Ten years ago Genzebe closed 1500’s in 1.56, as did Sifan and I believe Faith too? Or am I drunk? If someone could dig up the last 800 from Rio and also worlds in 2015 that would be great. Cheers
Hassan had greater range that any other runner in history--elite from 800 m to marathon. She seemed to have similar strength and closing speed to Kipyegon. If she decided to specialize in shorter middle distance instead she likely would have been more of a threat to Kipyegon and potential WRS but instead decided to test the limits of human endurance--both are great in their one way. You could argue that Kipyegon is the counterpart to El G but there is no male counterpart to Hassan and perhaps Said Aouita is closest in terms of range.
She is 31 and has accomplished everything possible in the 1500. The next WC is in 2 years and 3 until LA.
Now where does she turn her focus? Take another crack at the 3000 and 1000 next year? If she moves up in distance in '27 she will be 33 and have to face her friend, Chebet in her prime. Does she just keep running the 1500 until there is someone that can finally beat her?
Personally, I would love to see her attempt world cross or a HM next year. It would really cool to see her race Hassan again, but in a marathon.
These shorter events are more influenced by testosterone output and brute strength/power than the longer--hence the nonlinear differential in performance by gender. As an example, for guys, a 2:00 800 m and 4:30 mile are basically equivalent. For women, anything under 2:00 in borderline world class whereas 4:30 mile is a strong D 1 time these days. Perhaps, improved shoe technology also helps with longer distances for woman more.
Bannister actually ran 1:50.7 for the 800 (don’t try to duck and convert to 880 lol) and 48.0 for a 440y relay leg (48 legs on numerous occassions). He just wasn’t serious about the 800 as his career progressed. No need to downplay how quick he was compared to most milers back in the day.
The comparison is with his and Halberg's mile times. Halberg was faster over the mile - 3:57x - than Bannister but still only a 1:52 runner over the half. (If Bannister had been a half-miler he would have specialised over the distance. He wasn't.) Halberg, too, was a miler/3 miler as Kipyegon is. She is nearly 10 secs slower over a mile (and 1500 - he ran 3:38x). She doesn't get near 1:52 for the 800.
So you're confirming what I said. You think she's over a second faster than Kratochvilova over 800, whose record still stands more than forty years later.
I'll give you an alternative reference point. Bannister, who ran 3:58-high for the mile, ran 1:52 for the half. Halberg ran 3:57-mid and he also was a 1:52 runner over the half. She doesn't get near them over the 1500/mile. She's a 4:07 miler. I doubt she gets below 1:56.
I've got thousands of other references of 4:06/1:52 runners. You are picking those examples? For example, if you want to go with one-offs, I was a 1:54 guy in HS. My 1600 PR was 4:11. If I could have run 4:06 I would have been 1:51-1:52. Yes, for your other part, I agree the current 800m WR holder was to the gills. I'm not arguing doping - yes they are doping - but to say a 4:06/3:48 runner can only run 1:56 is just absurd.
College athletes aren't a valid comparison with the best over those distances - male or female - in their eras. I pointed out the some of the best male md runners in history who ran in the low 1:50's for the 800 were well inside 4 mins for the mile. They weren't 4:06 runners, but 3:57/58. Kipyegon is a top endurance athlete, as they were. If she was capable of 1:52 she would have competed in the event, because it would have destroyed every other female md runner. So she runs the 5k as her other event.
Hassan had greater range that any other runner in history--elite from 800 m to marathon. She seemed to have similar strength and closing speed to Kipyegon. If she decided to specialize in shorter middle distance instead she likely would have been more of a threat to Kipyegon and potential WRS but instead decided to test the limits of human endurance--both are great in their one way. You could argue that Kipyegon is the counterpart to El G but there is no male counterpart to Hassan and perhaps Said Aouita is closest in terms of range.
Kipyegon is far and away more accomplished than Hassan. 1000m thru 5000m its all Kipyegon.
The move to longer distances was necessary for Hassan.