He did not set off at world record pace. You can't just take the 1st 200m x 4 as the 1st 200m is nearly always run faster than the rest of the pace. He was probably just trying to disrupt Hoey who likes to front run
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I don't understand why so many people are cosigning his tactics against a proven superior runner this indoor season, as if he had a chance of beating Hoey. Regardless of what Brandon thought he wasn't beating Hoey INDOORS but he did beat himself.
Miller has had a long history of poor tactics in races. He has plenty of heart and is not afraid to race hard, but racing smarter is what is holding him back. And unfortunately he doesn't have a head coach who gets it. Danny's mindset is to have his athletes do exactly what Miller did, but they almost always fail. And the "assistant coach" who travels with the team is an embarrassment. The dude is clueless and walks around like he is "the man". He only is the "assistant" because he was Kerr's friend. No experience, no knowledge, no clue. The Brooks Beasts have a very long history of mediocrity and that is due to Danny. Sure, Kerr speaks well of Danny but Kerr is a loyal dude. Kerr would be running just as fast with almost any coach. Miller needs to get with a coach that can instill discipline to his running tactics. Sad for him..
Brandon Miller and Matt Boling need to be fitted with shock collars. If they go out under 52 or 22 respectively, they get a jolt that sends them to their knees. It is literally the last thing that might teach them how to pace a race.
Both could be so much better if they could learn basic pacing.
Besides taking off at world record pace from the gun, the tactic Brandon Miller decided on was beyond bizarre. Josh Hoey was already run a fast 400m of 50 mid and Miller sitting in third makes a hard push to take over first in less than 40 meters and only held the lead 80 to 90 meters.
Regardless of what Gault says on his podcast that was dumb. Miller explanation, "I was running for Gold". Sure you were Einstein against a guy NOONE in the world beat indoors this year, broke 3 American records, and owned you at USA. What you did was almost cost Hoey a Gold and you almost certainly cost yourself a medal. Pat yourself in the back... MISSION NOT ACCOMPLISHED
He went for the win and came up short. I’ve seen it happen many times. It’s an individual sport and he didn’t significantly hinder Hoey, anyway.
Thos was the day that Hoey could have lost had Miller sat back. Hiey ran slower than expected due to going out too hard.
First race where Hoey actually looked mortal, again this is an 800m race, people lose. Idk what all these "he had no chance of winning" takes are coming from. Miller is an Olympian and world medal threat, get over it. But tactically he definitely could've came up with a win had he sat on Hoey until 100-200m to go, and at worst he comes away with a medal. I'm starting to really dislike the world indoor hate, it's becoming more forced than before. Medals here matter, Erik Nadeau's '95 1500m indoor bronze still matters to us in Maine, by the way it was behind El Guerrouj.
Brandon rolled the dice on a different tactic to try and beat Hoey. I admire his audacity, confidence and effort. It didn't work out, but at least he didn't let Hoey do what he had been doing all year long, leading from the gun and outrunning everyone. Who knew how Hoey would respond? Anything can happen when the deck gets shuffled. Hoey responded and performed very well. Fantastic. However, Brandon went for the gold and there is NEVER anything wrong with that.
That's the rosy view of it. Last year he nearly missed the Olympics because he decided on the exact same move on Hoppel at 300 to go and then after being rebuffed he bafflingly ran the entire curve in lane 2. He was delusionally thinking he was going to beat a superior kicker in Hoppel running extra distance. Hoey ironically almost came from nowhere to take the spot because of all that wasted energy from Miller. Kessler beat him as a result.
I'd argue neither second part of the moves (going by Hoey instead of tucking in and blocking Crestan, continuing his failed pass on Hoppel on the turn) at all helped his chances of winning . This isn't to say disrupting a frontrunner is bad, but just context and your own fitness matters. Both times he just didn't know when to stop when taking on a superior athlete. His thought process was somewhat there in both instances, but he was just doing way too much. The time to pass Hoey was later. The time to try to outkick Hoppel was in the last 150 after failing to get the pole.
Brandon is actually hurting himself with his tactics. In the 800m you don't want to enter the home straight being the athlete who is fading the most....
Regardless of what Gault says on his podcast that was dumb. Miller explanation, "I was running for Gold". Sure you were Einstein against a guy NOONE in the world beat indoors this year, broke 3 American records, and owned you at USA.
^ Spoken like somebody who has never run for the win in...anything.
In a race environment, and certainly in the 800m, you don't feel good, believe in yourself and say "Gosh, this guy has a great record indoors this year and beat me at another meet; I'll stay behind him."
Sometimes you don't have as much as you think you do, and that is part of the 800 perhaps more than any other race. Guys who can run a 21-point 200 will coming home over 30.0 in a misjudged 800. It happens.
I agree that it was a bad pacing decision. But to say that he should have mentally ruled out a chance at winning and effectively run for second is just bad commentary.
Besides taking off at world record pace from the gun, the tactic Brandon Miller decided on was beyond bizarre. Josh Hoey was already run a fast 400m of 50 mid and Miller sitting in third makes a hard push to take over first in less than 40 meters and only held the lead 80 to 90 meters.
