I'd have to disagree here. It's not a dumb strategy when it's worked for her so many times in the past. She clearly just wasn't as fit/sharp this year because she'd barely raced this entire year. I honestly think it's Kersee's fault, in general he doesn't know how to train middle distance runners and Mu has never lined up for a Diamond League 800 under Kersee's coaching.
I'm just saying, taking the lead and pushing the pace was a dumb strategy. She had no chance to win that way.
Yes she won in previous years when she was way better than everyone else, now she's not. If she had actually ran a good strategy she probably would have been contending for gold.
I doubt she could have done any better running from behind. It's not her style. Nor does she have a real kick.
To be fair, it's not 100% sure that Mu had the best kick in the field. Moraa has shown the ability to produce devastating kicks in her races this year and even in 2022. She has 50.38 400m speed from this year which I'm not sure a current Athing Mu could replicate given she ran a 4:03 1500 at USAs.
Which is why Mu will have the best kick. Kicks come from strength not speed.
Reality is you need to adapt. In fast races, going to the back works well. If they go out in 56, hanging back works. In slow races (they go out in 60), it doesn't as you end up with too much traffic.
In the women's 8, they often go out in 26-27 before running 30s and 31s the rest of the way. That makes no sense. Even a 28 opening gives you an even paced 56, which is itself well ahead of pace for a world record, which none of these runners this year could run within two seconds of, and Mu previously ran about 1.75s off the record in her fastest race. Why not run 28.5-29s? You save plenty of energy through 600m and could easily outkick the others at the end after drafting most of the way, and you are still setting yourself up for an outstanding time. Going out in 26.5 (1:46 pace!!) just gets you plenty of lactic right off the bat.
Running even-pace - by which you mean no 200 is faster than any other - is not the most efficient way to run an 800. Wottle only did it - once - because he said he felt "very tired" in the first 200 of the '72 final. It wasn't a deliberate tactic. It was his superior strength in the last 200 that came through for him.
To be fair, it's not 100% sure that Mu had the best kick in the field. Moraa has shown the ability to produce devastating kicks in her races this year and even in 2022. She has 50.38 400m speed from this year which I'm not sure a current Athing Mu could replicate given she ran a 4:03 1500 at USAs.
Which is why Mu will have the best kick. Kicks come from strength not speed.
Reality is you need to adapt. In fast races, going to the back works well. If they go out in 56, hanging back works. In slow races (they go out in 60), it doesn't as you end up with too much traffic.
Mu has speed but not a real kick. They are different things.
You don't need a coach to run like Dave Wottle. In theory, it's not too difficult to understand how to run from the back in the first lap and slowly wind up your kick in the next 300 metres before letting it all loose on the home stretch.
Yeah - "in theory". So who else has won like that since '72?
Olys 21.... 57.8, 155.22 Mu leads wire to wire, comfortable win...
WCs 22... 58.11, 156.22 Mu 2nd on outside first lap, takes the lead with 250 to go, very close win...
WCs 23. 56.07, 156.61 Mu pushes the pace to fast, is passed easily final 50m...
The problem is her strategy, she went out too fast. I bet she could still run 155.5... with better pacing...
I'm just saying the competition is better, she needs to be a tactician to win. You can't try to lead wire to wire unless you're dominant and she obviously isn't anymore...
Canada’s Marco Arop went from last at the bell to first at the finish to win the men’s 800m, improving on his bronze from last year#nbcsports #marcoarop #tra...
Emmanuel Korir turned on the jets with about 200m to go, rallying past Canada's Marco Arop into first for the World Title in the men's 800m. Due to technical...
I do not recommend Wottling for Mu. Or anyone in an 800, for that matter. Too risky.
I have not seen much of a kick, or fast change of pace. Rushida should be more her style, or El Caballo.
In any case, people forget 1972. Sure, in the 800, DW got very lucky that he got a clear run through the field in the last 150 or so. Many times he would have been blocked to some extent. He should actually have won by more. Remember also his head-waiter strategy backfired in the heats (or semi) of the 1500 in Munich. He should have at least made the final (although that was not his best event and I doubt he would have medalled).