Randolph Ross: Why Didn’t He Try for Third?

Mental mistake but it was a lousy effort even had he gone through. Has not been the same since NCAAs and let’s face it he ran 44.74 at Trials and his form has gotten worse. Some guys can’t keep the momentum going after NCAAs and he is one of them.

Questionable1 wrote:

Hejendo76 wrote:

he thought he had it but idk what he was thinking im his mind tho. Also if he was in any other lane besides 9 he probably would be in safely. How u let the guy with the best time in the world be in lane 9

I see someone doesn't understanding how any championship meet is run. In the first round, the lane assignments are random. Regardless of lane, its still 400m and you actually can faster on the outside than inside. The world record was set in lane 8.

I have no idea why anyone who isn't an automatic qualifier SLOWS DOWN before the finish. Ross clearly saw with 70m to go he was well behind, but eased up the last 4 strides. That is why he will be watching the remainder of the 400m.

Hopefully he runs much better in the final.

What final? The relay? I seriously doubt he will be on the final relay team after that effort.

Why didn’t he try for third?

Never make the first or third out at third.

Pablo Nurmi wrote:

I'm wondering how much you actually save by trying to ease through the rounds. Not saying you blast the prelim round but are you really saving strength by trying to coast in from 100 meters instead of maybe 40 or 50? I think as long as you keep a steady cadence, relax but still focus on your leg turnover it's not going to hurt you.

It's a fair point. I don't think pushing in the last 50m makes a huge difference, it's more how hard you go for the first 300m. Hammer the first 300m and coast home usually takes more out of you than a comfortable first 350m then pushing the last 50m to get home in time.

If he'd really hammered this heat and sucked in the next round, you guys would be saying how dumb that decision is too. It was an honest mistake with a strat that usually would have worked, but sometimes, like in the olympics, the competition is just good enough that a full effort is needed every round.

Too many athletes slow down that last 5 metres and lose a spot. I saw 5 or 6 today. That doesn't make any difference in how tired you are. It's pure arrogance.

5 sections wrote:

his post race interview with Lewis Johnson was painful to listen to

Agreed. Either he was shell shocked or isn’t a very bright lad.

Slowing down in the rounds and qualifying is a mind game thing more so than saving energy. The problem is Usain Bolt and guys like that can do it but now everyone thinks they can do it. NO.

Kvothe wrote:If he'd really hammered this heat and sucked in the next round, you guys would be saying how dumb that decision is too. I

Nah. Nobody is affected the next day because they ran for 45 seconds the previous day. Run really hard until you *know* that you are in, without any question, then and only then relax.

It's not that difficult of a concept, almost every 400 meter runner does it. Ross failed and paid the price. I mean, these things do happen on occasion, life goes on, but let's not pretend that his decision can be defended.

I bet his coach Trevor Graham is pissed

He attends one of the worst academic schools in D1. It is on the level of a D2 or NAIA school.

NC A&T is one of the worst academic schools? I thought it was pretty good.

A very poor judgement he made by easing off the final 10 metres and trying to just coast it in. That cost him a place in the final by .04 of a second. Has he never heard the saying, "Run through the finish line"?

Nigel_Bikes wrote:

A very poor judgement he made by easing off the final 10 metres and trying to just coast it in. That cost him a place in the final by .04 of a second. Has he never heard the saying, "Run through the finish line"?

He probably has heard the saying, but he doesn't have the intellectual capacity to understand what it means or how to apply it.

Karma Police wrote:

Pablo Nurmi wrote:

I'm wondering how much you actually save by trying to ease through the rounds. Not saying you blast the prelim round but are you really saving strength by trying to coast in from 100 meters instead of maybe 40 or 50? I think as long as you keep a steady cadence, relax but still focus on your leg turnover it's not going to hurt you.

It's a fair point. I don't think pushing in the last 50m makes a huge difference, it's more how hard you go for the first 300m. Hammer the first 300m and coast home usually takes more out of you than a comfortable first 350m then pushing the last 50m to get home in time.

Juh? What kind of gobbledygook is this?