Biggest disappointment at Pre???

i give it out to wall and luke....they went for it has hard as the could...

i saw the entire meet and the most guts had to be price in the 800 taking on the world as a prep with 600 to go....(for those who weren't there) you should have seen how she had the guts to take over at the 600 mark....i will forever be impressed by her and her heart

Help me out here...

How exactly did Bak screw up the 2 mile? He got paid to run 3:00, and he ran 3:00.45. The meet was looking for a 4:00 first mile, and the second rabbit, after Bak dropped off, brought the field through in 4:05.

Nobody wanted to run fast, and it turned into a race. Not the rabbit's fault.

While we're at it, explain the comment about the rabbits screwing up races at Pre.

How can you say the US Distance Runners ran poorly?

When was the last time 6 us women went 2:01 or better in a single race?

Abdi almost broke a us record

I think webb ran fine for a first race and lomong and rankin both ran pr's

solinsky ran terrific in the two mile as did lagat

goucher ran well

The us 1500m women with exception of clement aquitted themselves well (since it was her 1st race, I don't think it was THAT bad either...on par with what webb did perhaps)

KD ran a good 800, symmonds almost stole it, the 400m now 800m former oregon guy pr'd to 1:46.1

What was so bad?? I realize riley and asmerom tanked in the two mile but honestly, did you expect 820 from asmerom? I did not.

I thought it was actually a banner day for us distance running.

This was the best "Pre" meet in a long time. I was disappointed in the rabbits as well, but there were some great performances, a full house and more international feel with a good contingent of Ethiopians. The trials in Eugene will be great. American performances were good all around given people are training to peak at the trials or later.

some sense wrote:

Webb's performance.

That wasn't a disappoointment. That was just meeting expectations.

So far this year for Webb:

Bad race or wouldn't race: 4

Good race: 0

I know, I know. He's just peaking and will be ready at the right time.

some sense wrote:

Webb's performance.

Duh. A 3:55 season-opener is solid. Certainly Webb would have liked to go faster but this is only early June. He's not my favorite but should be ready to compete well at the Trials.

i've been thinking a lot about webb's race... the thing is... he DID change gears and kick it in.... he didn't look awesome, but he didn't totally bag it. he just never got himself in the race. still.... a 3:55 is a GOOD MILE. and it was his first race on the track in 10 months. i would wager that everyone else in that field has raced at least a few times this year. in the last couple years, he started off awesome and barely hung on at the end of the season. this year he starts poorly...? well... maybe this means a smoking finish. which would be exactly what's been missing from the last couple years. my guess is that he does well at the trials.. qualifies 2nd or 3rd.... heads to europe... starts getting track fit and race fit... and by the time the olympics roll around.. he really becomes a factor. i'm not saying he'll medal, but i think he's got a real chance to improve on his 7th at world's last year.

Really now wrote:

Stoned wrote:

I thought most of the meet was unimpressive.

Yeah, you're right. 26 mids 10K; 14 mids women's 5K; Mutola's 16th straight 800m win after HSer Price leads for 600m; Lagat outkicking Ramzi et al in 2-mile; Walker's AR in the PV; yadda, yadda, yadda.

Great day, great meet. Had to be there. It was interesting at Hayward, regardless of what NBC did or didn't do. Eat your heart out.

I was talking about the TV coverage

I also thought the rabbits did a poor job at this meet and in other meets/road races I've watched. But I've never been an elite or in a rabbited race so I don't know what's acceptable or not. I guess they must be doing ok otherwise the elites would complain.

One question: In the women's 800 shouldn't the rabbit gotten out of the way a bit faster when she decided to drop out. Seemed that she sort of got in the way at the end of her run.

A good day for the Kiwis. Willis looked great.

The women's 800 rabbit didn't step off until Price passed her on the turn, costing Chanelle a few steps.

The afternoon wind affected all the longer races and is the primary reason for the "tactical" nature of most of them. I actually felt sorry for Buster out there creating a vortex for the little africans.

There was no beer in the stands. How can you have a quality track meet without beer?

common wrote:

Help me out here...

How exactly did Bak screw up the 2 mile? He got paid to run 3:00, and he ran 3:00.45. The meet was looking for a 4:00 first mile, and the second rabbit, after Bak dropped off, brought the field through in 4:05.

Nobody wanted to run fast, and it turned into a race. Not the rabbit's fault.

While we're at it, explain the comment about the rabbits screwing up races at Pre.

He was 30 yards in front of the field. If that is the case he needs to be given instructions to slow down. It makes for HORRIBLE television. People are like "what the hell is going on?"

common wrote:

Help me out here...

How exactly did Bak screw up the 2 mile? He got paid to run 3:00, and he ran 3:00.45. The meet was looking for a 4:00 first mile, and the second rabbit, after Bak dropped off, brought the field through in 4:05.

Nobody wanted to run fast, and it turned into a race. Not the rabbit's fault.

While we're at it, explain the comment about the rabbits screwing up races at Pre.

The pacer went through 400m in 57 and 800m in 1:58. Eventually went through the mile in 4:04. That is shitty pacing. Defar's record attempt also had crappy pacing by an overweight russian looking women.

Nikeya did a nice job pacing and looked damn fine while she was at it. Thank-you Nikeya.

Yes, swinging on Busters big balls sure helped those little Africans.

How about running a smarter race..or staying in front and kicking early and hard?

Nice try, but he blew it and the better men WON.

I actually felt sorry for Buster out there creating a vortex for the little africans.

No kidding! Does Lagat ever step in to help out - unless, of course, it's the last 200.

Did you watch the entire 2 mile? If you had you would have seen that Bak had to sprint all out to get to the front from the gun. There was nothing he could do about how fast it started and believe it or not you can't just hit the brakes to find a pace when you come through the 100 in close to 13.5 with an elite field behind you. That is what people who have never rabbited don't understand getting out and into the lead isn't easy because the last thing you want is to be too slow. Bak did an exceptional job of finding a rhythm and getting the field to 1200 which was his job.

As for other rabbiting jobs yesterday they weren't all great but it isn't easy, especially when people want to go out fast, i'm not making excuses for anyone, just remember not everyone is as good as Martin Keino.

Why do rabbits bolt straight to the front anyway. I've always thought that they should put themselves in just behind the leader for 100-150 then take over the pacing. If it's on schedule get in there and do the wind breaking detail. If they're slow, get up there and try to gradually pull them up to pace. That would seem (maybe to me only) to be way better than bolting out there and looking back to see no one within 20 yards of yourself.