It reaffirmed my concern with him in the 800m tactically. Since it was slow, this was more of a cagey affair where his usual tactic of going out slow through 150 and moving up in the field deliberately through 600, then kicking was hard to execute. He had to do some work to get into a decent spot by 500, but then everyone turned it on and he was boxed and didn't have an extra gear. No doubt without the 1500m in the legs maybe he could overcome that somewhat, but this was a semi that was tricky to navigate even for the experienced guys. Top 2+2 is a brutal system as is, and you either have to be a class above, luck into a heat with a frontrunner like Wanyonyi or run a great tactical race.
Excellent analysis. That’s another reason we should have had an 800 specialist in that spot. Someone who knows what they’re doing and who prioritizes that event.
Are you implying that the US Olympic Team shouldn’t allow any athletes to double?
I think the one a-hole on here is way off, and I think Thoughsleader is on this one as well. Tactics certainly are not the issue at all.The way he runs the 800 is the way he runs it.Even and closing.I think in this case it was the 5 races in 8 days and a PR by over 2 secs in brutal 1500 and then a race the next day around noon, just emptied the tank. To Hobbsy Jogger..oh give the spot to whom.someone like a.Brandon Miller..oh yeah, he ran real well. Please do not be ridiculous.There was no way he should have been a favorite to make a final here, and if he couldn't, certainly the other not very good U.S. 800M runners would not have either, and this is not some wild indictment, the rest are just not that good.3:31.x in 15 semis, 2 sec Pr in finals, getting out of prelims pretty solidly..that's all there was in this go around. I think a day before the 800 pre lims would have helped a little.
He earned his spot and made the semis! Any poster claiming to have any certainty Hoey or anyone else would do better is wrong. Tactically, we can agree to disagree, but to be clear I don’t think he ran poor tactically. I just think the way he runs it is a little less effective in the sort of 1:45.0 race we saw there. I don’t think it gave him the edge over his competitors like it does in a fast race. He didn’t fail to advance due to tactics, but they didn’t give him the leg up like they had in past situations vis a vis Miller at USAs.
It shows how difficult it is now to double in the 800/1500. Who else is doing it - from anywhere - and succeeding in these Games?
The issue isn't a double per se but the 800/1500. It isn't like any other. It looks to be out of reach of anyone currently.
Laros will do it in future games.
I doubt it. An athlete doesn't simply need to be good - they have to be completely dominant; utterly superior to their competitors in both events. Even Coe couldn't do it. The last was Snell in '64. He was a giant in his era.
I doubt it. An athlete doesn't simply need to be good - they have to be completely dominant; utterly superior to their competitors in both events. Even Coe couldn't do it. The last was Snell in '64. He was a giant in his era.
In hindsight - Makhloufi getting silver in 2016 in both the 800 and 1500 was one of the greatest Olympic performances ever. Only losing to Rudisha in the 800. The 1500 being run in 3:50 probably had something to do with saving his legs though.
I doubt it. An athlete doesn't simply need to be good - they have to be completely dominant; utterly superior to their competitors in both events. Even Coe couldn't do it. The last was Snell in '64. He was a giant in his era.
I doubt it. An athlete doesn't simply need to be good - they have to be completely dominant; utterly superior to their competitors in both events. Even Coe couldn't do it. The last was Snell in '64. He was a giant in his era.
I don’t know what your meaning is. There’ve been 800/1500 doubles since, just not double golds. I think Laros will have a medal chance in both, not saying double golds.
I doubt it. An athlete doesn't simply need to be good - they have to be completely dominant; utterly superior to their competitors in both events. Even Coe couldn't do it. The last was Snell in '64. He was a giant in his era.
I do not usually agree with you, but I kind of do on this post. It doesn't help that you have the prelim mid day after night blazing effort 15 Final.And this is not going to change for a while as 1500 guys right now, at least time wise are crushing it depth wise.I don't even think you can tweak your semi, Kessler ran 3:3.x in that almost his PR. The notion though by a couple on here, he should not have taken his spot? That is absurd. Hoey ran one event at the trial and could not beat Kessler, or even that close really. Miller was not good at these games and he was way better than others as well at Eugene, forget the extra race...that is on him and him only. Kessler was on his 5th today in 8 days and had to go back to back 15 into the 8.
I doubt it. An athlete doesn't simply need to be good - they have to be completely dominant; utterly superior to their competitors in both events. Even Coe couldn't do it. The last was Snell in '64. He was a giant in his era.
I don’t know what your meaning is. There’ve been 800/1500 doubles since, just not double golds. I think Laros will have a medal chance in both, not saying double golds.
You've just moved the goal posts. It's about winning the double, not just competing. It hasn't been done in 60 years.
I doubt it. An athlete doesn't simply need to be good - they have to be completely dominant; utterly superior to their competitors in both events. Even Coe couldn't do it. The last was Snell in '64. He was a giant in his era.
Snell was great but he had little competition.
True. He wasn't competing against the regiment of dopers that is the sport today.
As above. 5 hard races in his legs, runs sub 3:30 in the final of the 1500. Didn't have the zip he had in the earlier rounds. 800s are hard and the decisions you make are magnified by the speed of the race and the relatively short duration. I think he did this best he could with the legs he had and should be rightly pleased.
Was not a bad effort at all. 1:46.20 after a long ten days.
Did many here think Kessler would be in the 800m Final? Really?? I knew it was possible, but given the guy's workload in Paris, never thought he would see the championship race.
I was somewhat impressed by Miller coming back the day after the Rep heat and going 1:45.79 and staying competitive to the line. Would have been easy to slide out the back with 120m to go. I half expected that given the little time Miller had between efforts.
Both Jim W and Killian can whack out sub 30 min 10ks. A lot of strength and power is required to climb as quickly as they do. That David Roche is always banging on about strides, power and speed for elite ultra running. I'm sure they could take out the average giant American walrus in a sprint, probably whilst running backwards too.
Both Jim W and Killian can whack out sub 30 min 10ks. A lot of strength and power is required to climb as quickly as they do. That David Roche is always banging on about strides, power and speed for elite ultra running. I'm sure they could take out the average giant American walrus in a sprint, probably whilst running backwards too.