Rudisha 1:44.78 season opener

in before "he's of the hot sauce"

Good opener for March.

I think he's clean.

Hoping he'll be in 1:41 shape by Rio to retain his title. I don't think he'll break the WR again, as it's been too long since he got within a second or so of that time, but I think if he can get back to 1:41, even 1:42 low, he should be good enough for the win in Rio.

For reference, here's what Rudisha has run in his first 800 of the year since 2010:

3/5/16: 1:44.78

3/14/15: 1:45.01

5/31/14: 1:44.87

5/10/13: 1:43.87

3/3/12: 1:44.33

3/3/11: 1:43.88

3/4/10: 1:43.15

In 2010, he started off in great shape and carried it through the whole year, breaking the WR twice in August.

In 2012, he ran decently fast and broke the WR in August.

Last year was his slowest opener since 2008 but he still won Worlds.

Jonathan Gault wrote:

For reference, here's what Rudisha has run in his first 800 of the year since 2010:

3/5/16: 1:44.78

3/14/15: 1:45.01

5/31/14: 1:44.87

5/10/13: 1:43.87

3/3/12: 1:44.33

3/3/11: 1:43.88

3/4/10: 1:43.15

In 2010, he started off in great shape and carried it through the whole year, breaking the WR twice in August.

In 2012, he ran decently fast and broke the WR in August.

Last year was his slowest opener since 2008 but he still won Worlds.

You are really grasping at straws to impose your opinion on this.

His openers in 2010 and 2012 were 1.2 seconds apart, and his season's bests those years were exactly 0.10 seconds different. THE OPENER IS APPARENTLY NOT VERY PREDICTIVE OF THE SEASON'S BEST.

You have probably thought harder about these numbers than Rudisha and Colm O'Connell combined.

Is Rudisha in the top 5 greatest 800 runners of all time?

Jonathan Gault wrote:

For reference, here's what Rudisha has run in his first 800 of the year since 2010:

3/5/16: 1:44.78

3/14/15: 1:45.01

5/31/14: 1:44.87

5/10/13: 1:43.87

3/3/12: 1:44.33

3/3/11: 1:43.88

3/4/10: 1:43.15

In 2010, he started off in great shape and carried it through the whole year, breaking the WR twice in August.

In 2012, he ran decently fast and broke the WR in August.

Last year was his slowest opener since 2008 but he still won Worlds.

I am pleased to see that he didn't slow further. Not that what you run in March is all that significant but if he's slowed to like 1:45.3 then I would be fearful that Father Time was starting to catch up on him. Rudisha just turned 27 in December so theoretically he should be here through 2020.

Here are the results.

Event 34 Men 800 Metre Open

=======================================================================

Meet Record: M 1:43.15 2010 Dabid Rudisha, KEN

OQ: Q 1:46.00

Name Year Team Finals Points

=======================================================================

Finals

1 Rudisha, David Ken 1:44.78

2 Mathews, Luke Aus 1:45.16Q

3 Gurr, James Aus 1:46.09

4 Ralph, Joshua Aus 1:47.30

5 Rowe, Alex Aus 1:47.48

6 Stenson, Dylan Aus 1:47.75

7 Yokota, Masato Jpn 1:47.81

8 Bol, Peter Aus 1:49.22

-- Ruben (pace), Harrison Aus DNF

A nice breaktrhough for 20-year old Aussie Luke Matthews in 2nd. His pb coming into the year was 1:4$7.60 and PR before tonight was 1:46.35. He's also run 3:37.31 this year for 1500.

Here are the other mid-d and distance results from the meet.

Event 22 Women 3000 Metre Steeplechase - Top two women get Olympic qualifiers.