Regardless of what Gault says on his podcast that was dumb. Miller explanation, "I was running for Gold". Sure you were Einstein against a guy NOONE in the world beat indoors this year, broke 3 American records, and owned you at USA. What you did was almost cost Hoey a Gold and you almost certainly cost yourself a medal. Pat yourself in the back... MISSION NOT ACCOMPLISHED
It’s amazing to me how many people don’t understand racing isn’t as simple as run straight turn left. I said to my teammates at home, there’s only one shot that anyone has at beating Josh MF Dopey. That chance only came if they handed him a different race than what he’s had this indoor season. Brandon ALMOST did it but he didn’t fully commit to having the lead. Brandon had been accelerating for about 150 before he actually got the lead then lost it as fast as he gained it which was the actual problem. Maybe that move works outdoors, you never know unless you try. Brandon saw Hoey hold off a stronger Hoppel in the last 200 and the same waiting around for Hoey to blow up strategy didn’t work so what did you as the spectator want him to do? Try not to win? Racing is about competing and trying to win. I think Brandon’s approach of trying to win had huge upside if it worked. I would be pissed myself if I just sat back and tried to get a silver and had that “what if” factor looming over my career. This is why track and field fans are weird. You’re unhappy that he made a “dumb” move but you’d also be unhappy if he just sat in 4th and kicked to 2nd without really ever challenging for the win.
What he should have done was made the move and tucked in behind Hoey and waited til the last 100 150m and then try to win the race. No one has sat on Hoey in an indoor 800m this year and that could've affected Hoey....more than that move that Brandon couldn't sustain.
Besides taking off at world record pace from the gun, the tactic Brandon Miller decided on was beyond bizarre. Josh Hoey was already run a fast 400m of 50 mid and Miller sitting in third makes a hard push to take over first in less than 40 meters and only held the lead 80 to 90 meters.
Regardless of what Gault says on his podcast that was dumb. Miller explanation, "I was running for Gold". Sure you were Einstein against a guy NOONE in the world beat indoors this year, broke 3 American records, and owned you at USA. What you did was almost cost Hoey a Gold and you almost certainly cost yourself a medal. Pat yourself in the back... MISSION NOT ACCOMPLISHED
It’s amazing to me how many people don’t understand racing isn’t as simple as run straight turn left. I said to my teammates at home, there’s only one shot that anyone has at beating Josh MF Dopey. That chance only came if they handed him a different race than what he’s had this indoor season. Brandon ALMOST did it but he didn’t fully commit to having the lead. Brandon had been accelerating for about 150 before he actually got the lead then lost it as fast as he gained it which was the actual problem. Maybe that move works outdoors, you never know unless you try. Brandon saw Hoey hold off a stronger Hoppel in the last 200 and the same waiting around for Hoey to blow up strategy didn’t work so what did you as the spectator want him to do? Try not to win? Racing is about competing and trying to win. I think Brandon’s approach of trying to win had huge upside if it worked. I would be pissed myself if I just sat back and tried to get a silver and had that “what if” factor looming over my career. This is why track and field fans are weird. You’re unhappy that he made a “dumb” move but you’d also be unhappy if he just sat in 4th and kicked to 2nd without really ever challenging for the win.
I understand the questions re Brandon’s strategy choices, particularly surging multiple times in the race. However, the unspoken theme among all you critics of Brandon’s choice is that he was racing a superior runner that dominated everyone all season….simply no one was going to beat Hoey. Following your logic l, he should have sat on Hoey as best he could, kicked with 100 to go and…inevitably..finish second. But he made a split decision to change to chose a different path. He’ll process the race and consider what to do next time.
I understand the questions re Brandon’s strategy choices, particularly surging multiple times in the race. However, the unspoken theme among all you critics of Brandon’s choice is that he was racing a superior runner that dominated everyone all season….simply no one was going to beat Hoey. Following your logic l, he should have sat on Hoey as best he could, kicked with 100 to go and…inevitably..finish second. But he made a split decision to change to chose a different path. He’ll process the race and consider what to do next time.
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No he won't, he did the same thing at the Olympic Trials against Hoppel. It's not about conceding the win but knowing your capabilities and fitness and pushing to THAT LIMIT not beyond it and crashing in a major Championship. If that doesn't make sense to some of you, nothing will 😳
Miller has had a long history of poor tactics in races. He has plenty of heart and is not afraid to race hard, but racing smarter is what is holding him back. And unfortunately he doesn't have a head coach who gets it. Danny's mindset is to have his athletes do exactly what Miller did, but they almost always fail. And the "assistant coach" who travels with the team is an embarrassment. The dude is clueless and walks around like he is "the man". He only is the "assistant" because he was Kerr's friend. No experience, no knowledge, no clue. The Brooks Beasts have a very long history of mediocrity and that is due to Danny. Sure, Kerr speaks well of Danny but Kerr is a loyal dude. Kerr would be running just as fast with almost any coach. Miller needs to get with a coach that can instill discipline to his running tactics. Sad for him..
seems Miller is just coming into his own, and has to adjust to 142 `143 land.
not sure you can teach some guys, Coe loused up how many major finals? or had bad luck, or something?
Jonny Gray could not follow a pacer to save his life.
there were Nick Symmonds, Ovetts kid the russian, Wottle as all time great tacticians,
Ovett was a master at the 800, and with 21 sec 200m, have no clue why he did not specialize more in that, instead of going for deep into cross country training.