As much as I want to see Wigntman vs Jakob, it makes sense to go for the bye in the 800, especially the way he took down the field in Brussels
Why isn’t Woo in the High Jump final?
It’s an interesting thought…he could get the double bye? Or would World Athletics make him pick. Korir already has a bye so he’s racing for the prize money I suppose.
Does lightening strike twice and Monson and Fisher contend for the win in the 5000? I don’t think so. I’m going to believe that Hassan flailed last week because she tripped over the rail and ran on the infield. She redeems her season and wins it. On the men’s side, Barega reminds everybody he’s the most talented distance runner in the world, and wins it as well to redeem his season.
Lightning strikes have nothing to do with distance running; Fisher and Monson were simply fit enough to do what they did. It was a fairly eye-opening performance for Monson, but you could argue Fisher was basically performing how you’d expect from a 7:28/26:33 runner.
As much as I want to see Wigntman vs Jakob, it makes sense to go for the bye in the 800, especially the way he took down the field in Brussels
Why isn’t Woo in the High Jump final?
It’s an interesting thought…he could get the double bye? Or would World Athletics make him pick. Korir already has a bye so he’s racing for the prize money I suppose.
I don't understand the performances of Korir. He is a guy of final of championships but not a DL guy. I would follow the path of Arop and would progress. He is still young. Wightman has the 5th PB but he seems peaking at this time.
Agreed, this is like the 3rd meet with Jakob in it that hes decided to skip the 1500 to run the 800m. Letsrun likes him though so you barely hear anything about him ducking, but other people would be getting killed for it.
I don't understand the performances of Korir. He is a guy of final of championships but not a DL guy. I would follow the path of Arop and would progress. He is still young. Wightman has the 5th PB but he seems peaking at this time.
He’s battled injuries and prioritizes Championships. In 2018 he was amazing on the DL circuit and he’d go right on the pacer and run fast. But he’d be lacking for ways to win without a pacer and didn’t make the final in 2019. I tend to think the best 800m guys know running right on the pacer is fools gold when it comes to prepping for a Championship race. I still think post-Championships Korir, Kisasy Kinyamal and Arop should be right up there with the pace if it’s there. Otherwise Wightman is going to take full advantage of a cagey strategy from them.
Lightning strikes have nothing to do with distance running; Fisher and Monson were simply fit enough to do what they did. It was a fairly eye-opening performance for Monson, but you could argue Fisher was basically performing how you’d expect from a 7:28/26:33 runner.
Yes, Monson did benefit from a couple factors but she just ran really well. Hassan definitely twisted her ankle multiple times. Niyonsaba left it really late and is coming off injury. Monson was the most rested in the field, which undoubtedly was an advantage over Muir. But boldly taking the lead helped as well vs Cranny/Chebet/Kipkemboi who all wasted energy in the pack.
Lightning strikes have nothing to do with distance running; Fisher and Monson were simply fit enough to do what they did. It was a fairly eye-opening performance for Monson, but you could argue Fisher was basically performing how you’d expect from a 7:28/26:33 runner.
First off, I’m not talking being fit enough to run fast, I’m talking being in a position down the homestretch to win the DL final, or actually win. You can be in 12:47 shape and win, or be in 12:47 shape and never sniff a chance to finish first. Also, even at the highest elite level, other than Jakob, there’s variability race to race. Ndikumwenayo ran 7:25 and then 13:10 the next week. How do you explain that outcome?
Lightning strikes have nothing to do with distance running; Fisher and Monson were simply fit enough to do what they did. It was a fairly eye-opening performance for Monson, but you could argue Fisher was basically performing how you’d expect from a 7:28/26:33 runner.
First off, I’m not talking being fit enough to run fast, I’m talking being in a position down the homestretch to win the DL final, or actually win. You can be in 12:47 shape and win, or be in 12:47 shape and never sniff a chance to finish first. Also, even at the highest elite level, other than Jakob, there’s variability race to race. Ndikumwenayo ran 7:25 and then 13:10 the next week. How do you explain that outcome?
