Sebastian Coe vs Said Aouita - 1500/mile race - Who would win?

Seb Coe is still alive and would never admit that he would have been world class over 5000m. We've watched his race on YouTube, he simply CANNOT push himself for a full 5000m at WR pace. It's not in his DNA. Peter confirmed this.

jljlk wrote:

Seb Coe is still alive and would never admit that he would have been world class over 5000m. We've watched his race on YouTube, he simply CANNOT push himself for a full 5000m at WR pace. It's not in his DNA. Peter confirmed this.

Coe has a big ego.

So I wouldn't put it past him to say he could have been a top 5000m runner.

Slowvett wrote:

jjklj wrote:

You're right. It shows decent, not world-class, 5000m potential. Coe beat a couple of slow white guys that were 2-3 months PAST the racing season. I love how you hang onto that as Coe's ONLY long distance performance in a 15-year career.

Seriously. Enough of this. He’d end up like Walker and Ovett if he ever tried to step up.

Ovett won the 86 Commonwealth Games 5000. Walker was 5th in that race.

yoevett wrote:

Slowvett wrote:

Seriously. Enough of this. He’d end up like Walker and Ovett if he ever tried to step up.

Ovett won the 86 Commonwealth Games 5000. Walker was 5th in that race.

Walker ran way too long past his prime.

Once Coe and Ovett came to the scene, Walker was just another runner.

Coeuita wrote:

yoevett wrote:

Ovett won the 86 Commonwealth Games 5000. Walker was 5th in that race.

Walker ran way too long past his prime.

Once Coe and Ovett came to the scene, Walker was just another runner.

Walker never had any success in the 5000m from memory.

I wonder why he struggled.

Crawford wrote:

Coeuita wrote:

Walker ran way too long past his prime.

Once Coe and Ovett came to the scene, Walker was just another runner.

Walker never had any success in the 5000m from memory.

I wonder why he struggled.

He was getting old.

Crawford wrote:

Coeuita wrote:

Walker ran way too long past his prime.

Once Coe and Ovett came to the scene, Walker was just another runner.

Walker never had any success in the 5000m from memory.

I wonder why he struggled.

He was 32 when he moved up in 1984 and since 1976 (when he was 24) had been unable to run for more than something like an hour continuously because of achilles problems. Ironically though, one of his best twilight performances was in 84 post LA (when he disappointed in the 5000m) against Aouita in the 1500m at Zurich. He gave Aouita a much better race there than he had in the LA 5000m a couple of weeks earlier.

Coevett wrote:

Crawford wrote:

Walker never had any success in the 5000m from memory.

I wonder why he struggled.

He was 32 when he moved up in 1984 and since 1976 (when he was 24) had been unable to run for more than something like an hour continuously because of achilles problems. Ironically though, one of his best twilight performances was in 84 post LA (when he disappointed in the 5000m) against Aouita in the 1500m at Zurich. He gave Aouita a much better race there than he had in the LA 5000m a couple of weeks earlier.

Coevett has excuses for all the white runners!

Always :)

Blacko wrote:

Coevett wrote:

He was 32 when he moved up in 1984 and since 1976 (when he was 24) had been unable to run for more than something like an hour continuously because of achilles problems. Ironically though, one of his best twilight performances was in 84 post LA (when he disappointed in the 5000m) against Aouita in the 1500m at Zurich. He gave Aouita a much better race there than he had in the LA 5000m a couple of weeks earlier.

Coevett has excuses for all the white runners!

Always :)

So the Brojos allow a Kenyan American elite runner to openly spew anti-white racism and doping apologism of the most extreme and consistant kind?

Coevett wrote:

Crawford wrote:

Walker never had any success in the 5000m from memory.

I wonder why he struggled.

He was 32 when he moved up in 1984 and since 1976 (when he was 24) had been unable to run for more than something like an hour continuously because of achilles problems. Ironically though, one of his best twilight performances was in 84 post LA (when he disappointed in the 5000m) against Aouita in the 1500m at Zurich. He gave Aouita a much better race there than he had in the LA 5000m a couple of weeks earlier.

The typical trend of a top 1500m staying in the event past their prime.

He knew he was too slow for Coe and Ovett.

Coevett wrote:

Crawford wrote:

Walker never had any success in the 5000m from memory.

I wonder why he struggled.

He was 32 when he moved up in 1984 and since 1976 (when he was 24) had been unable to run for more than something like an hour continuously because of achilles problems. Ironically though, one of his best twilight performances was in 84 post LA (when he disappointed in the 5000m) against Aouita in the 1500m at Zurich. He gave Aouita a much better race there than he had in the LA 5000m a couple of weeks earlier.

It was a mole race in Zurich 84 where Walker had a good run against Aouita not the 1500m. That race was won by Coe with a somewhat rejuvenated Scott coming second.

Deanouk wrote:

Coevett wrote:

He was 32 when he moved up in 1984 and since 1976 (when he was 24) had been unable to run for more than something like an hour continuously because of achilles problems. Ironically though, one of his best twilight performances was in 84 post LA (when he disappointed in the 5000m) against Aouita in the 1500m at Zurich. He gave Aouita a much better race there than he had in the LA 5000m a couple of weeks earlier.

It was a mile race in Zurich 84 where Walker had a good run against Aouita not the 1500m. That race was won by Coe with a somewhat rejuvenated Scott coming second.

