Nia Akins got paid 10k to run 2:13 and a dnf in the 1500m. That’s pretty wild if you think about
Akins has just fallen off the map since USATF Indoor.
February 23 USATF Indoor - 1:59.31 (national champion) March 21 World Indoor - 2:03.29 (advanced to semis) March 22 World Indoor - 2:04.38 (failed to advance) April 26 Penn Relays - 2:00.49 (1st) May 2 Larry Ellis Invit - DNF May 31 GST - DNF June 1 GST - 2:13.07 (last)
Nia Akins got paid 10k to run 2:13 and a dnf in the 1500m. That’s pretty wild if you think about
Akins has just fallen off the map since USATF Indoor.
February 23 USATF Indoor - 1:59.31 (national champion) March 21 World Indoor - 2:03.29 (advanced to semis) March 22 World Indoor - 2:04.38 (failed to advance) April 26 Penn Relays - 2:00.49 (1st) May 2 Larry Ellis Invit - DNF May 31 GST - DNF June 1 GST - 2:13.07 (last)
Odd regression for her, especially on home turf. Hope she pulls it together by nationals.
It’s been cool to see GST getting better and better with each meet. The Miami meet was better than Kingston, and Philly was better than Miami. I have a feeling they’re saving their best for LA!
The best thing to come out of grand slam is the short distance. 800/1500 crossover is rare these days but it is an awesome crossover. All of the other events are too similar or include off events. Would’ve been cooler if they had “Hurdles” instead of short and long hurdles or “sprints” that was 100m and 400m instead of short and long sprints. Seeing people run off events is fun to watch. props to Gabby Thomas and Sydney for doing off events too.
I think 1500/3000 would be the best. I understand some people like these 800s so far but it’s been down to 1-2 guys at the end and never the 1500 guys. Arop is awesome, but I’d preserve him, add Hoppel, Hoey, Miller and make it a 600/800 group, 800/1200 group etc. 1000 seems to run into your issue of being too close. The 1500 races have been amazing but think of how good a 3000 with the 1500 podium, Nico and/or Grant would be…
Even pre race it was clear she was not ready to go. She got a nice ovation and refused to even look up. It seemed like she was ashamed to be collecting the cash while knowing she was running like trash.
The best thing to come out of grand slam is the short distance. 800/1500 crossover is rare these days but it is an awesome crossover. All of the other events are too similar or include off events. Would’ve been cooler if they had “Hurdles” instead of short and long hurdles or “sprints” that was 100m and 400m instead of short and long sprints. Seeing people run off events is fun to watch. props to Gabby Thomas and Sydney for doing off events too.
I think 1500/3000 would be the best. I understand some people like these 800s so far but it’s been down to 1-2 guys at the end and never the 1500 guys. Arop is awesome, but I’d preserve him, add Hoppel, Hoey, Miller and make it a 600/800 group, 800/1200 group etc. 1000 seems to run into your issue of being too close. The 1500 races have been amazing but think of how good a 3000 with the 1500 podium, Nico and/or Grant would be…
3000 is a great race between the 1500 and 5000 guys, but extremely unfair to the 5000 guys. They are disadvantaged in the 1500 and only even in the 3000. If they're gonna do that would be better to ONLY have the 3000. otherwise, they should both get a crack at their prime event against the other.
I think 1500/3000 would be the best. I understand some people like these 800s so far but it’s been down to 1-2 guys at the end and never the 1500 guys. Arop is awesome, but I’d preserve him, add Hoppel, Hoey, Miller and make it a 600/800 group, 800/1200 group etc. 1000 seems to run into your issue of being too close. The 1500 races have been amazing but think of how good a 3000 with the 1500 podium, Nico and/or Grant would be…
3000 is a great race between the 1500 and 5000 guys, but extremely unfair to the 5000 guys. They are disadvantaged in the 1500 and only even in the 3000. If they're gonna do that would be better to ONLY have the 3000. otherwise, they should both get a crack at their prime event against the other.
Agreed. That's why I've proposed mixing up the distances from meet to meet. In any event grouping, the fairest system is to have a balance of races between the shorter event, the longer event, and distances in between. Let's see the 800m runners and 1500m runners clash at 1200m. Let's see Gabby and Paulino square off at 300m.
Also: when thinking about possibilities for next year, don't forget the women! Pairing 800m and 1500m runners has worked very well for the women. In two of the three Slams, the women's 800m has been won by a 1500m specialist!
Nico’s cleaned up the headbob for sure it was beautiful in that last 100. Interesting on Hocker was his last burst missing because he led the first 1000, or hasn’t hit his final version of himself yet. In about a months time we’ll know. He looked dangerous again today.
it wasn't hard to predict Hocker would come on at some point.... he's had maybe the best training block ever...?
if he peaks right, he will beat Kerr, and Jacob? this was to be his all time prime year... now it's a who knows? it takes three weeks to get back to form from cross training, and sharpening for a 1500 isn't a problem, except your fitness will run out later in the season.
Birthday boy Nuguse didn't have it today, but an impressive showing from Arop. I'm impressed with him most of all. Kessler is "good" at both events but not "great" at either (compared to competitors), so it's not surprising he didn't factor. Hoey was better than expected in the 1500. Nice to see Hocker in better form. But yeah, the story here is Arop ran smart. Did what he needed to get the Slam championship.
dumb dumb
Kessler has advanced from prospect to elite and closing in on the top 5 guys on the planet.
what do you want? who on the planet has progressed better? a handful?
his 800 opener is just that, and what do you want? more than a 143?
as far as the 1500 goes, he's less aerobically fit as the others, and perhaps a tad faster, though all the other boys can go at least 144 low if they are peaked, as Hobbs was at the trials. which means in the stretch, it is all about strength, except for Hocker, who can pull out 40 m of turbo, on his day.
if Hobbs keeps progressing as he has over the past 5 years, he will be on the podium next year, and even this year, as people go for it and peak in the coming weeks.