Robbie Andrews has got to be in Shock right now...

I don't get his tactics. He has said after several races this year that it's been eye-opening how "at this level everyone can kick," yet he still runs like he's slapping around college kids

I thought he was going to kick wheating down easily. He looked like he had it and then he just didn't. Surprising.

I don't know if its tactics. It looks like he was in pretty good position to catch Wheating and had the kick to do it. Wheating didn't look spectacular down the stretch. Andrews looked like he was out of gas. Actually he looked like an 800M runner who had just recently left college.

He was on Wheating's shoulder with 100M left. Give/take a foot, that was probably ideal for him. He just got beat in the kicking game.

He got flat out worked by Wheating on the final turn. He got boxed in and had to break his stride several times, all while getting elbow jabs from the Jolly Green Giant. I was yelling at the TV when he was sitting in DFL with 400 to go. This ain't college anymore, Robbie!

Having the energy to kick in the 1500 is a little different than the two-lapper. I guess endurance counts for something.

just my thoughts, but to be honest there was talk that he didnt look good in the semis and something tells me he is working through something injury wise. i thinks its a combination of having a bad race both tactically and physically, and not having enough strenght to kick off a fast pace like at oxy.

the us championships have been historically slow and just slog fests. other than webbs 2007 win, and his 2004 trials win, the us 1500m hasnt gone under 3:39 (2006 when lagat won was just under) and since 2007 hasnt gone under 3:40 and has been slower than 4 min pace for the last couple of years.

vig and robby probably hoped the 1500m would follow that fashion that it has been most years, slow and tactical and perfect for the last lappers like himself. that however was not the case today as most of the field was under 3:40 and was "fast" by us standards. i think robby went through an injury that hampered some training, strength based i think, because he didnt show that same speed he normally does at the end of any race.

oxy was fast and he only moved from last with 400m to go and closed incredibly fast as well off of that pace. he was in good shape and they hadnt started to taper yet. today was slower and yet he wasnt able to show the same speed. i think its because they havent been able to work on his strength as of lately due to some injury because it doesnt make sense for him to go from kicking well off 3:34 pace to not being able to kick at all off of 3:37 pace.

vig and robby thought they could get by on his vicious kick if it was slow as it has been historically and worry about building strength later. that wasnt the case, they gambled and they lost. its okay though as he's young and has plenty left. heres to hoping he runs well this summer.

Terrible race tactics by Robbie. He was close to last with 500 meters to go. He had to use so much energy between 400 and 200 to go to get himself in position that he coudn't kick well enough the last 200 to finish like he needed to.

Let this be a lesson to every kicker out there.

Two of the most consistently great kickers over the last decade have been Lagat and Bekele, and in every race they settle in 3-5 place for much of the race and so they are in position when the kicking starts.

Andrews needs to learn this and so does Wheating (although he did OK today). Centro seems to have this down.

anonomie me wrote:

How did I spend my last 6 months? For this? It's all come clear to me now, I don't know how to run this race.

He, and his coach, put all their eggs in one basket, the Olympic Basket, and they came up with a big goose egg.

To bad he gave up his collegiate experience for a null. Really sad. I say where were his parents guiding him to make the best decision for his future.

Very said. But he has to live with this decision.

But he did look like a rookie out there today.

Ah Ha Ha wrote:

He, and his coach, put all their eggs in one basket, the Olympic Basket, and they came up with a big goose egg.

To bad he gave up his collegiate experience for a null. Really sad. I say where were his parents guiding him to make the best decision for his future.

Very said. But he has to live with this decision.

But he did look like a rookie out there today.

Robby is 21 and is sponsored by Adidas. His coach is one of the best middle distance coaches in the United States. Quit being a hater.

Robby does need to drastically improve his tactics and develop more aerobic strength. Maybe not making this Olympic team will serve to make him a better runner because adjustments will be made.

Is it possible track is dirty? If he was that close to Wheating (Nike, U of O), does anyone think he "threw the fight?" I've seen some head scratchers in the other races so it makes me wonder.

Bruce Willis in Pulp Fiction wrote:

Is it possible track is dirty? If he was that close to Wheating (Nike, U of O), does anyone think he "threw the fight?" I've seen some head scratchers in the other races so it makes me wonder.

Nothing like a good consipiracy theory.

Bruce Willis in Pulp Fiction wrote:

Is it possible track is dirty? If he was that close to Wheating (Nike, U of O), does anyone think he "threw the fight?" I've seen some head scratchers in the other races so it makes me wonder.

You are right that is so much more plausible then he had two hard rounds of 1500's and not a huge base due to injury, so just didn't quite have it in the last 100m. He got 5th and lost to some very good runners that had good races. A some point Centro will have a bad race and all of you will think he suddenly forgot how to run.

Race Tactics Are Key wrote:

Terrible race tactics by Robbie. He was close to last with 500 meters to go. He had to use so much energy between 400 and 200 to go to get himself in position that he coudn't kick well enough the last 200 to finish like he needed to.

Let this be a lesson to every kicker out there.

Two of the most consistently great kickers over the last decade have been Lagat and Bekele, and in every race they settle in 3-5 place for much of the race and so they are in position when the kicking starts.

Andrews needs to learn this and so does Wheating (although he did OK today). Centro seems to have this down.

I really expected him to make the team. As much as it is fun to tease the East Coast Andrews Fanboys... I thought Robbie had the big time desire and love of racing to make sure he was in position to make a run at top 3. One would have thought Vig would have schooled him in staying in position as you point out above...

Andrews did not talk to the media afterwards as he threw up in a trash can and then went to medical.

Editor's note: you all are right there isn't a need for video proof of this and we've removed the link

He is sick he did not make the 800m team.

Race Tactics Are Key wrote:

Terrible race tactics by Robbie. He was close to last with 500 meters to go. He had to use so much energy between 400 and 200 to go to get himself in position that he coudn't kick well enough the last 200 to finish like he needed to.

Andrews needs to learn this and so does Wheating (although he did OK today). Centro seems to have this down.

I thought Robby ran better than wheating. Wheating made a lot of moves just to be in the middle of the pack.

Robby at least ran on the inside rail avoided adding that extra 2 seconds to his time. But after paying the piper for sitting in the back, he didnt have any kick left. I dont think he had it.

I think Wheating's age and strength came out on top in the final 80. If robby had raced like wheating, I think wheating would have still beat him, but wheating doesnt seem to get it yet.

I'd guess wheating and centro are in the same shape, the differnce in their races was just how effective they ran.

Wheating cant be afraid of the front, from the gun he let everyone get right in front of him. He sees his size as an inhibitor. Regaurdless of the truth or not, he needs to think of himself as the truck out there that no one can mess with. No more jolly green giant attitude.

When you have the best PR our there, act like it. Who cares of what your currently capable of. The 1500 isnt like the 800. It isnt advantageous to sit in the back because everyone goes too fast.

I just watched it trackside. Think it's tough to run from behind in a 3.35 US race? Try going to Paris or Bislett and trying to roll up on guys running 3.32. Attention Wheating and Andrews: if you want to make a dent on the world scene (and we're all for that), it's time to make a change!

Who are the hotties hanging with him?