of them quite this year, but just a matter of time now.
I agree with you on Jock, I think Jock and Cas are the future of the 800 in the U.S. Andrews will perhaps always be an 800/mile type, but he will opt for the mile when it really counts as in the USOT. As a 47/48 400m runner, there is a practical limit to how fast you are ever going to run an 800. Andrews, Symmonds, Wheating, etc., stay off the pace in fast 800s because they have to; going out in in 50 point would be like sprinting to them. I think Andrews can be a consistent 1:43 800m runner which is still pretty fast. The rumor is he's not in great shape right now, but once he returns to form, I would not be suprised to see him drop a 3:35 in his first pro 1500.