Nate Brannen ran a fine sub 5 for 2k tonight at a twilight meet in front of a rowdy supportive crowd of almost 50 people.
Nate Brannen ran a fine sub 5 for 2k tonight at a twilight meet in front of a rowdy supportive crowd of almost 50 people.
50 people? more than des moines!!
"Nate Brannen became the first Canadian to crack 5 minutes for 2000m, setting a new national record of 4:59.66 at the York University Twilight Meet in Toronto on Tuesday night.
With the help of pacers for almost four of the five laps in the race, Brannen surpassed the previous mark of 5:01.57, held by Taylor Milne.
Averaging about 60 seconds per lap for the first 1600m, Brannen poured it on for a last lap of about 58 or 59."
That's great news. However, his time is almost 3 full seconds slower than Bekele's last 2K of Beijing Olympic 5K, which he ran in 4:56.97 from the front, without pacers, after an 8:00 first 3K.
I think it's a pretty cool accomplishment to break 5:00 and want to praise it, and stop all the haters.Sub-4 used to be the big barrier. Going 25% farther seems so hard.
Well who would you rather be in the year 2013? Bekele or Brannen. I'd rather be Brannen. He'll be going to Moscow.
As for the guys making fun of the crowd size, how many paid fans do you think are at most distance events? We got an email last week where a guy estimated Alan Webb's American record in the mile had 150 fans.
His email to us after he watched Bekele run his 10k the other day:
All of the things Bekele did in his prime were probably done with EPO. Enough already with that guy.
amazing, esp considering he ran that pace 3:43 a month ago for a 1500 in TO.
rojo wrote:
I think it's a pretty cool accomplishment to break 5:00 and want to praise it, and stop all the haters. Sub-4 used to be the big barrier. Going 25% farther seems so...
F-f-f-Urther
I've thought that the 2000 is probably one of the hardest distances in track. Essentially you're going at pretty much a mile's effort and adding a lap. Sub 5:00 for that distance is really impressive.
I wasn't making fun of the crowd, in fact there were likely more people there but they were mostly parents or coaches.
The amazing thing was that the effort was really just a training type time trial. There was no real competition at all. In fact I think he might have been the only finisher.
The first three laps were run in almost ghostly silence with a smattering of clapping as he passed by. Only in the last 200m was any real noise made to cheer him home.
A double check shows he was the only finisher. Didn't realize Matt Lincoln was one of the rabbits but it makes sense that a sub 4 guy was needed to take him to within 500 of the finish.
Yorkville wrote:
The amazing thing was that the effort was really just a training type time trial. There was no real competition at all. In fact I think he might have been the only finisher.
The first three laps were run in almost ghostly silence with a smattering of clapping as he passed by. Only in the last 200m was any real noise made to cheer him home.
To say "there was no real competition at all" is kind of missing the point. The event was set up specifically for the attempt, not as a race. Nobody but Brannen and the pacers were running and that was how it was planned.
It was great to watch. Lots of support from the small crowd in the stands and the athletes trackside, and the announcer was right on top of things as the attempt unfolded.
Pacers were spot on, going through in around 59, 1:58, 2:59 for the first three laps by my watch. The last pacer dropped out with around 450 to go and I believe Brannen hit 1600 in 4:00 and was really hammering. I had him in 58-high for the last lap to get the record and go under 5. Pretty much a perfectly measured effort.
It was very low-key: One second young kids were running the slower sections of the 400, and the next thing you know there's a national record chase on the track. Cool bonus for the series.
Good luck to Nate in Moscow!
Brannen is the man. He's been really solid for many years now. I hope he makes the final in Moscow.
if he was the only finisher, how was it a "race" and record eligible?
The first sign on the Ken Kesey bus read FURTHUR.
rojo wrote:
As for the guys making fun of the crowd size, how many paid fans do you think are at most distance events? We got an email last week where a guy estimated Alan Webb's American record in the mile had 150 fans.
No one made fun of this crowd size, it was the De Moines crowd he took a shot at.
I agree and think it is a great training distance for 5k prep.
Would love to see Rupp, Lagat, Lomong, Jager, True and even Ritz see how far under 5 they could get...might be close for Ritz.
Bekele Fan wrote:
That's great news. However, his time is almost 3 full seconds slower than Bekele's last 2K of Beijing Olympic 5K, which he ran in 4:56.97 from the front, without pacers, after an 8:00 first 3K.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3csSVopAb0
Not sure what your point is. If you point is that we should not take note of anything less than Bekele's amazing feats, than I guess all but one or two runners in the world should pack it in.
huh?????????? wrote:
if he was the only finisher, how was it a "race" and record eligible?
I was thinking the same thing.
Let's see if the IAAF puts his performance on their list as the #3 time in the world this year.
Nice run, though.