I don’t know - Mu ran almost the same time today as in the prelim and it looked effortless then. Lot of races in a few weeks, may have just run out of gas. If that is the case it could have been even worse in the 800. Same thing happened in high school right after she broke the 600 record - she lost to- I believe it was Roisin Willis in a big indoor 800 race. Just didn’t have it that day and today. It happens - she will be back. Congrats to Roberts on a great race.
If she can't win an NCAA 800 title, she isn't making the team this year.
ncaa21 wrote:
I don’t know - Mu ran almost the same time today as in the prelim and it looked effortless then. Lot of races in a few weeks, may have just run out of gas. If that is the case it could have been even worse in the 800. Same thing happened in high school right after she broke the 600 record - she lost to- I believe it was Roisin Willis in a big indoor 800 race. Just didn’t have it that day and today. It happens - she will be back. Congrats to Roberts on a great race.
The issue was pacing. Mu went out too fast trying to get to the break first and expended too much energy. Her teammate had the right idea.
She'll win the NCAA 400 title outdoors and then make the 800m Olympic team 2 weeks later.
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ncaa21 wrote:
I don’t know - Mu ran almost the same time today as in the prelim and it looked effortless then. Lot of races in a few weeks, may have just run out of gas. If that is the case it could have been even worse in the 800. Same thing happened in high school right after she broke the 600 record - she lost to- I believe it was Roisin Willis in a big indoor 800 race. Just didn’t have it that day and today. It happens - she will be back. Congrats to Roberts on a great race.
It wasn't a "bad day" today from Mu. She just got taken to SCHOOL by Roberts.
Roberts pushed Mu out into lane 2 the entire 2nd lap. Every time Mu tried to pass, Roberts accelerated and threw an elbow.
800m runners always struggle to get to the break in good position and always struggle to pass on the turns in the 400. The coach should have known.
Mu's coaches should have seen this coming. It could have cost them the team championship (if the Arkansas women weren't so lucky in the 3k that other top competitors tripped but their 3 weren't affected).
Mu was a fast learner, as her tactics in the 4x4 were excellent. Tucked in behind, one decisive move.
After watching the open 400 a few times, pretty clear it was all just great tactics from USC. Even at the end, Mu made yet another move to pass and just ran of racetrack.
In that high school 800, Mu was clearly going for 2min, as she went out in like 58, and just went down in flames the last 100. I know no loss is good, but I gave her a lot of credit for making a serious attempt at that high school record.
Had Mu ran the 800 I agree it would have been a safer win than the 400, but I'm not sure she would have had time to recover for a 49 split in the 4x4.
Yes, this!
Brilliant coaching and tactics by USC. The way to beat a 400/800 person is to take them out HARD and put them too close to their maximum 200m speed. Both physiological and mental discomfort.
Mu's differential between 200s was too large.
She pressed. Got outside her comfort zone. The physical pain causes a tactical error, that can be recovered from in a final of this caliber.
Clearly she was able as evidenced by her 4*4 split later in the same day.
Give credit to coaching and execution by USC