Ajee looks as lean as I've seen her in a while. Rumors of her demise were premature.
True but Ajee certainly had the advantage of chasing Athing. Athing is now the target and Ajee and the others just try to keep up. Yesterday Ajee was able to keep up and the race was about as exciting as anything we saw at the meet.
In Pre last year where Mu broke the American record for the second time and the closest person to Athing Mu was Kate Grace who ran 1:57.66. Keely was in that race too. She ran 1:58.30.
In Pre last year where Mu broke the American record for the second time and the closest person to Athing Mu was Kate Grace who ran 1:57.66. Keely was in that race too. She ran 1:58.30.
That was after travelling from Japan to England and then to Oregon with very little time to adjust. I wouldn't read too much into that one.
Since January 2021, here is how many times each woman has run under 1:58.
7 - Athing
6 - Keely
2 - Ajee
And keep in mind that the only reason that Athing has "only" seven times under 1:58 is that she focused on the 400 both indoor and outdoor during college, and she didn't run that many 800's until after outdoor NCAA nationals.
So I'm not sure why some of you think that Ajee has a good chance at beating either one of them at Worlds.
Ajee is an experienced racer, so anything is possible. But the odds are not in Ajee's favor.
Ajee wasn’t healthy last year so who cares. That she ran a sub-1:58 in a mixed race while being about 85% is a good thing. She just closed in 29.0 in a 1:57.2 race, that is indicative of strong form. She’s run under 1:57 and 1:56 before so it’s not like Keely has touched times she can’t. Mu at her peak has done more impressive races in the Olympics/‘21 Pre than any of them, but we’ll see if she reaches that level this year with COVID/injuries hitting.
Now we know why Mu has been avoiding Keely since Tokyo.
Mu started training much later this year than she did last year. And this year she has had Covid TWICE. So she certainly isn't in as good of shape as she was this time last year.
I think that Mu was smart not to run against Keely until Mu was in better shape, because Keely could have probably beaten her.
But Mu should be able to run 1:56 low at Worlds. Can Keely do the same? I'm not sure but it will be a good race.
Since January 2021, here is how many times each woman has run under 1:58.
7 - Athing
6 - Keely
2 - Ajee
And keep in mind that the only reason that Athing has "only" seven times under 1:58 is that she focused on the 400 both indoor and outdoor during college, and she didn't run that many 800's until after outdoor NCAA nationals.
So I'm not sure why some of you think that Ajee has a good chance at beating either one of them at Worlds.
Ajee is an experienced racer, so anything is possible. But the odds are not in Ajee's favor.
Ajee wasn’t healthy last year so who cares.
It's not just about last year. Ajee Wilson didn't break 1:58 at all in 2020, and she only went sub 1:58 two times in 2019, with her fastest time in 2019 being only 1:57.72.
Ajee Wilson's last great season was all the way back in 2018. Even if she runs as fast as she did in 2018, that still won't be as fast as Mu and Keely ran last year.
Ajee is very talented, but she is up against two runners who are even more talented.
Athing Mu basically did the same thing but from New Jersey to Oregon tho.
You have no idea! When Keely arrived back in the UK she was met with media storm the likes of which Athing will never know. She was on the front page of a number of national newspapers. She was interviewed on national TV stations a number of times. She was the subject of a number of photo-shoots and then there was the national controversy when TV personality Piers Morgan ( who used to be on a US talent show) asked why the media was making so much fuss about an athlete who only came second. The whole media thing must have been so draining, and, again, if Athing goes on to win a number of gold medals she won't attract a fraction of the attention Keely received and so it's amazing that after all that Keely could even raise a bit of gallop in the post-Olympic meet in Eugene
Athing Mu basically did the same thing but from New Jersey to Oregon tho.
You have no idea! When Keely arrived back in the UK she was met with media storm the likes of which Athing will never know. She was on the front page of a number of national newspapers. She was interviewed on national TV stations a number of times. She was the subject of a number of photo-shoots and then there was the national controversy when TV personality Piers Morgan ( who used to be on a US talent show) asked why the media was making so much fuss about an athlete who only came second. The whole media thing must have been so draining, and, again, if Athing goes on to win a number of gold medals she won't attract a fraction of the attention Keely received and so it's amazing that after all that Keely could even raise a bit of gallop in the post-Olympic meet in Eugene
I guess that's one advantage of track not being a major sport in the US.
And look at what Emma Raducanu has had to deal with in the UK after winning the US Open. Doesn't look like fun. (Although at least the money is good.)
I mean, I know, I live in England. Also, track isn't really that big here, we have a couple of stars, mostly Mo and Dina, but I don't think many people would recognise someone like Josh Kerr, for example. I guess I do remember seeing KJT on a yoghurt ad once.
It's not just about last year. Ajee Wilson didn't break 1:58 at all in 2020, and she only went sub 1:58 two times in 2019, with her fastest time in 2019 being only 1:57.72.
Ajee Wilson's last great season was all the way back in 2018. Even if she runs as fast as she did in 2018, that still won't be as fast as Mu and Keely ran last year.
Ajee is very talented, but she is up against two runners who are even more talented.
Again who cares? In 2019, the DSD athletes were out so she front-ran and just ran to win with nobody else with a sub-1:57 ceiling. 2020 pandemic, 2021 she was hurt. She is getting to her 2017-19 form which is 1:55 mid -sub 1:57 and while Hodgkinson/Mu are more talented, the 800 is a fickle event. Look at Emmanuel Korir in 2021 if you want to count a big talent for a couple of down years with the Pandemic/injuries.
My version of a story from years ago that relates. So years ago a guy names Noah Ngeny kept racing a guy names Hicham El Guerrouj and losing and losing. Never scaring Hicham. And then came the Olympics, Sydney, and Ngeny trained to make the surprise move and it worked. Gold. Almost like the early losses were intentional.
This was a great move by Wilson, and against most others she wins. But now the surprise is gone. Or is it?? I can’t wait to watch and find out. 😀
"Wow. Ajee ALMOST beats Athing Mu. Great women's 800!!! rojo"
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WOW as I nearly fell off my chair as my god as Ajee MF Wilson NEARLY beat A thing as she is a REAL stud as it was a GREAT race as I was watching it instead of my usual TV watching and hourly nap as I was SO excited !!!!!
My version of a story from years ago that relates. So years ago a guy names Noah Ngeny kept racing a guy names Hicham El Guerrouj and losing and losing. Never scaring Hicham. And then came the Olympics, Sydney, and Ngeny trained to make the surprise move and it worked. Gold. Almost like the early losses were intentional.
This was a great move by Wilson, and against most others she wins. But now the surprise is gone.
I thought the same thing. Ajee Wilson should have saved that move for Worlds.
Also, as Ajee herself admitted yesterday, she made the move too soon. Had Ajee passed Athing with 5 or 6 meters to go, Athing wouldn't have had time to respond. So that's two mistakes by Ajee.