You said “does lightning strike twice” in reference to Fisher’s 2nd place in Brussels being the first “lightning strike.” This implies that his result in Brussels was a matter of luck or random chance but of course it wasn’t—only once in history has someone broken 12:48 and finished outside of the top-2. As far as race to race variability and Ndikumwenayo, some athletes are more erratic or have one-off outlier performances (Getnet Wale 7:24.9i? Where’s that form been lately?) and others like Jakob perform well nearly every time out; Fisher definitely seems like one of the more reliable performers. This is every result for him this year:
2/12 - 12:53.73i AR - 1st
3/6 - 26:33.84 AR - 1st
5/27 - 28:28.81 - 2nd US Champs
6/11 - 3:35.53 PB - 3rd
6/26 - 13:03.86 - 1st US Champs
7/17 - 27:28.14 - 4th World Champs
7/21 - 13:24.44 - 2nd WCs h1
7/24 - 13:11.65 - 6th World Champs
8/10 - 7:28.48 AR - 3rd
9/2 - 12:46.96 AR - 2nd
His narrow loss to Klecker in the US Champs 10k is the only race in which you could claim he underperformed. Though he got some grief from all the world champions on LetsRun for how he raced at Worlds, I think you could argue that the only 2 races in which he didn’t put himself in position to contend for the win are the 1500 (where he hung way back and closed hard) and the Monaco 3k (where the leaders went 7:20 pace through 1600).
I’m picking Fisher to win this in large part because he’s been more consistent than the likes of Ndikumwenayo, Barega and others (and in large part because it would be fun to see). FWIW, Fisher has beaten every other man on the start list at some time this outdoor season.
First off, I’m not talking being fit enough to run fast, I’m talking being in a position down the homestretch to win the DL final, or actually win. You can be in 12:47 shape and win, or be in 12:47 shape and never sniff a chance to finish first. Also, even at the highest elite level, other than Jakob, there’s variability race to race. Ndikumwenayo ran 7:25 and then 13:10 the next week. How do you explain that outcome?
You said “does lightning strike twice” in reference to Fisher’s 2nd place in Brussels being the first “lightning strike.” This implies that his result in Brussels was a matter of luck or random chance but of course it wasn’t—only once in history has someone broken 12:48 and finished outside of the top-2. As far as race to race variability and Ndikumwenayo, some athletes are more erratic or have one-off outlier performances (Getnet Wale 7:24.9i? Where’s that form been lately?) and others like Jakob perform well nearly every time out; Fisher definitely seems like one of the more reliable performers. This is every result for him this year:
2/12 - 12:53.73i AR - 1st
3/6 - 26:33.84 AR - 1st
5/27 - 28:28.81 - 2nd US Champs
6/11 - 3:35.53 PB - 3rd
6/26 - 13:03.86 - 1st US Champs
7/17 - 27:28.14 - 4th World Champs
7/21 - 13:24.44 - 2nd WCs h1
7/24 - 13:11.65 - 6th World Champs
8/10 - 7:28.48 AR - 3rd
9/2 - 12:46.96 AR - 2nd
His narrow loss to Klecker in the US Champs 10k is the only race in which you could claim he underperformed. Though he got some grief from all the world champions on LetsRun for how he raced at Worlds, I think you could argue that the only 2 races in which he didn’t put himself in position to contend for the win are the 1500 (where he hung way back and closed hard) and the Monaco 3k (where the leaders went 7:20 pace through 1600).
I’m picking Fisher to win this in large part because he’s been more consistent than the likes of Ndikumwenayo, Barega and others (and in large part because it would be fun to see). FWIW, Fisher has beaten every other man on the start list at some time this outdoor season.
I don't know if it really makes sense to compare placing in a US only field with top international fields since he is clearly at a different level from any other American right now. We now all know now that Grant is really fast. What he has to prove is that he can put himself in position to place or actually win a race against other runners with similar ability.
Is he going to be someone who is consistently in contention but never actually wins or can he develop the confidence and mentality to take over a race instead of just chasing other runners for a high placing and fast time? We will see.
