What is the fastest second lap ever run in an 800?

Sub 50 second lap isn't very likely, unless it's a world class 800 that goes out in like 60. A good 800 is always run by positive splitting, unlike a 1500 or 5k, so there's really no tactical benefit to going out that slow.

i can see it. some elite final that was tactical. a first lap barely under 60 that closed in a 49. but it doesnt seem too likely really

Herb Elliott and Brian Hewson in the 1958 Empire Games on a dirt track ran sub 50 for the final 400. It was an 880, so the times are converted. First lap was around 58.

With better half-mile speed, Hewson was hoping for a fast pace, but the field dawdled round the first lap in 58.8. At this point Elliott, to the surprise of everyone, took off for a sustained 400-yard burst to the tape. Hewson’s reaction to Elliott was not quick enough; he claimed he was “baulked.”

Going into the back straight he was five yards down on the Aussie. However, he gradually made up that deficit by the end of the straight. Holding onto Elliott round the last bend, Hewson thought he had the race in the bag. Elliott sensed Hewson on his shoulder and wondered whether he would sail past as he had done in the AAAs. But the back-straight effort to catch Elliott had taken the sting out of Hewson. Elliott held on to his slim advantage all the way to the tape. Elliott later said of Hewson: “He should never have allowed me to establish such a wide margin.” (Elliott, The Golden Mile, pp.86-7) The Times Athletics correspondent wrote that Hewson “ran like a novice.” (The Times, July 23, 1958) Elliott had used a surprise tactic to full effect; it was a courageous gamble to take off at the bell. For the record, Elliott’s second lap was 50.5 and Hewson’s an amazing 49.91.

Michael Johnson could have run it in 44, after jogging the first round.

Didn't Juantorena run around 50 flat in a 1:44 race? Any of the top guys could likely crack 50 in a race with a first lap of 56 or slower.

I think Rudisha negative split a 1:42, going 52, 50 in a race in Kenya. Not 100% sure on that though.

i don't think so - "a good 800 is 'always' "

What was Steve Ovett's final 400m in the 1980 Olympic 800m in Moscow?

bigtool05 wrote:

I think Rudisha negative split a 1:42, going 52, 50 in a race in Kenya. Not 100% sure on that though.

Correct:

Kipketer in Monaco as well, I believe.

MooCow wrote:

What was Steve Ovett's final 400m in the 1980 Olympic 800m in Moscow?

probably 52?

crete wrote:

MooCow wrote:

What was Steve Ovett's final 400m in the 1980 Olympic 800m in Moscow?

probably 52?

No. Ovett covered the last 400m in Moscow in 50.5. I believe this is still the fastest 2nd lap in an 800m in any Olympic final.

autoxfil wrote:

bigtool05 wrote:

I think Rudisha negative split a 1:42, going 52, 50 in a race in Kenya. Not 100% sure on that though.

Correct:

https://livesrunning.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/the-olympic-trials-david-rudisha-runs-laps-of-52-and-50-seconds/

Kipketer in Monaco as well, I believe.

Yes, Rudisha did negative split in the Kenyan trials in Nairobi in 2012, but the 'general' laps of 52 and 50 quoted in that link are not correct. I watched and recorded the race at the time, and his laps were 51.2 and 50.9.

200 splits of 24.8, 26.4, 25.6, 25.3. Incredible even paced running.

He ran an equally incredible 800 there (Nairobi) in 2010 in 1:42.84 (51.6/51.2) with a 24.9 last 200m! Which gives a lot of credence to the belief that running at altitude (Nairobi is c. 1700m above sea level) is actually beneficial over the 800m distance, especially if that athlete was born at altitude. I don't think Rudisha has finished with a sub 25.0 in any other of his sub 1:43's at sea level.

Kipketer also ran negative splits of 52.0 and 50.7 in Monaco 1997.

stupid post gets stupid answer wrote:

Michael Johnson could have run it in 44, after jogging the first round.

One of the better answers in this thread.

Running at 880y, a couple hours after running a trial heat in the event, Jim Ryun ran 53.3/51.6 = 1:44.9WR (~1:44.2m).

He was 19, by the way.

lease wrote:

Running at 880y, a couple hours after running a trial heat in the event, Jim Ryun ran 53.3/51.6 = 1:44.9WR (~1:44.2m).

He was 19, by the way.

That is nowhere near the fastest last lap, and it was worth 1:44.3 for 800m not 1:44.2. They never took an official split for 800m and therefore it was never ratified as the 800 WR, just the 880yds.

The heat was > 1:50, which would have been a training jog for him.

Great performance with negative splits, but not really a contender for this thread.

lease wrote:

Running at 880y, a couple hours after running a trial heat in the event, Jim Ryun ran 53.3/51.6 = 1:44.9WR (~1:44.2m).

He was 19, by the way.

That is nowhere near the fastest last lap, and it was worth 1:44.3 for 800m not 1:44.2. They never took an official split for 800m and therefore it was never ratified as the 800 WR, just the 880yds.

The heat was > 1:50, which would have been a training jog for him.

Great performance with negative splits, but not really a contender for this thread.

Steve Ovett ran 50.5 in a 1m 45.4 in the Olympic final 1980

Steve Ovett ran 50.5 in the final lap running 12.9 , 12.6 , 12.3 , 12.7