Lots of fast qualifying times means the final will be tactical. The two favorites will have lots of competition at the 200 mark and possibly pushing and shoving will occur. I think an upset is brewing for the Mu/Hodgekinson duo.
As others have said the 800 is a very unpredictable race. I think the winner will come from one of Mu, Hodgkinson or Moraa, but I can't say which. Akins has also looked decent, and don't forget Reekie or Nakaayi.
What bothers me is her demeanor, her facial expressions. No smiles. 180 degrees from her usual self. She seems like she is angry at the world. If only she could be "running on pure hate" but it seems to be something else to the point of being troubling. I just got a really bad vibe last night about it all.
She seems like she doesn't wish to be there.
Well, obviously Athing Mu doesn't want to be there. Her coach already said that she might skip these World Championships to go on vacation.
As others have said the 800 is a very unpredictable race. I think the winner will come from one of Mu, Hodgkinson or Moraa, but I can't say which. Akins has also looked decent, and don't forget Reekie or Nakaayi.
You just mentioned 6 out of the 8 finalists. You aren't really the type of person that likes to make a specific prediction, are you?
What bothers me is her demeanor, her facial expressions. No smiles. 180 degrees from her usual self. She seems like she is angry at the world. If only she could be "running on pure hate" but it seems to be something else to the point of being troubling. I just got a really bad vibe last night about it all.
She seems like she doesn't wish to be there.
Well, obviously Athing Mu doesn't want to be there. Her coach already said that she might skip these World Championships to go on vacation.
....
Athing is being misunderstood by many fans and I was one of them until recently. Sanya Richards revealed that Athing Mu has been running non stop at a high level for years, since her junior year in high school and just needs a BREAK.
2021 NCAA/USA/Olympics
2022 Worlds Eugene
2023 Worlds Budapest
2024 Paris Olympics
2025 Worlds
Her and her coach saw this as a year in which she could possibly take off and recharge mentally but of course the fans saw it as something else.
Keep your head up Athing continue your 800/1500m training and be ready for sub 1:54 for Paris. After Paris take your much needed break!!!
For those who don’t think Athing is a huge favorite, can you name a single race where you’ve ever seen a performance like this? Hassan falling and winning in a 1500 heat at 2019 Worlds doesn’t even compare. This is the 800. It’s a redline rhythm race, and it’s not like this was a slow pace when she got clipped. Recovering from that is ridiculous.
What Mu did, and the ease with which she did it, was one of the most extraordinary things I’ve ever seen in athletics, and you’re all badly underrating it. She is +110 at several betting sites. You’d be crazy not to bet her at that price.
Yeah but this is more of a function of the laughable depth in the womens 800m because you are right - recovering from that was ridiculous and would be absolutely impossible in the mens 800 - even in a really down year for that event.
I'm not underrating that, merely putting into context. I just don't believe it's because she is in otherwordly shape (I think she is probably capable of running in the 1.55's right now) - I think it's because the rest of the field is nowhere near that and really they should be given the development of all MD running globally in the last 5 years.
Is she the favorite? Yes and she should be. She's the reigning OC and WC and still the fastest on paper. HUGE favorite? No. The most impressive through the rounds in terms of control, tactical positioning has been Hodgkinson. The runner with the biggest x-factor to me is Moraa because not only does she run like her life depends on crossing the line first, we have seen her win titles in crazy ways before (go watch the Birmingham Commonwealth Games final if you want to see an extraordinary way to run a final and somehow win).
If the field can get bodies around Mu - especially from 200-600 then it's going to be a very interesting final for the top 3 (who are sadly light years better than the rest).
I honestly think the vast majority of you are not understanding how insanely athletic and elegant that recovery was. Imagine running at 800 speed and within a few steps your body is facing 90 degrees from the direction it's moving.
99.99-whatever % of us go down and go down hard.
She made it look like a mid-race carioca drill.
That was some next-level ballet wizardry.
I'd love to see her take control from the gun and try to go wire-to-wire.
If nothing else the winning time would be fitting for a world champion.
Yeah but this is more of a function of the laughable depth in the womens 800m because you are right - recovering from that was ridiculous and would be absolutely impossible in the mens 800 - even in a really down year for that event.
I'm not underrating that, merely putting into context. I just don't believe it's because she is in otherwordly shape (I think she is probably capable of running in the 1.55's right now) - I think it's because the rest of the field is nowhere near that and really they should be given the development of all MD running globally in the last 5 years.
