Should be interesting to see who makes team USA now in the 400. Syd seems like a safe bet, Butler has shown solid form post NCAAs, Whittakers times have been getting slower but could be due to her training block. Though its tricky with an Arkansas athlete. I think Holmes will be 49.8 shape at USAs which might nap a spot if others falter, Irby-Jackson has recaptured her 2018 form but could be this years Kendall Ellis, Kaylyn Brown is in uncertain form. My dark horse that i would love to see make it is Britton Wilson. I will go with Syd, Butler, Wilson.
I don't think Syd is a safe bet to make the team, though the odds are certainly in her favor. Whittaker has been the standout for me this year from the DL circuit, although her times have been trending in the wrong direction. I'm curious if Gabby will decide to contest the 400 too because she could be a serious threat.
If I had to pick three out of a hat right now, I'd say SML, Butler, and Whittaker, but I wouldn't put a lot of money on any of them.
The compressed schedule at the US championships makes the 200m-400m double too difficult, so I don't think we'll see Gabby contesting the 400m.
Even without Gabby, the women's 400m at the US championships will be stacked with Sydney's addition to the field. There's a good chance someone will run sub-50 and not finish top 3. I'm not sure if that's ever happened at the US championships. I searched the results for the past 20 years and didn't see an instance of that occurring.
Although I'm someone who's said that sticking with her best event has been fine, I'll admit I'm excited to see what Sydney can achieve in the 400m if she focuses on it for the rest of the year. I was struck by her post-race comment at the Prefontaine Classic a couple weeks ago when asked if running the 400m without hurdles felt foreign to her. She said:
"Yeah, correct. Yeah, I'm so used to feeling like, 'OK, get to this certain hurdle at this pace,' and now I'm like, 'I don't know where I am,' you know. So it really is just different. But I'm learning."
She's already run 48.7x twice. It's exciting to imagine what she can do if she really nails her execution of the race while in championship shape.
I was wondering who was going to be the first person to make this dumb comment. LOL!!!
It might not be as facetious as you think. Bol’s form has been looking very good and it would tarnish her hurdle legacy to lose head to head with her. Doesn’t damage her as much to lose a 400 to Paulino. Do I think Bol IS a factor in this decision.
I was wondering who was going to be the first person to make this dumb comment. LOL!!!
It might not be as facetious as you think. Bol’s form has been looking very good and it would tarnish her hurdle legacy to lose head to head with her. Doesn’t damage her as much to lose a 400 to Paulino. Do I think Bol IS a factor in this decision.
Bol also looked good last year before the Olympics before flopping like a lawn chair at the finals.
IF LA 28 gold, sub 50, WR is the end game for SML, Bol is definitely not a factor. She will continue to be cannon fodder. Bol can be 2 time WC between now and then and SML will bury her AND all others alive in LA.
3 years is still a pretty long way off for both but IF SML is still on her game, LA is where she'll cement her already legendary status in Olympic history. Not in a DL Final or WC meet.
I don't think Syd is a safe bet to make the team, though the odds are certainly in her favor. Whittaker has been the standout for me this year from the DL circuit, although her times have been trending in the wrong direction. I'm curious if Gabby will decide to contest the 400 too because she could be a serious threat.
If I had to pick three out of a hat right now, I'd say SML, Butler, and Whittaker, but I wouldn't put a lot of money on any of them.
The compressed schedule at the US championships makes the 200m-400m double too difficult, so I don't think we'll see Gabby contesting the 400m.
Even without Gabby, the women's 400m at the US championships will be stacked with Sydney's addition to the field. There's a good chance someone will run sub-50 and not finish top 3. I'm not sure if that's ever happened at the US championships. I searched the results for the past 20 years and didn't see an instance of that occurring.
Although I'm someone who's said that sticking with her best event has been fine, I'll admit I'm excited to see what Sydney can achieve in the 400m if she focuses on it for the rest of the year. I was struck by her post-race comment at the Prefontaine Classic a couple weeks ago when asked if running the 400m without hurdles felt foreign to her. She said:
"Yeah, correct. Yeah, I'm so used to feeling like, 'OK, get to this certain hurdle at this pace,' and now I'm like, 'I don't know where I am,' you know. So it really is just different. But I'm learning."