=======================================================================

Meet Record: M 9:29.93 2008 Donna MacFarlane, AUS

OQ: Q 9:45.00

Name Year Team Finals Points

=======================================================================

Finals

1 Hills, Madeline Aus 9:34.44Q

2 Lacaze, Genevieve Aus 9:43.93Q

3 Mitchell, Victoria Aus 9:54.54

4 Batt-Doyle, Isobel Aus 10:05.69

5 Flanagan, Rosa Nzl 10:06.39

6 Campbell, Paige Aus 10:18.33

7 Wilson, Charlotte Aus 10:25.39

8 Yoshikawa, Yumi Jpn 10:26.43

9 Kondogonis, Stephanie Aus 11:11.05

Event 27 Men 1500 Metre Open

=======================================================================

Meet Record: M 3:32.55 2000 William Chirchir, KEN

OQ: Q 3:36.20

Name Year Team Finals Points

=======================================================================

Finals

1 Gregson, Ryan Aus 3:38.06

2 Magut, James Ken 3:40.03

3 Birmingham, Collis Aus 3:40.16

4 Speakman, Eric Nzl 3:40.26

5 Pyke, Adam Aus 3:40.62

6 Wright, Josh Aus 3:41.23

7 Fawthorpe, Tom Aus 3:41.49

8 Gusman, Jordan Aus 3:41.63

9 Jones, Rhys Aus 3:42.42

10 Roff, Jeremy Aus 3:44.34

11 Stapleton, Jack Aus 3:46.15

12 Dempsey, Matthew Aus 3:47.49

13 See, Marc Aus 3:49.17

-- Rotich (pace), Andrew Ken DNF

Event 36 Men 5000 Metre Open

=======================================================================

Meet Record: M 13:08.43 2011 Bernard Lagat, USA

OQ: Q 13:23.00

Name Year Team Finals Points

=======================================================================

Finals

1 Robinson, Brett Aus 13:33.13

2 McEntee, Sam Aus 13:33.73

3 Kipchirchir, Elijah Ken 13:35.28

4 St Lawrence, Ben Aus 13:37.54

5 Hicks, Malcolm Nzl 13:38.51

6 Brown, Mitchel Aus 13:39.11

7 See, Jeff Usa 13:39.97

8 Rowe, Brenton Aut 13:40.15

9 McSweyn, Stewart Aus 13:41.74

10 Rayner, Jack Aus 13:56.86

11 Pulford, Aaron Nzl 13:57.21

12 Johnson, Joshua Aus 14:09.32

13 Hoornweg, Roy Ned 14:28.00

14 Wightman, Nicholas Aus 14:36.80

-- Ekvall (pace), Mikeal Swedan DNF

-- Birmingham, Collis Aus DNF

-- Batt, Kevin Irl DNF

-- Nipperess, James Aus DNF

Event 25 Women 1500 Metre Open

=======================================================================

Meet Record: M 4:06.23 2000 Toni Hodgkinson, AUS

OQ: Q 4:07.00

Name Year Team Finals Points

=======================================================================

Finals

1 Blundell, Jenny Aus 4:16.63

2 See, Heidi Aus 4:16.75

3 Delaney, Bridey Aus 4:17.41

4 Hall, Linden Aus 4:17.42

5 Simpson, Katelyn Aus 4:17.66

6 Duncan, Melissa Aus 4:17.75

7 Buckman, Zoe Aus 4:18.89

8 Van Der Klooster, Coreen Aus 4:19.43

9 Maini, Gemma Aus 4:20.51

10 Tanaka, Hanae Jpn 4:28.31

11 Uehara, Miyuki Jpn 4:31.10

Results for all events can be found here:

The IAAF recap of the race is here:

Here is the race video. Rudisha was pushed pretty hard by Matthews in this one. There was no letting up as he was right on him with 50 meters to go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdQWAKtfdto

You can actually watch many of the races here:

https://www.youtube.com/user/AthsAust/videos

Here is the men\'s 1500:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0CR3oGLc7g

Here are some nice images from the meet via @Statman_Jon

http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/search/events/595290845?excludenudity=true&family=editorial&sort=best&phrase=

rudisha seems to close his mouth and breath through his nose - interesting

Matthews has a better entourage than Rudisha. Rudy needs to get some groupies or he'll get upstaged again.

It is easier to run in the southern hemisphere as everyone knows, so the 1:44 doesn't really portend anything.

That Mitchell girl who won the 400 is a fine looking athlete.

Matthews at age 20 must have been pretty psyched to be breathing down the WR-holder's back like that.

Bad Wigins wrote:

Matthews has a better entourage than Rudisha. Rudy needs to get some groupies or he'll get upstaged again.

It is easier to run in the southern hemisphere as everyone knows, so the 1:44 doesn't really portend anything.

easier? how do you work that out?

Yes, he is a clear number two behind the great Wilson Kipketer.

ergdfgadgsad wrote:

Bad Wigins wrote:

It is easier to run in the southern hemisphere as everyone knows

how do you work that out?

As has been discussed at length on older threads, the southern hemisphere rotates clockwise relative to the athlete, opposite the direction of running. Also less gravity from being upside down.

but this is compensated for when the toilets at tracks in the northern hemisphere are flushed simultaneously, energy generated by the the clockwise flow catapults the athletes counter clockwise producing performances better than possible by the same athlete in the southern hemisphere.

No absolutely not, I wouldn't even put him in the top 10. Maybe if he ran some fast times or ran well in a championship he would be.

Deanouk wrote:but I think if he can get back to 1:41, even 1:42 low, he should be good enough for the win in Rio

no

this is games year & on evidence of last year, there will be at least a couple of other guys in 1'41+ shape by games, so he will not win if not at worst in 1'41+ shape probably 1'41-mid is worst shape he can be in rio & expect to win

klubkip1 wrote:

Yes, he is a clear number two behind the great Wilson Kipketer.

I'm fairly sure you are joking, but just in case you weren't:

Ruddy has:

- the fastest 3 800 times ever.

- 6 of the top 10 fastest times ever.

- 10 of the top 17 fastest times ever.

rupp-certified salaadbar wrote:

Jonathan Gault wrote:

For reference, here's what Rudisha has run in his first 800 of the year since 2010:

3/5/16: 1:44.78

3/14/15: 1:45.01

5/31/14: 1:44.87

5/10/13: 1:43.87

3/3/12: 1:44.33

3/3/11: 1:43.88

3/4/10: 1:43.15

In 2010, he started off in great shape and carried it through the whole year, breaking the WR twice in August.

In 2012, he ran decently fast and broke the WR in August.

Last year was his slowest opener since 2008 but he still won Worlds.

You are really grasping at straws to impose your opinion on this.

His openers in 2010 and 2012 were 1.2 seconds apart, and his season's bests those years were exactly 0.10 seconds different. THE OPENER IS APPARENTLY NOT VERY PREDICTIVE OF THE SEASON'S BEST.

You have probably thought harder about these numbers than Rudisha and Colm O'Connell combined.

He's done. Nigel Amos FTW.

Since the year that Rudy was injured (2013?), he has not looked quite the same.

Yes, I realize he won worlds last year and should be the favorite for Rio, but he is not as lean as he was in 2011/2012 during his apex. Less definition and he looks heavy.

This doesn't mean he won't win or anything like that, just an observation of a bodily change. I wonder if he runs less to stay healthy, is less motivated, etc.

Colm once said that Rudisha lost motivation after winning the OG and breaking WR.