You said “does lightning strike twice” in reference to Fisher’s 2nd place in Brussels being the first “lightning strike.” This implies that his result in Brussels was a matter of luck or random chance but of course it wasn’t—only once in history has someone broken 12:48 and finished outside of the top-2. As far as race to race variability and Ndikumwenayo, some athletes are more erratic or have one-off outlier performances (Getnet Wale 7:24.9i? Where’s that form been lately?) and others like Jakob perform well nearly every time out; Fisher definitely seems like one of the more reliable performers. This is every result for him this year:
2/12 - 12:53.73i AR - 1st
3/6 - 26:33.84 AR - 1st
5/27 - 28:28.81 - 2nd US Champs
6/11 - 3:35.53 PB - 3rd
6/26 - 13:03.86 - 1st US Champs
7/17 - 27:28.14 - 4th World Champs
7/21 - 13:24.44 - 2nd WCs h1
7/24 - 13:11.65 - 6th World Champs
8/10 - 7:28.48 AR - 3rd
9/2 - 12:46.96 AR - 2nd
His narrow loss to Klecker in the US Champs 10k is the only race in which you could claim he underperformed. Though he got some grief from all the world champions on LetsRun for how he raced at Worlds, I think you could argue that the only 2 races in which he didn’t put himself in position to contend for the win are the 1500 (where he hung way back and closed hard) and the Monaco 3k (where the leaders went 7:20 pace through 1600).
I’m picking Fisher to win this in large part because he’s been more consistent than the likes of Ndikumwenayo, Barega and others (and in large part because it would be fun to see). FWIW, Fisher has beaten every other man on the start list at some time this outdoor season.
Yes, I see your point about my choice of words. You feel it undermines the talent, hard work and build. I guess I was referring to the fact that we almost had two Americans (one of them Monson, who I think few would have picked to even be the fastest American in the race) win a DL distance race against the highest possible quality competition in back to back meets. Ok, let’s count how many times that’s happened? Maybe lightning does strike more often.
Fisher is amazing and I’m a big fan. However, despite the fact that he’s beaten just about everybody in the field, he’s not been close to winning a race against global competition. Even last time out, he really wasn’t close to beating Krop. Being in a position to win at 150 m is a long way from winning. I’m rooting for him and I hope he can do it. If he does, it will be amazing. If Monson does it, it will be insane.
Great for the sport to be having big meets after the world champs. ( yes I get that’s the norm for TnF) but it’s kind of like somehow having regular season games after the super bowl. It’s just silly
Agreed, this is like the 3rd meet with Jakob in it that hes decided to skip the 1500 to run the 800m. Letsrun likes him though so you barely hear anything about him ducking, but other people would be getting killed for it.
Should he win on Thursday, he’ll be guaranteed spots at both 800m and 1500m for next year’s world championships. I have to assume that’s his goal.
Agreed, this is like the 3rd meet with Jakob in it that hes decided to skip the 1500 to run the 800m. Letsrun likes him though so you barely hear anything about him ducking, but other people would be getting killed for it.
Should he win on Thursday, he’ll be guaranteed spots at both 800m and 1500m for next year’s world championships. I have to assume that’s his goal.
The world revolves around Jakob. He needs to do whatever he can do so that Jakob fans do not disparage him. They are an angry little mob.
As much as I want to see Wigntman vs Jakob, it makes sense to go for the bye in the 800, especially the way he took down the field in Brussels
Why isn’t Woo in the High Jump final?
It’s an interesting thought…he could get the double bye? Or would World Athletics make him pick. Korir already has a bye so he’s racing for the prize money I suppose.
The only time a country needs to choose between who gets a bye is if you have both the reigning DL winner and world champion be different people. This rarely happens (US had it in women's 400H a few years ago after kori Carter won worlds and then dropped off the face of the earth), so usually not an issue. If Wightman wins 800 in Zurich, he would be eligible for both events in Budapest and UK would get an extra spot unless he declined one of them on his own accord.
Agreed, this is like the 3rd meet with Jakob in it that hes decided to skip the 1500 to run the 800m. Letsrun likes him though so you barely hear anything about him ducking, but other people would be getting killed for it.
That's probably because most of us understand that by winning the 1500 at World's, Wightman got the 1500 bye for the next World's and if he wins the Diamond League Final in the 800, he will achieve a bye for that event. Also, he stated before the World's 1500 that he would be running the 800 in at least Commonwealth's and maybe also European. The only people calling him a coward are the uninformed, which is pretty much par for the course for internet heroes.