She's already run 48.7x twice. It's exciting to imagine what she can do if she really nails her execution of the race while in championship shape.
It makes sense because while she can theoretically go faster than 50.3x in the hurdles, she's extremely close to her limit in that event while she (on paper) hasn't fully explored her limit in the flat 400 (48 low).
However, I'm surprised her and Kersee are taking this risk bc there's no guarantee she is even going to podium in the flat 400. She is probably the favorite for bronze behind Paulino and Naser but the truth is that Bukowiecka, Pryce, Butler, Whittaker, etc. are all capable of running sub-49 on a good day and Sydney will need to be in perfect shape to compete with that as her pacing in the flat 400 is extremely volatile.
OTOH, this is great news for Muhammad in her final season. Only has to beat one of Cockrell, Little, and Jones to make the team, whereas before she'd have to beat two of them. Also has a good chance of medalling in her final season as well, she's the fourth fastest this year behind Bol, SML, and Sutherland and it's unlikely Sutherland will hold her form from NCAAs until Tokyo
i don’t disagree with any of this, but syd kind of just has that “it” factor. she’s just so good. she makes it happen. i don’t expect her to win gold but she will medal and i wouldn’t be surprised if she did win gold.
also not really related but i hope her focusing on the 400 means she’s gonna run the mixed relay this year. i’m not holding my breath though.
The compressed schedule at the US championships makes the 200m-400m double too difficult, so I don't think we'll see Gabby contesting the 400m.
Even without Gabby, the women's 400m at the US championships will be stacked with Sydney's addition to the field. There's a good chance someone will run sub-50 and not finish top 3. I'm not sure if that's ever happened at the US championships. I searched the results for the past 20 years and didn't see an instance of that occurring.
Although I'm someone who's said that sticking with her best event has been fine, I'll admit I'm excited to see what Sydney can achieve in the 400m if she focuses on it for the rest of the year. I was struck by her post-race comment at the Prefontaine Classic a couple weeks ago when asked if running the 400m without hurdles felt foreign to her. She said:
"Yeah, correct. Yeah, I'm so used to feeling like, 'OK, get to this certain hurdle at this pace,' and now I'm like, 'I don't know where I am,' you know. So it really is just different. But I'm learning."
She's already run 48.7x twice. It's exciting to imagine what she can do if she really nails her execution of the race while in championship shape.
It may fall in the next 25 and 30 years but she is not the one likely to break it. Recall that mark i2 40 years old and nobody has even broken 48 flat and 47.99 is even a long way off 47.60
She's already run 48.7x twice. It's exciting to imagine what she can do if she really nails her execution of the race while in championship shape.
To be fair, in 2023 Sydney was all in on the flat 400m and her 48.74 at the US trials final that season was the result of her training and competing in the 400m that season (which included the super fast start test at the Paris DL where she lost to Paulino). She probably could have gone ~48.4 with optimal peaking at Worlds.
Considering her 400m performances last year (48.75 and 49.11) and her times this season (50.32, 49.69 and 49.43) it looks like she'll likely be able to get the US record, but has some serious work to do if she wants to beat a Paulino (48.17) and/or Naser (48.14).
It makes sense because while she can theoretically go faster than 50.3x in the hurdles, she's extremely close to her limit in that event while she (on paper) hasn't fully explored her limit in the flat 400 (48 low).
However, I'm surprised her and Kersee are taking this risk bc there's no guarantee she is even going to podium in the flat 400. She is probably the favorite for bronze behind Paulino and Naser but the truth is that Bukowiecka, Pryce, Butler, Whittaker, etc. are all capable of running sub-49 on a good day and Sydney will need to be in perfect shape to compete with that as her pacing in the flat 400 is extremely volatile.
OTOH, this is great news for Muhammad in her final season. Only has to beat one of Cockrell, Little, and Jones to make the team, whereas before she'd have to beat two of them. Also has a good chance of medalling in her final season as well, she's the fourth fastest this year behind Bol, SML, and Sutherland and it's unlikely Sutherland will hold her form from NCAAs until Tokyo
What does that mean? She hasn't run 48 low, it's 48.74 two years ago.
everyone totally freaked when she set current WR in 400h and everyone will totally freak when she wins WC 400m and runs the fastest clean time in history...47.74....bookmark it!!