Is she the favorite? Yes and she should be. She's the reigning OC and WC and still the fastest on paper. HUGE favorite? No. The most impressive through the rounds in terms of control, tactical positioning has been Hodgkinson. The runner with the biggest x-factor to me is Moraa because not only does she run like her life depends on crossing the line first, we have seen her win titles in crazy ways before (go watch the Birmingham Commonwealth Games final if you want to see an extraordinary way to run a final and somehow win).
If the field can get bodies around Mu - especially from 200-600 then it's going to be a very interesting final for the top 3 (who are sadly light years better than the rest).
I honestly think the vast majority of you are not understanding how insanely athletic and elegant that recovery was. Imagine running at 800 speed and within a few steps your body is facing 90 degrees from the direction it's moving.
99.99-whatever % of us go down and go down hard.
She made it look like a mid-race carioca drill.
That was some next-level ballet wizardry.
I'd love to see her take control from the gun and try to go wire-to-wire.
If nothing else the winning time would be fitting for a world champion.
...
My point exactly. If she is healthy she wins but of course her team will not reveal if she is injured...we will have to wait and see how she runs.
The one place that clipping sometime injuries 800m runners are their achilles. You are often able to finish the race and pain and stiffness sets in later.
That's why I keep saying if she is healthy, she will be difficult to beat.
Yeah but this is more of a function of the laughable depth in the womens 800m because you are right - recovering from that was ridiculous and would be absolutely impossible in the mens 800 - even in a really down year for that event.
I'm not underrating that, merely putting into context. I just don't believe it's because she is in otherwordly shape (I think she is probably capable of running in the 1.55's right now) - I think it's because the rest of the field is nowhere near that and really they should be given the development of all MD running globally in the last 5 years.
Is she the favorite? Yes and she should be. She's the reigning OC and WC and still the fastest on paper. HUGE favorite? No. The most impressive through the rounds in terms of control, tactical positioning has been Hodgkinson. The runner with the biggest x-factor to me is Moraa because not only does she run like her life depends on crossing the line first, we have seen her win titles in crazy ways before (go watch the Birmingham Commonwealth Games final if you want to see an extraordinary way to run a final and somehow win).
If the field can get bodies around Mu - especially from 200-600 then it's going to be a very interesting final for the top 3 (who are sadly light years better than the rest).
I honestly think the vast majority of you are not understanding how insanely athletic and elegant that recovery was. Imagine running at 800 speed and within a few steps your body is facing 90 degrees from the direction it's moving.
99.99-whatever % of us go down and go down hard.
She made it look like a mid-race carioca drill.
That was some next-level ballet wizardry.
I'd love to see her take control from the gun and try to go wire-to-wire.
If nothing else the winning time would be fitting for a world champion.
Yeah uh anyone trying to undersell what Mu did in the semi is either nuts or has never run an 800. Coming to a near complete stop, losing nearly a full second, and then recovering to finish second in 1:58 is unreal.
I…don’t know if any of the 1:55 shape runners I know could have recovered like that in a 1:58 race. I think the vast majority of them would’ve finished way back in 2:05+. That’s not to say it’s indicative of 1:54+, but a recovery like that takes ridiculous grit and determination.
She’s very clearly the overwhelming favorite going into the final. As she well should be. It’s a tossup in the sense that an 800 is never easy to predict…but I wouldn’t bet against Mu.
Well, obviously Athing Mu doesn't want to be there. Her coach already said that she might skip these World Championships to go on vacation.
....
Athing is being misunderstood by many fans and I was one of them until recently. Sanya Richards revealed that Athing Mu has been running non stop at a high level for years, since her junior year in high school
No, Sanya Richards Ross didn't "reveal" that. It's common knowledge.
And Athing Mu's junior year in high school was only 5 years ago, which really isn't that long ago.
And are you aware that most top runners run 4 years in high school and then 4 years in college? If Mu was still in college, she would still have another year to go.
So this whole idea of yours that Mu has been running way too long and desperately needs a long break is ridiculous. Not to mention that she already took a long break the end of 2022.
Athing is being misunderstood by many fans and I was one of them until recently. Sanya Richards revealed that Athing Mu has been running non stop at a high level for years, since her junior year in high school and just needs a BREAK.
2021 NCAA/USA/Olympics
2022 Worlds Eugene
2023 Worlds Budapest
2024 Paris Olympics
2025 Worlds
Her and her coach saw this as a year in which she could possibly take off and recharge mentally but of course the fans saw it as something else.
Keep your head up Athing continue your 800/1500m training and be ready for sub 1:54 for Paris. After Paris take your much needed break!!!
She could have simply taken the year off with an announcement in Dec/Jan. Fans don't have issue with that. It's the lack of a clear decision and toying with meets and cryptic Kersee that is the issue.
Keely is a likeable athlete but not for the reason some posters here favor her. Mora has actually defeated Keely, so why isn't she considered a favorite. Is it because of the color of her skin?
