Colin Sahlman 1:44.89 at Stumptown

Salvitore Stitchmo wrote:

It's a good result but unfortunately 1.44.89 isn't what it used to be in the mens 800m - not globally and not even the US (where once if you were a sub 1.45 guy you were probably making teams or right on the cusp of).

Sahlman has always been one of the interesting and difficult runners to figure out. As has been pointed out, great range, great speed, still pretty tough over XC and with excellent PR's. And yet his college career at NCAA level over 1500m netted a 4th place and two exits in the semi-finals.

I read a comment that his lack of acumen at NCAA level might point to him thriving at a pro/trials level? Uhh, I would completely disagree with that. Look at the top 8/1500 guys in the nation right now.

Obviously Hoey and Kessler we have to omit as they didn't go to college, but Brazier - 800m champ in a championships record. Shane Cohen - NCAA champ. Brandon Miller 3rd at NCAA's. The Isaiah's - Jewitt and Harris, both NCAA champs. The 1500m - Hocker, Nuguse, throw in Kerr for good measure. Matt Centrowitz, need I say more?

On the flip side who is one athlete that had multiple trips to an NCAA's and couldn't really compete/perform to their talent level that went on to have a good pro career? Diamond league races might be fast but they are still tough, pro races. Sahlmann can't even hold his own physically in collegiate races - I don't see that translating to the pros. Plus we are talking Diamond League for this guy? Needs a bigger step up than just a 1.44.8 800m.

hate tgis wrote:

Salvitore Stitchmo wrote:

It's a good result but unfortunately 1.44.89 isn't what it used to be in the mens 800m - not globally and not even the US (where once if you were a sub 1.45 guy you were probably making teams or right on the cusp of).

Sahlman has always been one of the interesting and difficult runners to figure out. As has been pointed out, great range, great speed, still pretty tough over XC and with excellent PR's. And yet his college career at NCAA level over 1500m netted a 4th place and two exits in the semi-finals.

I read a comment that his lack of acumen at NCAA level might point to him thriving at a pro/trials level? Uhh, I would completely disagree with that. Look at the top 8/1500 guys in the nation right now.

Obviously Hoey and Kessler we have to omit as they didn't go to college, but Brazier - 800m champ in a championships record. Shane Cohen - NCAA champ. Brandon Miller 3rd at NCAA's. The Isaiah's - Jewitt and Harris, both NCAA champs. The 1500m - Hocker, Nuguse, throw in Kerr for good measure. Matt Centrowitz, need I say more?

On the flip side who is one athlete that had multiple trips to an NCAA's and couldn't really compete/perform to their talent level that went on to have a good pro career? Diamond league races might be fast but they are still tough, pro races. Sahlmann can't even hold his own physically in collegiate races - I don't see that translating to the pros. Plus we are talking Diamond League for this guy? Needs a bigger step up than just a 1.44.8 800m.

I hate you

Peach Pit wrote:

MattHatter wrote:

in a post race interview he says he'll be running the 800 at USA's.

Omg I was gonna say I hope he does the 800 at USAs but I was like nah that’s probably dumb he was great in the 1500 last year, so that’s super exciting. I kinda feel like he’s a 15/3k guy but I’ve always thought his speed was underrated. Didn’t he run 1:47 in HS and 1:46 as a true freshman or something? And now 1:44 as a junior, no reason he couldn’t run 1:43 next year.

The 1500 team is probably harder to make, but with basically 2 1:41 guys who are the last 2 world indoor champs plus a 1:43.0 world champion is gonna be tough to beat. Sahlman might have the advantage over Brazier with the rounds because he’s a 3:33 guy, but Miller just ran 3:35. Either way, doesn’t really weaken the 1500 field while making the 800 field way more interesting, so I love it

Peach Pit wrote:

MattHatter wrote:

in a post race interview he says he'll be running the 800 at USA's.

Omg I was gonna say I hope he does the 800 at USAs but I was like nah that’s probably dumb he was great in the 1500 last year, so that’s super exciting. I kinda feel like he’s a 15/3k guy but I’ve always thought his speed was underrated. Didn’t he run 1:47 in HS and 1:46 as a true freshman or something? And now 1:44 as a junior, no reason he couldn’t run 1:43 next year.

The 1500 team is probably harder to make, but with basically 2 1:41 guys who are the last 2 world indoor champs plus a 1:43.0 world champion is gonna be tough to beat. Sahlman might have the advantage over Brazier with the rounds because he’s a 3:33 guy, but Miller just ran 3:35. Either way, doesn’t really weaken the 1500 field while making the 800 field way more interesting, so I love it

Hot Takes wrote:

Peach Pit wrote:

Omg I was gonna say I hope he does the 800 at USAs but I was like nah that’s probably dumb he was great in the 1500 last year, so that’s super exciting. I kinda feel like he’s a 15/3k guy but I’ve always thought his speed was underrated. Didn’t he run 1:47 in HS and 1:46 as a true freshman or something? And now 1:44 as a junior, no reason he couldn’t run 1:43 next year.

The 1500 team is probably harder to make, but with basically 2 1:41 guys who are the last 2 world indoor champs plus a 1:43.0 world champion is gonna be tough to beat. Sahlman might have the advantage over Brazier with the rounds because he’s a 3:33 guy, but Miller just ran 3:35. Either way, doesn’t really weaken the 1500 field while making the 800 field way more interesting, so I love it

I'd say the 800m and 1500m are equally hard to make. I think both events our top 3 will make the final (except maybe not 800 only due to the fact fewer people make the final). And having all 3 in the top 6 wouldn't be surprising for both. Lower chance of us having the champ in the 800m but it's not exactly high in the 1500 either, the stars would have to align again. But either way, Sahlman isn't at that level for either event. A high 1:44 isn't going to be good enough, and a 3:33 won't be good enough