ATLANTA olympics 800 final

It hasn't been mentioned yet in this thread that the track in Atlanta was super fast due to its hardness.

There is a good possibility that this was a major factor leading to the mass of fast times.

I remember wondering if Kipketer was in the race if we would have seen a sub 141 performance by him...

He actually took it out in 49.55 then started to hammer between 400 to 500 meters and gapped the field. He just couldn't hold on the last 200. Sweet race, gray went for it, the crowd went nuts with him in the lead.

I know this is an old post, but I just watched the race again and it is amazing Gray didn't medal in the race. He was opening up a gap in the second lap and was looking strong. I really like the way he runs, he could've won a medal in the 1996 final and he made the Kenyans really hurt in the 1992 800 meter final. He made a push to run with the best even though it would hurt.

MN Runner wrote:

I know this is an old post, but I just watched the race again and it is amazing Gray didn't medal in the race. He was opening up a gap in the second lap and was looking strong. I really like the way he runs, he could've won a medal in the 1996 final and he made the Kenyans really hurt in the 1992 800 meter final. He made a push to run with the best even though it would hurt.

Heck yeah, I remember him saying he'd taking his competitors into the "Johnny Gray Twilight Zone".

To the poster who stated that the times were only fast because of the Atlanta track: please give me a break. An Olympic final is always going to be fast when the leader goes through in 49 something.

cmon, no need for name calling, accusations, could have, would haves....

Rodahl is the typical model European 800m runner. And some can argue this is the most effective way to win chanpionships. Nils Schumann who is very similar to Rodahl (Olympic champion with 46sec speed, and 3.37 range) and even Borzakovskiy (a little faster at 400m (45.8) but then slower at 1500m (3.42) do similar training.

One can not say Kipketer would have wiped the floor with Rodahl and the others had he been in Atlanta. Its a big call in a 1.42 race. I have no doubt that Kipketer would have been in the final, but to say he would have WON is not possible, and reality is, he wasnt there, and DIDNT win. Remember that Kipketer was still gaining strength as a racer, having had just one championship win (in 95, and in a 1.45 winning time).

Rodahl was a fantastic athlete. It just shows that a lot of the 800m is about SPECIFICITY AT RACE speed, and this even translates into championship strength, not necessarily mountains of aerobic strength.

I will argue though that 51 is not really a fast pace for elite 800m runners anymore. Kipketer in his first WR in Zurich followed Joseph Tengelei through 400m in 48.8 (Tengelei in 48.55) and in his final WR, David Kiptoo in 49.2 (Kiptoo 49.00). Yes 51 is theoretically 1.42 pace, but I know of no single 1.42 race where the pace has been 51.0 seconds or slower at 400m. I know of Kipketer in Stockholm 1997 running 1.41.73 (tie WR) with a first lap of 50.2, and also Steven Cram running 1.42.88 in Zurich (beating Cruz) with a first lap in 50.6.

There seems to be some confusion as to the splits in Atlanta so hopefully this will clarify. From October '96 TFN p. 16 (covered the Atlanta Olympics):

1. Vebjorn Rodal 1:42.58 (OR, NR)

(24.1, 25.8 [49.9], 26.2 [1:16.1]. 26.5)

2. Hezekiel Sepeng 1:42.74 (NR)

(23.9, 26.1 [50.0]. 26.3 [1:16.3], 26.4)

3. Fred Onyancha 1:42.79

(no splits listed)

4. Tellez 1:42.85 (NR)

(24.1, 25.6 [49.7], 26.6 [1:16.3], 26.5)

5. Motchebon 1:43.91 (PR)

6. Kiptoo 1:44.19

(24.0, 25.7 [49.7], 26.2 [1:15.9], 28.3)

7. Gray 1:44.21

(24.0, 25.5 [49.55], 26.3 [1:15.85], 28.4)

8. Lahlou 1:45.52

Interesting the amount of NR's, PR's in this race. Also note that Sepeng was in the back (last place?) at the bell and was still only 7th around 100m to go!

Both semifinals were won under 1:44...what a switch from the semis and finals in last year's World Champs...

anybody have this race on dvd or cassette for sale or trade?

Was Kipketer not also an 800m specialist?

What were his times over 400/1500?