Wheating!!! holy crap - medal threat

In a slow race he is a threat no doubt...wait to they bomb at 1:42 pace, then he is in trouble due to his always "sit way back" tactics.

When he raced his 3:30.9--again great race, but he kicked for 4th and was 10m to 12m out of 3rd.

Agree the guy should be tired by now...I just think he is so talented that the guy can be a serious contender if he sorts out his racing.

Battle ---> True.

I feel similarly. While I don't think he'll medal, I do see some scenarios where he COULD if everything goes really well (similar to what happened to Willis in '08). 9 times out of 10, Nick Willis is not the 2nd best (clean) runner in the world. However...$#!t happens.

wheating meeting wrote:

In a slow race he is a threat no doubt...wait to they bomb at 1:42 pace, then he is in trouble due to his always "sit way back" tactics.

When he raced his 3:30.9--again great race, but he kicked for 4th and was 10m to 12m out of 3rd.

Agree the guy should be tired by now...I just think he is so talented that the guy can be a serious contender if he sorts out his racing.

Who all can drop a 1:42 on him? That might actually be just what he needs. Burn the others off and he could actually medal at 800.

The thing is, 6 months ago he would have raced behind the entire ncaa field and get 2nd (and he did).

Throughout this summer he has progressively moved up a spot or two in each race in terms of where he is at in the first quarter, halfway, and 3/4's of the way. And he keeps getting more impressive. Now he he is in 5th or so at 200, 3'rd or 4th at 400, 2nd at 600 and an even closer 2nd at the finish. He got after it and he tasted blood. He'll never be scared again and he knows that victory can even be his at this level.

Anyone who didn't see the race yet is in for a treat. Watch wheatings focus at 200, 400 and especially at about 550 in. He wanted to stamp himself as a player today and he did.

Red fox wrote:

To whom are you referring? All the Wheating haters on here went on and on about how Kaki and co. would always be in a different race and Wheating/Symmonds would be racing for something like 5th towards the back. Now that Wheating nearly nipped the second best guy in the world (and is racing more aggressively) and took second in a Diamond League race, people contend that the fields are lacking.

Time and time again Wheating proves himself and people don't respond positively. Unbelievable.

I'll respond positively. I posted this last week on the board about Wheating geting next to last at Stockholm:

"That is how it goes in world class meets. He has to learn that he can not sit in the back and out kick everyone in the last 100-200m. He needs to stay in good position near the front if he truly wants to win. He has the ability, he needs the correct tactics."

Since he listened to my sound coaching advice, I will give him props and hope he continues to fight to win races rather than hang on for fast times. When you lose that winning mindset, you don't tend to win.

I assume my coaching fee check is in the mail?

enjoy

http://www.universalsports.com/video/assetid=c0c91281-a8c2-42c3-a2b0-0832598d526e.html?__source=newsletter&cid=

There is the possibility that he was flat last week. I don't think any of his other 4 races this summer had him so far back at that point in a race (the last 25%). Personally I thought he'd be flat today, but he surprises again.

I think it really goes to show how much he has grown mentally on the summer circuit. Physically we've know it was there since 3:38 and 1:45.0 as a sophomore, but he was never tested at this kind of level. He's responding nicely.

0/10 but I'll bite.

Let's take a sneak preview of the field he'll face in Daegu:

Rudisha 1:41.5

Kaki 1:42.23

Kirwa Yego WC gold 1:42.67

Mulaudzi WC gold 1:42.86

I'll take the field (even with Kaki choking). Wheating still has no major champ experience, and will be lucky to make it through rounds.

To be honest I'm sick of hearing:

~"Wheating's only been running a few years; he has huge upside etc."

True students of the sport were aware of his talent in '08 - he is finally delivering just now, and about time - I for one can only watch so many 3:37 / 1:46 jogs.

That said...no one saw 3:30.9 coming. He needs to run the 1500 if he wants any chance at a medal; even then he faces (swap whatever Kenyans you like):

Kiplagat 3:29.3

Choge 3:29.5

Laalou 3:29.5 / 1:43.2

Kiprop Oly champ / 1:43.1

Keitany 3:30.2

Don't get me wrong this is a great result, but save your enthusiasm for when it counts.

eatyerfnwheatings wrote:

enjoy

http://www.universalsports.com/video/assetid=c0c91281-a8c2-42c3-a2b0-0832598d526e.html?__source=newsletter&cid=

Sit in the back the whole way?

Uhm, he move up after 200 meters, and was mid pack or in 2nd most of the way -- THAT is far different than his making a move on the final turn -- his old way of racing.

And Symmonds moved up with him.

For the morons that don't pay attention to his interviews...Wheating has stated that his approach will change, but that he is working on a model of incremental improvement.

So far, I think Vin has it working well for him.

The truth is, PR's will mean almost nothing when it comes to a final, especially at 1500. Wheating right now already has all the tools necessary to get a medal. If you list the top 5 PR's in both events, you can bet that at least 2-4 of the africans will falter in the championship. It just happens. Their best marks come from victories or when they think they can win with 40 meters left in a race. When a tall white guy or even a fellow countrymen moves buy strong with 150 to go the wheels fall off the wagon. That will certainly happen to 2-4 of the top 5 ranked e. africans next year in the final (assuming they all make the final).

Look at Yego today, he was a non factor for Wheating over the last 400-500 meters.

That doesn't mean he will medal, but I think his chances are a lot better than some of you will let yourselves believe. He has everything he needs to medal in the 1500. Right now he's at least a 1:43/3:30 runner with a big kick. It can go fast, it can go slow, he's a contender.