It makes sense because while she can theoretically go faster than 50.3x in the hurdles, she's extremely close to her limit in that event while she (on paper) hasn't fully explored her limit in the flat 400 (48 low).
However, I'm surprised her and Kersee are taking this risk bc there's no guarantee she is even going to podium in the flat 400. She is probably the favorite for bronze behind Paulino and Naser but the truth is that Bukowiecka, Pryce, Butler, Whittaker, etc. are all capable of running sub-49 on a good day and Sydney will need to be in perfect shape to compete with that as her pacing in the flat 400 is extremely volatile.
OTOH, this is great news for Muhammad in her final season. Only has to beat one of Cockrell, Little, and Jones to make the team, whereas before she'd have to beat two of them. Also has a good chance of medalling in her final season as well, she's the fourth fastest this year behind Bol, SML, and Sutherland and it's unlikely Sutherland will hold her form from NCAAs until Tokyo
What does that mean? She hasn't run 48 low, it's 48.74 two years ago.
She's already run 48.7x twice. It's exciting to imagine what she can do if she really nails her execution of the race while in championship shape.
To be fair, in 2023 Sydney was all in on the flat 400m and her 48.74 at the US trials final that season was the result of her training and competing in the 400m that season (which included the super fast start test at the Paris DL where she lost to Paulino). She probably could have gone ~48.4 with optimal peaking at Worlds.
Considering her 400m performances last year (48.75 and 49.11) and her times this season (50.32, 49.69 and 49.43) it looks like she'll likely be able to get the US record, but has some serious work to do if she wants to beat a Paulino (48.17) and/or Naser (48.14).
Agreed. I was thinking more about global championship fitness. We've yet to see what Sydney can do in the 400m while in global championship shape, although we got a pretty good idea with her blazing 47.71 relay split last year.
Sydney will definitely need her best effort to beat Paulino and Naser, but it's worth nothing that Naser and Paulino have run under 48.5 "only" once each, and Naser hasn't done it since 2019. Paulino looked beatable in Monaco, just barely squeaking out a win over Aaliyah Butler by .03. I think Sydney can run in that 48.10-48.49 range in Tokyo, which should put her in contention for the win.
The other noteworthy thing about this is, if Sydney qualifies for the US team, she won't be favored against Paulino and Naser in Tokyo. It's been a long time since Sydney competed in a global championship as an underdog. It will be interesting to see how she does as an underdog rather than her customary role as the favorite.
I don't understand the disrespect levelled at Bol... "Mickey Mouse event" "lesser mortals" etc. She is the second fastest woman of all time, it just so happens she is competing at the same time as the fastest woman of all-time. In any other time she would be clear number one.
I find this choice by McLaughlin (Kersee...) extremely interesting. They obviously feel that training is showing something good in the flat, and we saw that in Sydney's frustration with her time at Pre. Taking the wind, times of others & silly pacing into account, it's likely she was in 49.0 form or faster then.
I don't see her having any issues qualifying for the team. As much as Butler is a super talent and capable of beating her, she has already run 28 races this season. Even if she Qs for Tokyo, Butler will be out of contention come September for sure. Whittaker can also put up a good fight, but I can't see 3 people beating her. Holmes DNS a race (or two?) so has obviously had a niggle. Thomas will run the 200m. Sydney shouldn't have any issue. It's in Tokyo where she has to worry, when she faces Paulino & Naser.
If for some bizarre reason Sydney went out too fast, or slow, and came 4th at Trials, there is no way she will hop on a place and run the 400mh at the DL to Q for the final. She would save face and draw a line under her season. As mentioned, she'd need to run both Silesia & Brussels, and win both, to Q for Zurich. She wouldn't be guaranteed a win in Brussels, practically a home meet for Bol. And no way is Kersee trapsing across Europe for 3 meets.
We know that Paulino & Naser are her biggest competition in Tokyo. As much as a talent others are, Buckowiecka simply isn't fast enough over 200m and Adeleke so far has been a big disappointment. Anning has had some niggles. Butler will be flat by then. Both Naser & Paulino have had an intensive, high level of performance start to the season. They will go into a block of training soon, and I've no doubt will come out fresh for Tokyo.