I see why track and field is dying, it is riddled with accusations and slow start from fans only .
She is considered a favorite..you getting your perceived reality mixed up with the actual reality..go and look at any odds with any bookmaker and she’s one of the favorites
I honestly think the vast majority of you are not understanding how insanely athletic and elegant that recovery was. Imagine running at 800 speed and within a few steps your body is facing 90 degrees from the direction it's moving.
99.99-whatever % of us go down and go down hard.
She made it look like a mid-race carioca drill.
That was some next-level ballet wizardry.
I'd love to see her take control from the gun and try to go wire-to-wire.
If nothing else the winning time would be fitting for a world champion.
...
My point exactly. If she is healthy she wins but of course her team will not reveal if she is injured...we will have to wait and see how she runs.
The one place that clipping sometime injuries 800m runners are their achilles. You are often able to finish the race and pain and stiffness sets in later.
That's why I keep saying if she is healthy, she will be difficult to beat.
But if she does get beat, none of the “ah she mustn’t have been healthy” talk - that would be totally disrespectful to the others…we don’t know if the others are healthy..Hodgkinson got sick on the day of the heat apparently..has she recovered from that? Is Moraa 100% healthy?
The two most likely to beat Mu are Hodgkinson and Moraa..one came within a whisker of beating Mu last year and is the quickest runner this year and the other got Bronze last year and has beaten Hodgkinson - perfectly feasible that either of those two beat Mu on merit
Athing is being misunderstood by many fans and I was one of them until recently. Sanya Richards revealed that Athing Mu has been running non stop at a high level for years, since her junior year in high school
No, Sanya Richards Ross didn't "reveal" that. It's common knowledge.
And Athing Mu's junior year in high school was only 5 years ago, which really isn't that long ago.
And are you aware that most top runners run 4 years in high school and then 4 years in college? If Mu was still in college, she would still have another year to go.
So this whole idea of yours that Mu has been running way too long and desperately needs a long break is ridiculous. Not to mention that she already took a long break the end of 2022.
.....
Pump your brakes and think. It doesn't matter if your in school or have a job when the posters on here don't feel like going to school or work, they don't go. Athletes have the same right. She could decide after 1 year she needs a break. Who are we to argue she doesn't?
No, Sanya Richards Ross didn't "reveal" that. It's common knowledge.
And Athing Mu's junior year in high school was only 5 years ago, which really isn't that long ago.
And are you aware that most top runners run 4 years in high school and then 4 years in college? If Mu was still in college, she would still have another year to go.
So this whole idea of yours that Mu has been running way too long and desperately needs a long break is ridiculous. Not to mention that she already took a long break the end of 2022.
.....
Pump your brakes and think. It doesn't matter if your in school or have a job when the posters on here don't feel like going to school or work, they don't go. Athletes have the same right. She could decide after 1 year she needs a break. Who are we to argue she doesn't?
A break from what? She's already been on a long break from competing. Are you saying she needs a break on top of her break?
No, she doesn't want a break. She wants to stop being a professional athlete and do something else.
As others have said the 800 is a very unpredictable race. I think the winner will come from one of Mu, Hodgkinson or Moraa, but I can't say which. Akins has also looked decent, and don't forget Reekie or Nakaayi.
If you are Mu, would you rather be a no show or take silver/bronze? I'm not convinced she has her head in the game for the 800. Clearly the decision to run at the WC happened late and she's been focused on the 1500 this year. She may be a stronger runner now but without her 400 training she will feel flatter and she hasn't had to fully dip into the well in a fast 800 yet. Keely is much hungrier.
No, Sanya Richards Ross didn't "reveal" that. It's common knowledge.
And Athing Mu's junior year in high school was only 5 years ago, which really isn't that long ago.
And are you aware that most top runners run 4 years in high school and then 4 years in college? If Mu was still in college, she would still have another year to go.
So this whole idea of yours that Mu has been running way too long and desperately needs a long break is ridiculous. Not to mention that she already took a long break the end of 2022.
.....
Pump your brakes and think. It doesn't matter if your in school or have a job when the posters on here don't feel like going to school or work, they don't go. Athletes have the same right. She could decide after 1 year she needs a break. Who are we to argue she doesn't?
She enjoyed a lot of success very early in life and probably takes it for granted. I don't blame her, but without the hunger she's going to struggle to stay on top.
If we see a Keely win in 1:55 it'll be hard for Mu to bounce back.
Mary Moraa is way better than last year when she beat Keely. The gold goes to her, the rest to fight for the minor medals. Expect 1:55 or 1:54 (if needed to win) in the finals.