Wariner physically "could" probably beat Webb in an 800M right now, but mentally he has NO chance. First, he has no idea how to race that distance. Second, and most importantly, he doesn't believe himself that he would be good at it. It's kind of hard to beat someone at a race when you don't think you're as good as them at it. I'd also go with the 1:49-1:50 guess if he did run one soon.
mental wrote:
Wariner physically "could" probably beat Webb in an 800M right now, but mentally he has NO chance. First, he has no idea how to race that distance. Second, and most importantly, he doesn't believe himself that he would be good at it. It's kind of hard to beat someone at a race when you don't think you're as good as them at it. I'd also go with the 1:49-1:50 guess if he did run one soon.
Wrong. Wariner physically "would" not beat Webb.
I would be willing to bet a good deal of money that Wariner could break 1:50 handily.
Handily meaning what? Felix Sanchez has run several 800ms and has a best of 1:49 and I would imagine he's got more strength than Wariner or close to it.
You all need to distinguish between what Wariner could run at 800m right now and what he could potentially run with years of 800m training and racing under his belt.
There is no way in hell that Wariner could take Webb at 800m if they were to race tomorrow. I'd be surprised if Wariner could break 1:50 right now.
Wariner has more POTENTIAL than Webb at 800m. It would take years of training, and it may even be too late in his career at this point, but his POTENTIAL is sub-1:40
You know, Wariner's sub 44 in the World Champs Final last year looked more than easy...
To the original poster: What was the exact point of this thread? So Jeremy Wariner can run fast over 2, 4, and 8... any other breaking news?
marijuologist wrote:
Wariner has more POTENTIAL than Webb at 800m. It would take years of training, and it may even be too late in his career at this point, but his POTENTIAL is sub-1:40
Do you realize what the world record is?
As it has been mentioned earlier, just because someone can run 43 or 44 for the 400 does not mean they can slow down 6 seconds per lap and run back to back sub 50s. Nobody has ever done it before, so there is no reason to think at this point that Wariner could be the first.
Wariner will not and could not run under 1:40. Anyone that spews that garbage is showing themselves to be a fool, but then again sometimes we can tell idiots by their screen names. Wariner could train for the next 10 years with the singular goal of running under 1:40 and he wouldn't do it.
mental wrote:
Wariner physically "could" probably beat Webb in an 800M right now, but mentally he has NO chance. First, he has no idea how to race that distance. Second, and most importantly, he doesn't believe himself that he would be good at it. It's kind of hard to beat someone at a race when you don't think you're as good as them at it. I'd also go with the 1:49-1:50 guess if he did run one soon.
this is true. But I do think that Wariner would run lower than 1:49. There is no doubt Webb would beat Wariner. But I know some collegiate D1 runners now who can run 48-49 consistently in the 400, and they do train specifically for the 400, but can still be able to run even as low as 1:48 for the 800. Given this fact, i think wariner could definitely run 1:46 at least.
always up for a run wrote:
this is true. But I do think that Wariner would run lower than 1:49. There is no doubt Webb would beat Wariner. But I know some collegiate D1 runners now who can run 48-49 consistently in the 400, and they do train specifically for the 400, but can still be able to run even as low as 1:48 for the 800. Given this fact, i think wariner could definitely run 1:46 at least.
49-49? I know a guy that can split 47 on a 4x400 every weekend but can still run 1:46 in an 800m. It's b/c he's an 800m runner. I know a guy that could split 45 high or 46 flat on a 4x400 that was also able to run 1:50 in his first real 800m. He ran XC and trained like a 400/800 man. He ran like a 4:03 1500m too. Wariner's training is that of a 200/400 man and that's completely different than training like 400/800m guy.
Sorry but your post did absolutely nothing to convince me that Wariner has a shot to run a fast 800m, in fact it only makes me more convinced. If you knew 44-45 second 400m runners running 1:48 then that would be different. A mutt can do things that a sprint specialist can't.
An interesting comparision . . . .maybe . . . is with a high school senior here in Waco named LeJerald Betters (who, by the way, is going to Baylor next year).
