Athing Mu is Still the BEST! Mu runs 1:54.9 in LANE TWO !!!

There's more pressure when you're already the reigning champion

Exactly. She wasn't "in lane 2." She was right on Keely's shoulder, IN the race, and let her know she was there the whole time, and passed her when it counted. What is that, if not RACING?

Who won?

Keely runs her PR and you think she wasn’t sharp?

First 800m she has lost since 2018 and you’re saying she doesn’t perform well under pressure?

Don't bother this moran with the facts.

great race, great time, and great win. Womens 800m is epic at moment.

Guess she found the eastern bloc doctors

Haha! This wins.

She seemed like a completely different runner than she was at worlds. I'm guessing it was nerves. She didn't even want to run worlds, was considering not showing up, wasn't happy being there, she was giving all the signs of feeling the pressure of defending her title and couldn't handle it. I can see how she could crack under the pressure and let her own mind defeat her, though not great mentally for a champion.

Now she shows up here having lost at worlds, pressure is off, and she runs her best race yet.

No, that's not it.

The reason that Athing Mu was thinking about not going to the World Championships was because of a bad breakup with her boyfriend that just happened. It wasn't because she was afraid of defending her title.

She was a completely different runner because she has a sprint coach that doesn't understand what an 800 heat and semi takes out of you . If she stays with Kersee she may set the world record in a 1 race meet . But my opinion is that hodgkinson and Moraa will have the better of her after 2 rounds .

Didn't realize she had split with her boyfriend before worlds . That's tough on any 20 year old . Can't imagine how hard it'd be when the athletics world treats you like a robot . I'll retract my comments about kersee and wish her all the best.

Kersee was focused on improving her 1500 time (to much criticism from some because she is more of a 4/8 runner) so I am not certain why that would translate into her being less effective in the rounds than she used to be. I would think the fact that she didn’t race any 800s against good competition until Worlds was more of a factor. She runs a few races a few 800s at Worlds and then the next time out she sets a PB. Imagine that.

She said in an interview that she learned after Budapest how many people genuinely care for her. I think that I speak for many in saying that I am really glad to see her so happy and just look at what she can do when she is. She ran a great race and she proves again that she is among the greatest track talents ever. 1:54.96 after that difficult season.

I was critical of Mu after worlds. Felt like she was not in the right headspace to compete and appeared she didn’t even want to be there. It did not appear there was a clear reason why that was the case, other than public statements she had made that she was more interested in other endeavors (modeling). After her post-worlds final interview, I did not expect to see her again until at least June 2024.

I just want to say I was so glad to see her come out for Pre. Im not sure if it was her, Kersee’s, or her contract’s doing, but she elevates the 800 field and the whole meet by a lot in just showing up. And her performance—while still not an ideal tactic for the fastest possible time—was amazing and exciting to see. She seemed to be happy, too, which is so important as well.

I hope we can see more of this next season!

You sort of contradict yourself here by saying she ran fast because she finally had a few race's ( I'm guessing you meant 800s) . Therefore it would, based on your theory been better for her to have run the 800 at usas rather than the 1500. Hmmm imagine that .

Not impressed with ANY of these 800m runners that no where even CLOSE to WR time.

Faith Kipyegon actually setting WRs, now that’s impressive.

Mu is back Baby! Awesome race!