I missed Sion leaving Texas to coach Valarie “Homewrecker” Allman full-time.
Homewrecker? Care to explain
Sion had a wife and children. Was coaching Allman. He and Allman started doing, you know...the coach/athlete thing. Sion is no longer with wife and children. Sion and Allman live happily ever after.
Been having intrusive thoughts about the 800 since yesterday's 1500, and I'm chucking my prediction contest picks under the bus. I've been assuming Hoey and Hoppel will make the team and leave the third spot up for grabs between Miller and Brazier, but I'm flipping that on its head today:
1. Miller - looks strong, and he cruised through that semi. I think he's both stronger than during indoor and learned from moving too hard around Hoey; if he makes that move here, it's because he believes it'll stick this time. And he could be right. He's one of two guys I think might break the AR today.
2. Brazier - he'll sit back and roll when he's ready, and I think he catches Hoey and Hoppel on the home straight. He seems to be the loosest of the four and just happy to be here, which makes sense because he's the only one of them with nothing to lose. But he also has the sharpest killer instinct of the bunch, which is a lethal combo in a race where the head games will be at an all-time high.
3. Hoppel - really close call here between him and Hoey, but he's got the experience edge and I think will have a little more forward momentum (slightly less backward momentum). He's looked vulnerable this year, though, and I wouldn't be surprised if Hoey holds him off. I also just have a weird feeling that he's the most likely of the four to have a rough race and end up like 6th or something. That could be based on this year's Paris race, though, which is pretty unfair to him on my part. Still think that might've just been a rough bicarb situation and didn't want to explode the wrong way.
4. Hoey - boom or bust. I may very well eat my words here, but I think the pressure and the last year-plus of nonstop hard work catch him on lap 2. The line between just right and too much is incredibly thin, and I think he either he takes it out too hard or pushes too much if Miller tries to beat him to the front or pass him at the bell. At world indoors, the field wasn't good enough to catch him when he faded. Here, it is. He seems to be wound a touch tighter than the others, which makes sense when it's his first time really wearing the bulls-eye, and I think his expectation that it needs to be super fast will cause trouble. But his rocket ride hasn't stopped yet, and he could really blast one if he threads that needle.
??? Lutkenhaus - realistically, he ends up mid-pack at best in a 1:45-low. But that's no fun, so I'll rate him as the most likely to motor home and snipe third if (1) a couple guys flame out after a WR-pace first lap, or (2) the Hoey windmill action causes some carnage up front.
Bednarek looked phenomenal. I'll be shocked if Lyles beats him.
Kenny needs to be the face of T&F. He’s soooo fine, fast and drama-free.
Awesome runner and ambassador of the sport. Came along at same time as Lyles and Tebogo. Tough break for him. This year is a great chance for him to grab the gold.
Been having intrusive thoughts about the 800 since yesterday's 1500, and I'm chucking my prediction contest picks under the bus. I've been assuming Hoey and Hoppel will make the team and leave the third spot up for grabs between Miller and Brazier, but I'm flipping that on its head today:
24 hours ago, I would have told you that I'm more confident in Nuguse/Hocker both making the team than I am in Hoey/Hoppel both making the team
Sion had a wife and children. Was coaching Allman. He and Allman started doing, you know...the coach/athlete thing. Sion is no longer with wife and children. Sion and Allman live happily ever after.
It takes two. They’re both jerks (to put mildly) but what gets me is how ‘roided she looks.
Good post, Washed. Those are red hot takes, but backed up by logic. you'll probably be wrong (because this stuff is hard to get 100%) but your thoughts are good ones.
Sion had a wife and children. Was coaching Allman. He and Allman started doing, you know...the coach/athlete thing. Sion is no longer with wife and children. Sion and Allman live happily ever after.
It takes two. They’re both jerks (to put mildly) but what gets me is how ‘roided she looks.
100%. she's gets the homewrecker title, but nobody is a fan of that guy.
This upcoming women's 800 is legitimately insane and maybe the most unpredictable event of the whole meet. 8 of 9 women have run under 1:59 this season (+ Valery Tobias who's no slouch either), and only 1 of them has run under 1:58 (Wiley). I genuinely think all 9 of them have a serious shot, and I couldn't tell you who the favorites are (Akins? Wiley? but only by a smidge). Not sure the last time a Finals at USAs has been so completely wide open.
I want to hear where people are putting their money right now, less than an hour before the race.
I can see Hoey taking it out a bit too hard, but I think he's just too fit. Even if he burns out trying to cover a movie he should run around 1:43 flat, and I don't see Miller, Hoppel, and Brazier all beating that.
It's boring to pick chalk but I think it's Hoey, Miller, Hoppel in that order, with Hoppel able to hold off Brazier on the homestretch. I'd love to pick Coop as a dark horse but I think Friday was his final and he won't be a factor today. Alvarado's having a sneaky good season and if one of the big 4 blow up I think he'll be the one to grab third.
This upcoming women's 800 is legitimately insane and maybe the most unpredictable event of the whole meet. 8 of 9 women have run under 1:59 this season (+ Valery Tobias who's no slouch either), and only 1 of them has run under 1:58 (Wiley). I genuinely think all 9 of them have a serious shot, and I couldn't tell you who the favorites are (Akins? Wiley? but only by a smidge). Not sure the last time a Finals at USAs has been so completely wide open.
I want to hear where people are putting their money right now, less than an hour before the race.
Excuse me, 8 of 9 have run under 1:58.5 this season. That's 7 women with current/recent fitness less than half a second apart.
She was in the 200M last year as well. She's no 200 runner. She's too short to do well in the event. And she lacks the speed endurance. She gets to 150M OK and then begins to thread water for the remaining 50M.
A shame SML didn't enter for the speed work and race sharpness effect.
Richardson may not advance. Placed 4th, only 3 q's
She lost a spot because she eased up and didn’t lean…something she does very often. Rarely is it consequential like today. But I’m pretty dubious she is fit enough anyway.