Robby Andrews: 2010 World Junior Championships 800m could he win?

he should not. it's best for him to major in a hard subject and finish his education. many kids take 5 years to complete hard majors.

Yes he should try as its not often we have a junior who have the potential to medal in middle and long distance events. If he don't go to World Jrs he'll be missing a very good opportunity to gain notarity and experience against some of his future competitors. Robby may very well have a 1:44 in his body this season and that could very well win our country our first World Jr Gold medal.

The NCAA Final was just a bad day for Andrew. Every top athlete has them and not surprising coming off his impressive 1:45. That semi race made Andrew and his coach re-anaylze his tactics/closing speed and they guessed wrong. Later this season I suspect Andrew could bust a 1:44.6 and why not at the World Jr Championships? World Jr 800m Gold is within his grasp!

See the problem with comparing times from different races especially non finals is that the 800 takes alot of luck.

Ask Johnny Gray, there are so many small accelerations needed to stay in contention in a major final.Tactics are relative to your competition, the 145 was great but he was basically just qualifying so he could run his own race, hence the fast time. In a final he will be concerned about not expending too much energy early and balancing that against staying within striking distance of the lead. Throw in 3 or four guys making suicide moves, "do i go with that guy? But if i do will the rest of the field chase me down?" You have to be patient and confident and good.

The Gold is possible but it is alot harder than it looks on paper

Exactomundo! Andrew may very be capable of a sub 1:45 this year in the perfectly run race; however, that may not be at the World Jrs. So comparing him to guys who may run fasters or slower than him is just that comparison and speculation. I agree the Gold is within his capabilities should he go for and make the team; however, the tactics will determine not the pbs who walks away with the top prize at World Jrs.

I don't think Andrews' NCAA final was a "bad day" for him. I think it was the culmination of a lot of accumulated fatigue.

He's been running stellar since what, January or February? He hasn't really had anything less than a spectacular race until the 800 final. He ran a large PR in the semis, then came back two days later and was clearly low on gas. I'm not criticizing his racing schedule or Vig's training at all- just that a 19 (18?) year old kid probably isn't going to race his absolute best after six months of excellence and a massive PR two days before. That kind of strength comes with years of training that Andrews just doesn't have yet. I'm sure he will as he gets older. As it is, the fact that his second place, 1:46 finish came on a day he was clearing running on fumes is very encouraging.

If he and Vig think he can be fresh for the World JR meet, why wouldn't he run it? He probably won't win, but why should that deter him? Maybe he will, maybe he'll get his doors blown off and learn something about international competition. Maybe he'll medal, maybe he won't make the final and will come back to NCAA competition so pissed off he runs 1:44 indoors next year. My point is that it doesn't matter if he's not "the favorite" or whatever- if form charts were the be-all end-all, they wouldn't run the races!

craigmac4h wrote:

I don't think Andrews' NCAA final was a "bad day" for him. I think it was the culmination of a lot of accumulated fatigue.

I wouldn't even go that far. He ran his second-fastest time of the season and he beat all comers except Andrew F'ing Wheating. So he didn't pr. So he didn't win. That doesn't mean he had an off day or even that he was carrying accumulated fatigue.

He got beat straight up, and his time wasn't a pr because the field went out in 52-53 rather than 50. That's all that happened.

And if Wheating was not in the race think how different Andrews finish would have looked. Instead of a distant 2nd, the NCAA champion as a frosh. He looked a bit tired, but he still ran great. In fact if he was a bit flat (and he said he was) then this might have been his greatest race of the year.

For a little perspective:

Finals

1 Andrew Wheating 1:45.69 10

2 Robby Andrews 1:46.83 8

3 Aaron Evans 1:46.87 6

4 Ryan Martin 1:47.02 5

5 Cory Primm 1:47.58 4

6 Lance Roller 1:47.64 3

7 Chris Gowell 1:47.67 2

8 Fred Samoei 1:47.84 1

Last Years PRE Classic results, same venue, same time of year:

Finals 1 Nick Symmonds USA 1:45.86

2 Alfred Yego Kenya 1:46.21

3 Christian Smith USA 1:46.36

4 Gary Reed Canada 1:46.37

5 Khadevis Robinson USA 1:46.64

6 Yuriy Borzakovskiy Russia 1:47.05

7 Ahmad Ismail Sudan 1:47.83

8 Elijah Greer USA 1:49.15

Elias Geydon and opted out of running the 800m as he chance of making the team was very slim. Hoping Andrew runs a smart race and make the US Jr squad. Should be the 2nd most exciting final of the entire meet.

Andrews

Loxsom

FitzSimons

There's your team right there, in that order. I'd be surprised if it ends up any other way.

Only 2 sent from each country

Oh wow. I think Fitz is going to be out then.

Bump, USA sending a strong 1,2 punch in the 800 with andrews and loxsom