Just remember solinsky and his sub 27. Just because a white guy has never done it before, and hasn't set some kind of "proof" that he is ready like a 27:0X doesn't mean it isn't going to happen. He doesn't need to finish 4th in a final so that we can say he now has a shot to medal. He has a shot to medal. It might be better than bronze. If he starts thinking now that bronze aint good enough, his chances are much better.

He's a contender in a clean 800 as well, but the chances of a tangle or tumble are too high I think in a championship 800.

wheating meeting wrote:

I think Wheating has all the tools to medal, the issue is his racing. Always in bad position and kicking. He ain't going to win the big wins against 1:41 and 1:42 guys doing that.

please stop posting.

i just watched the video. you had no idea how the race was run, the kid is developing, learning and changing his approach to racing. it was evident in stockholm and very evident tonight.

en action avec ma bite wrote:

To be honest I'm sick of hearing:

~"Wheating's only been running a few years; he has huge upside etc."

True students of the sport were aware of his talent in '08 - he is finally delivering just now, and about time - I for one can only watch so many 3:37 / 1:46 jogs.

That said...no one saw 3:30.9 coming. He needs to run the 1500 if he wants any chance at a medal; even then he faces (swap whatever Kenyans you like):

I'll use my enthusiasm when ever I like thank you. Regarding his 3:30.9 this was my call:

Perspectivation RE: Wheating's 1500 time at Monaco... 7/21/2010 10:43AM - in reply to eddylee Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

Well, for fun I'll go with 3:32.7 for 4th.

Assuming PRE like pace or better and a winning time of 3:31.

I think Wheating will be a bit more assertive here and not be far off 2nd place.

Be nice to see 4 americans under 3:34 in a single race

...............................

Obviously I assumed a 3:31 winning time since we hadn't seen a sub 3:30 for a long time.

But given that his 3:38 and 1:45.0 in 2008 were run with way too much left, and you yourself said he was jogging 1:46 and 3:37 (doubles) this season, and his double victory at NCAAs and his 3:51 at PRE again with way too much left, why were you so shocked at 3:30.9 and him being a couple seconds off the win?

I was more shocked that a race went under 3:30 than Wheating being within a couple seconds of the winner. You have to remember that Wheating was injured at NCAA's last year and didn't race all summer or even do USAs. If he stays healthy this year he'll be racing for the top spots all next summer.

Not sure why you'd get annoyed about the enthusiasm, especially when the progression lives up to it.

I think it's safe to say that Symmonds is now the 2nd best American 800m runner.

world champs next summer, wheating and webb bring home medals and a bunch a chumps on this site start talking about how they didn't deserve them! mark it!

examples will be:

some of the e. africans weren't in lifetime best shape

final was too slow or perhaps too fast

e. africans gave up medals when they knew they couldn't win

the top e. african some teenage up and comer wasn't selected for the team.

eatyerfnwheatings wrote:

enjoy

http://www.universalsports.com/video/assetid=c0c91281-a8c2-42c3-a2b0-0832598d526e.html?__source=newsletter&cid=

Dang Wheating! Cut in on too right as he was coming to the homestrech and has to adjust a little. I'm thinking if that didn't happen he would have been on Kakis should at the top of the homestretch, and if that happens kaki folds. Holy moly. Mother moses. The boy can run.

I remember a few years ago at the trials, wheating closed better than even symmonds the last 50 meters. That was after his college season. Someone said he had no chance of beating symmonds even if at his peak. They were wrong.

I've been watching oregon track for many years. You guys surprised with andrew wheating are just people focused on times. it is unfortunate that these outstanding kids are coached to win in college, but i do understand. if he had to run faster 3 years ago then you would have seen alot more from him. when he learnes how to run in this high caliber races he will win and set records. i'm still not sure his best race but i think the 1500 is his best event. now, find it hard to believe but i think he has left a teamate from oregon that can beat him. matt centro has more talent and handed him the ncaa. wait till he runs against the worlds best. mark my words, he will break records.

mmm..is dat sum post race sunny-D =p

u of o track fan wrote:

I've been watching oregon track for many years. You guys surprised with andrew wheating are just people focused on times. it is unfortunate that these outstanding kids are coached to win in college, but i do understand. if he had to run faster 3 years ago then you would have seen alot more from him. when he learnes how to run in this high caliber races he will win and set records. i'm still not sure his best race but i think the 1500 is his best event. now, find it hard to believe but i think he has left a teamate from oregon that can beat him. matt centro has more talent and handed him the ncaa. wait till he runs against the worlds best. mark my words, he will break records.

no offense but centro didn't hand him the ncaa. he simply couldn't hold off wheating who was doing a difficult double. i think a lot of centro jr. but he was a distant 5th at usas in the 1500 with no lagat. wheating would have come home with the win.

centro has had his injuries and I think he'll be have a shot to make the world team next year and get down to 3:32-3:33 but centro has many years and many races and many miles on wheating, but comes nowhere near him at 800 or in an all out 1500.

acosta said it best at ncaas when he said if they raced 10 times (all 3) wheating would win 8/10, and that was before wheating hit his stride this summer. centro will have his hands full with his own teammates in fleet and acosta next season. all those guys have a shot at the world team next year.

Instead of acting like you know it all; or know something about Wheating... Why don't you go watch and listen to his interviews on runnerspace.com etc., and see what the man has said himself.

He is working on a model of incremental improvement, gaining experience, learning to race different strategies etc. He and Vin have had this all planned out.

And what he has done (moving up after the first 200 today) and running mid pack to position#2 for 500 meters... ALL fits into the plan he revealed in an interview.

Wheating has no fear, he loves to run and race.

His 13minute interview on runnerspace a few days ago makes it clear -- the kid digs the sport, he is not afraid of anything.

He ain't Maggie Vessey.