Athing Mu makes 1500m team in 4:03: VIPAM HATERS go home devasted

Almost nobody is shocked. Athing Mu has won 2 global championships. Why would anyone be shocked that a double global champion at 800m can run a performance at 1500m which has been bettered about 1870 times by women?

True, but she definitely could not break 50 currently. That 400m was 2 years ago. In the time since then she has run more 1500/Mile than 400M.

That's pretty good, but obviously not medal potential unless she goes a whole lot faster suddenly.

So why double, when the main challenge is to win the 800? Kenya has the manliest 800 woman currently. Not disparaging here, or saying she's manly, just a bit manlier than Mu, Keely etc. And the manliest 800 woman wins for some reason that doesn't apply to shorter sprints

Someone who has the 17th fastest performance of all time at 800m runs about the 1870th fastest performance at 1500m and we are supposed to be shocked? Is this a joke VIPAM?

I agree that such comments are unfounded. MU is not African American though; she is Black and Sudanese American.

Surely she won't take the place in the 1500 in Budapest. She has no chance against the global elite in the 1500 and doubling just compromises her for the 800.

I think this is part of a longer term plan. Some of the current top tier 1500 women are heading towards the end of their careers. Kipyegon and Muir and both 29, Hassan is 30. Kipyegon and Hassan have already signalled that they are moving up in distance and I think Paris will be the last dance for most of the current medal contenders in the event. Mu and Kersee potentially see a window when the event won't require 3:55 to medal.

So at best, I think we see Mu in the 1500 in Paris but probably not until Tokyo Worlds. Sinclair Johnson probably gets to go to Budapest

She is from New Jersey, Her parents are from Sudan, Sudan is in Africa, so she is American with African Descent so politically she would be called African American, Most who call themselves African American are Born in the USA but have African Ancestry, Zola Budd (Who now lives in the USA and has USA Citizenship is also an African American as the term does not mean Black as many think, Forner Heisman Trophy Winner Robert Griffen is a Japanese American often mistaken for an African American, This is very complicated stuff that is meaningless

Please there were at least 5 to 1 posters who stated Athing was a 400/800m runner who would NEVER become a decent 1500m runner. I said she would...NOW for the ones saying she isn't close to sub 50 400m shape, I say she could step on the track right now and run 51 point in the open 400m and in one year run sub 50 sec 400m or sub 4 minute 1500m. DEFINITELY!!

They should be. This is unprecedented. There have been athletes that are world class at 400/800, and 800/1600, but there has never been a world class 400/ 1500 meter runner. No, you do not have to be Faith Kipyegon to be considered a world class 1500 meter runner. I'd say beating sub 4 women at a national championship makes you world class. She is a star. The brightest American middle-distance star. Deal with it.

I feel you, Vipam. I commented on a thread a couple of weeks or so ago (I don't remember on which one) that I wouldn't be surprised if she made the team, especially with her speed in the right tactical race. I also pointed out that we didn't know what she and Kersee had been up to for the past year. She could have added just a little more distance over the past year for all we know. Anyway, I got crazy downvoted in addition to people talking all sorts of smack about how she had no chance. I feel validated now.

She is African-American. She's Black and she was born here.

Yared Nuguse is also African-American in the same way because he too was born here.

This board has to be riddled with teenagers as any mature adult would admit when they are wrong; however, so many posters have switched their opinions on Athing's 1500m.

Well take a moment and watch her post 1500m Final interview. She states:

"We train at a much faster 1500m pace"

"I could definitely run sub 4 minutes"

"We train at 61 second pace"

Everyone expected the field to try to run away from Athing but it was her who led a lot of the final 700m. So from her interview I feel her and Kersee think she is capable of 3:56 or slightly faster right now and 3:53 or better within a year.

I was not one of the doubters. Benefit of a doubt always goes to the prodigies.

And Mu would be a heck of a lot more competitive with the top 1500 tier right now than many are willing to believe. The gap is nowhere near 14 seconds. One was a confident veteran time trial and the other was baby steps. Kipyegon is hardly going to run 3:49 in a typical race. Mu's class and pride level in a Diamond League race would place her far beyond what we saw today.

The real world gap is more like 7-9 seconds right now.

No you are just making stuff up now. Athing was defeated by a runner with a best of 4:01. She is not even close to the big guns at 1500m. She certainly is not within 7-9 seconds of Kipyego. If she was she would have defeated Hiltz. She would be dangerous in a slow tactical race but the big guns wouldn’t permit that with her in the field.

Joeir

Maybe you were, maybe you were not one of the posters who said Athing couldn't run sub 4:10 this year. Also that the USA runners wouldn't allow her to stay around; HOWEVER, it was Athing who led the majority of the race. I truly believe right now she can run fast enough to defeat any female American in a well paced 3:55 type race this year.

This was a smart move for Athing. It will widen her skill set and fitness range which will enhance her 800 ability over time.

I stated that she is capable of sub 4. Tuohy fans called me an idiot and said that she would never come close to 4:10. They provided a bunch of silly formulae based on her 400 to say she could never run a fast 1500. Most Tuohy fans forget quickly. They made fun of her for a DNF. She is faster than Tuohy.

This is about Tuohy. It's about all the posters who spit and ridicule my opinions about Athing 1500m ability. 4:03 isn't her best, remember she controlled the later half of the race and got out kicked by one 1500m specialist.

In a time trial she could run away from all them in a grat day and still be competitive on an average day against our top 1500m women.