Can Van Niekirk run a sub-5 mile?

askerer of questions wrote:

I'm not sure Bolt or Phelps can. Can Van Niekirk? Probably too much top end speed. Would fade to the jog of death for the last 600m.

7/10, but yes, he could.

Phelps would probably be challenged breaking 6, Bolt would probably be in the 4:55-510 range. WVN would probably be 4:25-440.

lol 4:25. Nice one. Probably 4:40-5:00 but 4:30 and under is really a stretch.

Harambieber wrote:

lol 4:25. Nice one. Probably 4:40-5:00 but 4:30 and under is really a stretch.

Nieks would run sub-4:20 without a shadow of a doubt. Likely closer to 4:10.

looking at how he doesn't breakdown at all compared to his competitors at the end of a 400m you'd have to think that sub 5 would be easy, its just soo much slower than his top speed that it seems impossible for him not to do it.

He can go sub 4 for 4 lanes in lane 8.

Seriously? Okay so the guy can blaze through a 400 in a little over 43 seconds yet you ask if he can run a sub 5 mile? I am pretty sure he can jog four consecutive 74 second laps. Come on now!

Its a walk in the park wrote:

Seriously? Okay so the guy can blaze through a 400 in a little over 43 seconds yet you ask if he can run a sub 5 mile? I am pretty sure he can jog four consecutive 74 second laps. Come on now!

OP has no idea how easy 75 seconds laps should feel for a 43 guy. My best 400m was 53-mid and could hold 75 second laps for 6+ miles.

fratty tatty wrote:

Its a walk in the park wrote:

Seriously? Okay so the guy can blaze through a 400 in a little over 43 seconds yet you ask if he can run a sub 5 mile? I am pretty sure he can jog four consecutive 74 second laps. Come on now!

OP has no idea how easy 75 seconds laps should feel for a 43 guy. My best 400m was 53-mid and could hold 75 second laps for 6+ miles.

You two must be new here.

We need Merber's wisdom.

He definitively settled the debate of whether Bolt was in 5min shape or not.

Iverson was a 4:30 miler as a basketball player. A WR 400 guy would be quicker with a bit of training for the event. 4:17 or better.

yes,he could,quite easily.he has amazing leg speed,and being a 43 second 400 meter runner,he must have plenty of speed endurence.he'd probably run around 4.30.

Yes, easily. I'd say 4:30-4:40. He's got the build to last a bit longer than other sprinters. I could see him breaking 1:50 in the 800 too.

More like sub 4:20. Van Niekirk may be a sub 10/sub 20 guy, but he is thinner and holds his speed exceptionally well. After all, Michael Johnson, a much more muscular guy, never ran (but could have) sub 10 and run 19.32 but never held that superb transition up to 400m to go sub 43, except in a relay. I'd like to see what Van Niekirk could run at 800m. Not as fast as Wariner maybe, with his greater top end speed but fast. Not saying that Wayde is clean, because it is highly suspicious to have a small region suddenly become a sprint powerhouse, like South Africa/Botswana has become (and with at least two doping cases among sprinters recently--plus recruiting Semenya into athletics after identifying the type), but 43.03 was not only expected after his sub 10, sub 20 and very fast previous 400s, but there's likely more to come here, as he had to run heats before the final and he was in lane 8 and missing the psychological benefit of runners to chase. Zurich might be the occasion.

Here's an idea: LRC is in Rio. Why don't they just ask Bolt, van Niekirk, or Phelps what the fastest mile they've ever run is? Each likely had to do it in high school, or jogged it in practice once or twice. Although the answer wouldn't be the same as a top-end, dedicated effort, at least you'd know a time that they're no slower than. Seriously, LRC, do an interview where you ask these guys!

Bolt: no, but yes with a few months of training

Phelps: same

Van Niekerk: he's probably on the bubble. I'd say he would do it with less than a month of training.

firingitup wrote:

Iverson was a 4:30 miler as a basketball player. A WR 400 guy would be quicker with a bit of training for the event. 4:17 or better.

Or saying it differently, he should be well better than any decent or excellent decathlete. Most are too bulky to do a decent 1500, but some make it look like a proper mid distance run.

If he ran 4 x 400 at 0:50 with 30 seconds rest he would be at 4:50. A 43.08 guy should be able to do that no sweat.

askerer of questions wrote:

I'm not sure Bolt or Phelps can. Can Van Niekirk? Probably too much top end speed. Would fade to the jog of death for the last 600m.

WVN may become the first man to run sub 43 and sub 5!