Yeah, Arop did not look good. Looked like he was out of gas after 600. Could barely move his legs on the homestretch.
I've been worried about Arop's chances all season to be honest... He really doesn't have much of a kick - at least not the ability to sprint like the other top guys. He tends to ratchet things up, and off a decently fast pace where the other guys can't keep up, he's fine. But he his turnover and knee lift has always been noticeably weak, and he just doesn't have the top end speed to beat the other top guys in a sprint. He frequently looks like he's running through molasses in the homestretch.
That was okay last year when his 1:42/low 1:43 was too quick for the field and few could stick with him at that pace. But that's not the case now. Arop is actually in better shape than he's ever been at this time of the year - but I'm not sure he has the wheels for sub or even low 1:42, and as we're seeing, that's necessary now.
I'm thinking he could sneak in for a bronze based on his ability to solo two relatively quick (1:43.xx) 800's at Canadian Nationals, and assuming he can handle the rounds as well or better than some of the other guys... but I'm not seeing anything higher. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't even make the final, unfortunately...
yeah he just looked atrocious running THAT 1:42 800M!!!!!!
It's not that he looked atrocious running that 1:42 (let's be honest - it was basically a 1:43) - but that he looked so OUTCLASSED running that 1:42/3. He looked like he was going backwards, and he had no answer whatsoever. He's clearly near the top of his game (running faster times earlier than he has in the past), but that doesn't appear to be enough - not even close, unfortunately...
I'm not sure what kind of race he'd need to win. In a slow race he gets destroyed by the guys who can sprint, even in a fast race nowadays the other guys are hanging right in there. So...?
yeah he just looked atrocious running THAT 1:42 800M!!!!!!
It's not that he looked atrocious running that 1:42 (let's be honest - it was basically a 1:43) - but that he looked so OUTCLASSED running that 1:42/3. He looked like he was going backwards, and he had no answer whatsoever. He's clearly near the top of his game (running faster times earlier than he has in the past), but that doesn't appear to be enough - not even close, unfortunately...
I'm not sure what kind of race he'd need to win. In a slow race he gets destroyed by the guys who can sprint, even in a fast race nowadays the other guys are hanging right in there. So...?
I think in a slower race he can show he can sprint. I forget which race last season but I recall he stayed at the back the first 500m and made his move with 300m to go and no one was close to living with his speed.
He does have a reasonably good 400m so he does have speed but i think he may need to reconsider his strategy of being at the front and holding on as obviously that is now a no go.
It's not that he looked atrocious running that 1:42 (let's be honest - it was basically a 1:43) - but that he looked so OUTCLASSED running that 1:42/3. He looked like he was going backwards, and he had no answer whatsoever. He's clearly near the top of his game (running faster times earlier than he has in the past), but that doesn't appear to be enough - not even close, unfortunately...
I'm not sure what kind of race he'd need to win. In a slow race he gets destroyed by the guys who can sprint, even in a fast race nowadays the other guys are hanging right in there. So...?
He has never had a great last 100 leading these races. Now that his competition is fitter that got greatly exposed. I think he will go to the drawing board and wait until 300 to go and make a huge move there and hold it. Would that beat Sedjati or Wanyonyi? Doubtful, but it might be enough to beat the rest IF it gets scrappy behind him.
It's not that he looked atrocious running that 1:42 (let's be honest - it was basically a 1:43) - but that he looked so OUTCLASSED running that 1:42/3. He looked like he was going backwards, and he had no answer whatsoever. He's clearly near the top of his game (running faster times earlier than he has in the past), but that doesn't appear to be enough - not even close, unfortunately...
I'm not sure what kind of race he'd need to win. In a slow race he gets destroyed by the guys who can sprint, even in a fast race nowadays the other guys are hanging right in there. So...?
He has never had a great last 100 leading these races. Now that his competition is fitter that got greatly exposed. I think he will go to the drawing board and wait until 300 to go and make a huge move there and hold it. Would that beat Sedjati or Wanyonyi? Doubtful, but it might be enough to beat the rest IF it gets scrappy behind him.
I tried to find the races where he didn't lead it out and based on the results, I'm not sure why he doesn't do it more often. Not the fastest times but shows he has a kick
Edmonton's Marco Arop beat Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Emmanuel Kipkurui Korir and silver medallist Ferguson Cheruiyot Rotich in the men's 800-metre race at th...