We see this every time an Olympics or World Championship rolls around. Unhyped and relatively little known athletes training diligently and peaking for the big event. And then all the pundits are surprised when some of our athletes fall short. It doesn’t necessarily mean that Mena will win the 200, though that could happen. What it does mean is that we underestimate the rest of the world. Too many of our athletes get jacked up by their performances in April and May. In many other countries they don't give two phucks about what they do in April and May. It's all about peaking for the World Championships.
2. As others have noted, Team USA is the toughest team to make in the world. This means our athletes are at a disadvantage because they have to gear up for both our national championships and the world championships. That’s why Joseph Fahnbulleh chooses to run for Liberia despite being born and raised in the US.
That is not why Fahnbulleh runs for Liberia and not the US.
Also, this year there is only a single peak because Worlds are so close to nats, of many countries.
Also, this year’s US men’s team has absolutely nothing to fear from Mena.
Also, this performance does not scream PED’s. Many factors affect the 200, and good times can be popped, just as easily as can bad times.
I would say 20.26 gets "popped" far more often 19.63. that's jumping from top 100 this year, to top 10 ALL-TIME. No need to understate the improvement here.
We see this every time an Olympics or World Championship rolls around. Unhyped and relatively little known athletes training diligently and peaking for the big event. And then all the pundits are surprised when some of our athletes fall short. It doesn’t necessarily mean that Mena will win the 200, though that could happen. What it does mean is that we underestimate the rest of the world. Too many of our athletes get jacked up by their performances in April and May. In many other countries they don't give two phucks about what they do in April and May. It's all about peaking for the World Championships.
1. Our athletes understand that the world championships is the most important competition this year.
2. As others have noted, Team USA is the toughest team to make in the world. This means our athletes are at a disadvantage because they have to gear up for both our national championships and the world championships. That’s why Joseph Fahnbulleh chooses to run for Liberia despite being born and raised in the US.
3. Despite #2, Team USA still collects the most medals at every single global championship.
4. These athletes you mention who come out of nowhere are obviously suspicious.
A few things. We are a county of ~350 million. And a country that loves our sports. So of course we have many many athletes and making the team is tough--but works out well for us as you point out in #3. It’s about like CA or TX having the same number of Senators as ND and VT.
Everyone is suspicious really. Marion Jones? Regina Jacobs? Slaney? Flo-jo? And so many others. I’d be more suspicious of the timing than drugs personally. But time breakthroughs do happen. Wayde van Niekerk for instance. And, since we are on this website, what about the darn super shoes?! 😀
The result for Mena is more questionable than "suspicious" because the 2nd placer improved so much as well. That makes me wonder about timer malfunction, wrong start/finish, etc.
The result for Mena is more questionable than "suspicious" because the 2nd placer improved so much as well. That makes me wonder about timer malfunction, wrong start/finish, etc.
Possibly, but the timing there tends to be good. But yeah any time someone busts out an anomaly, you have to question things.
It is at 3255’ elevation, so benefits the sprints greatly. If it does work out to around 19.8 at sea level with no wind, that is a breakthrough time for him, but not a stratospheric historic great clocking.
Time to calm down, he will likely be 20.x in Eugene.
Bottom line, it makes the M200m in Eugene even more interesting than it already was!👍
Cuba, interesting. What's another communist country, devoid of morals which believes in a systemic doping program? Russia. Test that boy. And I am aware it's oh so easy to avoid testing positive if you're a cheater anyways.
I would say 20.26 gets "popped" far more often 19.63. that's jumping from top 100 this year, to top 10 ALL-TIME. No need to understate the improvement here.
I would say 20.26 gets "popped" far more often 19.63. that's jumping from top 100 this year, to top 10 ALL-TIME. No need to understate the improvement here.
The IAAF calculator equates this to a 353 miler popping a time near the WR...so yeah lol
Yes it is super suspicious! Before this year his PB was 20.26. Now at the age of 25 he’s suddenly at 19.63?! Where there’s smoke…
NOT suspicious at all. He's just been eating all those yams that you can find all over the Caribbean. A true superfood that makes you run 19.6 when you eat it.
In his defense, it should be noted he won bronze medals in the 100 and 200 at world U18 champs back in the day.
Mena, a bronze medallist over both sprints at the 2013 World U18 Championships, was a convincing winner and was delighted to see that his race had a legal wind reading (1.2m/s). I
