Arop was out super slow, maybe he had a minor injury recently and wanted to play things safe? Plenty of time to close on the gap on wayonyi before worlds though
Maybe he just wanted to put himself in an unusual position and try out some tactics. 51.2/51.5 shows good fitness, at least. He didn't have a great race in Monaco last year either so i'm not too worried.
Why does Sedjati always start at the back, even last year? I have to wonder if he is genuinely just timing his kick perfectly every time or if he has left the WR on the table in multiple races
Arop was out super slow, maybe he had a minor injury recently and wanted to play things safe? Plenty of time to close on the gap on wayonyi before worlds though
I remember when Brazier started near the very back in one of the diamond leagues then caught Nijel Amos the last 50 for the win. You can get away with a back then but you can’t do that in this era with so many guys running low 1:42 or under.
Why does Sedjati always start at the back, even last year? I have to wonder if he is genuinely just timing his kick perfectly every time or if he has left the WR on the table in multiple races
He closed in 12.7 just now, not especially fast in comparison to everyone else or anything. I think he just stays further away from his threshold than some of the people he passes in that last 100 by not burning the first lap.
Here's a wild stat for you: Sedjati and Bol both ran their final 100m faster than their first 100m.
Sedjati: first 100m in 12.8, last 100m in 12.7
Bol: first 100m in 12.9, last 100 in 12.7
Craziness.
before some letsrunners say it: bicarbs has just ruined the sport...
I don't know if I can get on board with the sentiment that bicarb (or spikes, or any other kind of legal 'enhancement') has ruined the sport, but it certainly has changed it.
Arop was out super slow, maybe he had a minor injury recently and wanted to play things safe? Plenty of time to close on the gap on wayonyi before worlds though
Maybe he just wanted to put himself in an unusual position and try out some tactics. 51.2/51.5 shows good fitness, at least. He didn't have a great race in Monaco last year either so i'm not too worried.
He was in last place through 400 in the Paris final and ran his 1:41.20 PB, 0.01 from the gold. I think triplethreshold is right on the money that he “outsmarted himself” in this one—larger field and larger deficit in today’s race than in Paris, and it didn’t work out.
I really do think if he makes it to the front at USAs it’ll be much harder to get around him even if he ties up bad. Kinda saw it indoors, though that’s a lot harder to pass anyway. May be ugly, but it helps him there.
By the way, Bella Whittaker uses Bicarb before her 400m races, so I assume most other 400m ladies do as well (no one wants to get left behind!), in case anyone is wondering if it's had an impact on that event.