Betters was the 5A state champ in Texas last year in the 400 (46.42) and the triple jump.
This year, Betters has run 20.81 for 200 meters, 47.02 for 400 meters, and 1:57.37 for 800 meters.
He has also gone 48-2 in the triple jump. Quite an athlete!
Granted, Betters is in high school and thus lacks the strength of someone Wariner's age.
But this set of performances shows that a true 200/400 sprinter has a lot of difficulty running a decent 800. The kind of sprinter that Wariner is and Michael Johnson was is a totally different creature than a 400/800 guy like Juantereno (who was an anomoly).
By the way, LeJerald Betters ran that 800 on a lark at the regional qualifiers meet (I believe it was the first he had ever run) just to try to get the school record. He went out fast and died the big death over the last 400. And he failed to get the record.
For stat freaks, here's the link to Central Texas' all-time track and field performances:
Not terribly surprising. I'd guess he trains as a sprinter and doesn't do much strength work at all.
honestly, i know two guys that run on my college track team that are 400m runners, both run around 46 for a 400. they do absolutely no distance training and in fact run the 200 on occasion. so i would definately classify them as 200/400m runners just as Wariner is. Both of these guys have run the 800 twice. and both of them have not run slower than 1:50. the fastest time between them is 1:48. so you cant tell me that on my track team we have two guys with more raw ability than Wariner (an olympic champion). frankly i find it absurd that you people would think he couldnt break 1:50 right now. now whether or not he could run a 1:44 or anything, thats a little hard to beleive, but anybody with as much raw talent as he has could muster out a 1:46 just because he is that gifted with natural speed.
Have your friends run under 21 for 200m? What are their times?
i agree with the posters who say that webb would beat him right now but i also believe wariner has the potential to go 1:44 which is world record stuff (i exclude the 1:41 dudes as drug frauds.........epo gives an 8 second per mile boost to a runners time so, at the 800 meter distance epo would give a cheater a 4 second boost...hence the "world record" being "lowered" to 1:41.....remember, not many undrugged people on the planet could run faster than jim ryun's 1:44.. he was an enormous talent who if given epo and a synthetic track would have run 1:39....moot point though as jim ryun would never cheat......
why does everyone think wariner could run an 800 in under 140, and not the other top 400-meter runners? is it because wariner is skinny and white?
i mean this question seriously.
-wills
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
dfvdsvd wrote:
why does everyone think wariner could run an 800 in under 140, and not the other top 400-meter runners? is it because wariner is skinny and white?
i mean this question seriously.
-wills
It's because he's skinny, his color has nothing to do with it.
track dude wrote:
marijuologist wrote:Wariner has more POTENTIAL than Webb at 800m. It would take years of training, and it may even be too late in his career at this point, but his POTENTIAL is sub-1:40
Do you realize what the world record is?
As it has been mentioned earlier, just because someone can run 43 or 44 for the 400 does not mean they can slow down 6 seconds per lap and run back to back sub 50s. Nobody has ever done it before, so there is no reason to think at this point that Wariner could be the first.
In the 800m, speed = potential. It is the ultimate limiting factor. Yes there is a huge endurance component but that is much more trainable.
The fact that no one has ever done it before doesn't mean that it can't be done. IMO, The reason it hasn't happened yet is because nobody has attempted it. Nobody who is a sub44 quartermiler is realistically going to step up and dedicate five years to an 800m record, so we haven't seen it yet. But that's what it will take for the sub-1:50
Wariner may be skinny, but he is a 200/400 runner. It would be interesting to see what he could do in the 800 just because speculating about top athletes is always interesting, but he would not run 1:40. Besides, you don't see very many people that are awesome at the 400 and 800. Usually they're either decent at both, or awesome at one and so-so at the other.
The 800 is a very unique event. Like some people said a while back, most 800 runners run the 800 and only the 800. Wilson Kipketer could only run 3:42 for 1500, and I'm usure of his 400 best, but I doubt it was better than mid 45s.