Yes, that's right - my mistake. Aouita didn't look impressive at all that night, whereas Coe was in supreme form outkicking the field with ease in the home straight in the 1500. Let down by poor pacemaking yet again, otherwise surely the WR would have been his again.

Coevett wrote:

Deanouk wrote:

It was a mile race in Zurich 84 where Walker had a good run against Aouita not the 1500m. That race was won by Coe with a somewhat rejuvenated Scott coming second.

Yes, that's right - my mistake. Aouita didn't look impressive at all that night, whereas Coe was in supreme form outkicking the field with ease in the home straight in the 1500. Let down by poor pacemaking yet again, otherwise surely the WR would have been his again.

It wasn't Aouita's best race but he still easily ran under 3:50 for the mile though.

Lord Coe wrote:

Coevett wrote:

Yes, that's right - my mistake. Aouita didn't look impressive at all that night, whereas Coe was in supreme form outkicking the field with ease in the home straight in the 1500. Let down by poor pacemaking yet again, otherwise surely the WR would have been his again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze_fkLP7U4c

It wasn't Aouita's best race but he still easily ran under 3:50 for the mile though.

1984 Zurich should have been the night Coe and Aouita raced each other.

Coe would have had the advantage since he trained for the 1500m at the Olympics.

Pujara wrote:

1984 Zurich should have been the night Coe and Aouita raced each other.

Coe would have had the advantage since he trained for the 1500m at the Olympics.

Aouita trained as a 1500/5000 runner. He only entered the 1500m in a major championship when at his peak years in 83 and 88, and his fastest 1500 times were all recorded in other years.

Aouita wanted to make an attempt on the 1500 world record in Zurich in 84, which is why Coe said no. Coe wanted either a real race or a solo WR attempt, so the promoter set up a mile race so hopefully both Coe and Aouita could break WRs that night. Unfortunately, Coe who was clearly in sub 3:30 form suffered from rubbish pacemaking again, and Aouita wasn't anywhere near WR form.

Coevett wrote:

Pujara wrote:

1984 Zurich should have been the night Coe and Aouita raced each other.

Coe would have had the advantage since he trained for the 1500m at the Olympics.

Aouita trained as a 1500/5000 runner. He only entered the 1500m in a major championship when at his peak years in 83 and 88, and his fastest 1500 times were all recorded in other years.

Aouita wanted to make an attempt on the 1500 world record in Zurich in 84, which is why Coe said no. Coe wanted either a real race or a solo WR attempt, so the promoter set up a mile race so hopefully both Coe and Aouita could break WRs that night. Unfortunately, Coe who was clearly in sub 3:30 form suffered from rubbish pacemaking again, and Aouita wasn't anywhere near WR form.

I agree that Coe 'looked' better in his 1500m than Aouita did in the mile, and Coe certainly should have broken the WR and 3:30 that night, but Aouita was probably in good enough form to have broken the then WRs for 1500 and 1 mile that night too. His finishing splits in a 3:49.54 mile (equivalent to a 3:32.55 1500m) weren't that far off Coe's in the 1500m; although Coe only seemed to really kick with 100m to go.

Aouita finished with a 53.3 last 400m (Coe was 53.1), 39.3 last 300m (Coe ~ 39.0), 26.0 last 200m (Coe ~ 25.8) 12.9 last 100m (Coe ~12.5).

I think the scenario of that Zurich meet was more like Coe was down for the 1500m and wanted an attempt at the WR, knowing he was in his best shape since 81. He was also carrying an injury (foot heavily strapped)and was conscious that Zurich might be his last race (and thus only attempt at a WR) of the season. The meet director, Bruegger (RIP) had set things up for a WR attempt for Coe, when Aouita wanted to run late in the day. Coe said that if Aouita was in the race he would not attempt a WR, but would have to focus on just winning. Bruegger preferred to have a WR attempt and thus set up a mile race for Aouita.

I can understand the reactions of both athletes.

Ironically Bruegger was ill on the night of the meet, and somehow Robinson was drafted in to do pacemaking duties, and then everything went awry in the 1500m attempt.

Yes, maybe I exaggerated a little in saying Aouita wasn't anywhere near WR form, as his pacemaker was off to (although seems Aouita was at fault, according to Ron Pickering anyway). I still don't think he looked anywhere near as impressive as Coe that night, especially considering he had a game John Walker to push him a little.

The other poster was right in saying that was the night they should have met on the circuit, although of course the real time they should have met was at LA in the 1500. Aouita claimed that Coe's gold medal there was 'hollow', which sums up the sort of person he was.

As far as training for the 5000m in 84 is concerned, I don't know exactly when Aouita made up his mind to duck the Brits and miss the 1500m, but I doubt very much he started 84 with the definite aim of only the 5000m, as his new 1500 pb in July of 3:31 suggests otherwise. And knowing Aouita, he probably waited until the last moment to see how healthy the Brits would likely show up in LA. I'm guessing he made up his mind when he saw Coe win the 800m with ease in Oslo and Ovett also looking impressive in the 1500 the same night (I think that night Aouita pulled out of the 1500 at the last moment as well).

Coevett wrote:

LA in the 1500. Aouita claimed that Coe's gold medal there was 'hollow', which sums up the sort of person he was.

Coe didn't have to deal with the Soviets, the East Germans... Not hollow but not really that meaningful.

Same goes for Aouita's medal though.

And you are really creative. So I was born in '74/'75? I " spew anti-white racism and doping apologism of the most extreme and consistant kind"?

I will give you USD $10,000 if you can prove that.