I think if you look at the effect of the superspikes and likely Muarten bicarb, I think you could easily see a clean 1:57.xx type breaking 1:55.
After seeing this explosion in the 800 this year, I’ve asked around and everybody very much feels like it’s the Maurten bi-carb system. They think the formula in the last 12 months has really made a significant difference and pretty much everybody at 400 to 1,500 is using it. I don’t know if it so much as reduces H+ in the legs, but everybody says it makes their legs feel “numb” and they can keep pushing. 800 seems to be the sweet spot for this effect.
What a s-show in the men’s mile! Why on earth did they not shoot the second gun? The fall was in the first 20 meters!
Something to file away is if they follow precedent with 3 oversized heats in Paris with 15 starters we could be in store for many falls. Assuming instead of advancing fallers they go to Repechage? Of course they could do 4 heats of 11/12 but they’ll obsess over the “wasted” 5 minutes
What a s-show in the men’s mile! Why on earth did they not shoot the second gun? The fall was in the first 20 meters!
Something to file away is if they follow precedent with 3 oversized heats in Paris with 15 starters we could be in store for many falls. Assuming instead of advancing fallers they go to Repechage? Of course they could do 4 heats of 11/12 but they’ll obsess over the “wasted” 5 minutes
The repechage is going to be soooooo dumb. The only purpose it could possibly serve is for falls. What are the rules on falls and the repechage? Do runners need to finish the original race? Or can they take a DNF?
One reflection from being there in the stadium: athletics has so much potential as a sport. 55-60,000 people were in that stadium and loved every minute. There's appetite for big meets with high profile stars. If every Diamond League had that sort of crowd and that sort of buzz, the product would look so much better on TV and be more attractive to sponsors and advertisers. I really think the push to grow the sport in new territories is actually killing it, because most of these countries can't fill the stadium for DL meets so the product looks lousy.
On a related note, the sport needs to build on its stars and Noah Lyles is that guy right now. Lyles got the biggest crowd reaction of the day outside of the big British names. He's cutting through even though he doesn't race in the UK very often. Last year, it was Hassan that got the biggest reaction coming off her London marathon win. Athletics has stars, there's something to build on, it just feels like the sport's power brokers aren't really trying.
GB has bit of a gap behind this amazing pair. Maybe use Chalmers from 400mH.?
I made Hoares last 440 yards c 56.8 so, whilst the first 3 laps were fastish, arguably several guys not in the race who could have outpaced that, including the 2 fallers.
Sam Reardon ran 44.7 in the national race earlier int he meet. That's useful for the relay
He's not in the relay pool and as far as i'm aware, he can't be added
One reflection from being there in the stadium: athletics has so much potential as a sport. 55-60,000 people were in that stadium and loved every minute. There's appetite for big meets with high profile stars. If every Diamond League had that sort of crowd and that sort of buzz, the product would look so much better on TV and be more attractive to sponsors and advertisers. I really think the push to grow the sport in new territories is actually killing it, because most of these countries can't fill the stadium for DL meets so the product looks lousy.
On a related note, the sport needs to build on its stars and Noah Lyles is that guy right now. Lyles got the biggest crowd reaction of the day outside of the big British names. He's cutting through even though he doesn't race in the UK very often. Last year, it was Hassan that got the biggest reaction coming off her London marathon win. Athletics has stars, there's something to build on, it just feels like the sport's power brokers aren't really trying.
Italy seem to be coming really strong in Athletics.
Could easily have big meets in Paris, London, Rome and take advantage of Bol and get one in the Netherlands. Germany is a bit of a missed opportunity though atm cause they've been okay but not really produced a star with longevity for a long time.
Oh my goodness Keely has been having a great year, but after running so fast early in the season I was wondering if she'd peaked. Looks like she's timing it perfectly though. Shame Mu couldn't be at her best this year, it would've been an all time great race, a rematch of 1776 even.
Don’t worry, Athing will be issuing her own Declaration of Independence as soon as this season is over.
Most takeaways so far -- including from the "experts" on the LRC podcast -- wallow in pity over Grant's lack of a kick and dwindling chances of a medal.
So wrong headed.
Grant just came down from Park City following 20,000 meters of championship racing at the Trials.
Conversely, Dominic is razor sharp following his 7:37/3k win in Luzerne on Tuesday.
If you are looking for a "hot take," it should be that Lobalu -- with his 12:50/5k from the Oslo Bislett Games -- is now in the mix as a medal favorite in the Oly 5k three weeks from now.
1500m kicks to 3000m kicks are not the same thing.
"In the mix as a medal favorite" is a silly way of phrasing things. He is either in the mix (aka a medal contender) or a medal favorite (one of the top guys who needs to be unseated). Saying he's in the mix is a lukewarm take. Saying he's a medal favorite I would say is a relatively hot take with Krop, Grijalva, Gebrhiwet fresh and Jakob running. He is right there with Grant to medal at 5/10K and that would be the worst news of all for Grant Fisher because Lobalu is in the Championships and in-form, which makes up for let's say Ahmed's slight drop in quality and maybe the same for Cheptegei (though I'm not counting him out one bit).
He’s not running the 10k. Good news for Grant Fisher.
MHS normally doesn’t run the relay. Hopefully he will this year. Always an injury risky guy. Reardon 44.7 earlier but not in the team. Anyway they can bring guys in now?
Samuel Reardon progression, prior to today:
2024 outdoors (age 21) 8x 400; 45.99 SB; bombs out in the heats at UK trials
2023 outdoors (age 20) 8x 400; 46.21 SB 11x 800; 1:45.95 SB; 5th at Euro U23
2022 outdoors (age 19) 5x 400; 46.69 SB 14x 800; 1:46.80 SB; 6th at UK trials; 5th at World U20
2021 outdoors (age 18) 11x 400; 46.97 SB 5x 800; 1:50.68 SB; 6th at UK trials
Obviously he brings huge aerobic power to the 400 and prior to today had just squeaked under 46 to progress from the 46.x range he’d been stuck at from 2021-2023.
Today he’s blown straight through the 45’s and landed at 44.70. Quite unusual, really.
For comparison, in the same race:
Alex HAYDOCK-WILSON improves from a SB of 45.54 to 45.37. Bailey SWIFT 46.08 to 45.70. Lewis DAVEY 45.60 to 45.80 (no improvement). Joseph BRIER 46.16 to 45.83.
I don't know if this was covered but McGorty is now the #8 American with his 7:32.79. This is based on individual best and not all times run but he's pretty close to all time Top Ten.
One reflection from being there in the stadium: athletics has so much potential as a sport. 55-60,000 people were in that stadium and loved every minute. There's appetite for big meets with high profile stars. If every Diamond League had that sort of crowd and that sort of buzz, the product would look so much better on TV and be more attractive to sponsors and advertisers. I really think the push to grow the sport in new territories is actually killing it, because most of these countries can't fill the stadium for DL meets so the product looks lousy.
I imagine this is what Michael Johnson hopes his Grand Slam events will look like. 60k packed out stadia watching 2-3 hours of the biggest athletes in the sport all duke it out 4 times a year.
Helps build rivalries, which creates drama, which is ultimately what will attract more people to the sport.