It isn't the entire track that is short. The 1500m start line is off.
It isn't the entire track that is short. The 1500m start line is off.
sdveveavg wrote:
It isn't the entire track that is short. The 1500m start line is off.
Do you subscribe to the steeple line theory or do you think the 1500m line is mispositioned?
If the 1500m start was off, you would think that their first lap would have been significantly faster than the others. If you watch the video, their first lap was actually the slowest. Willis paced them with incrementally faster laps each lap, which is very rare, but the perfect way to get people kick like mad at the end of a fast race. Normally rabbits go out too hard the first lap, and then the race slows down, which is too much wasted effort. Merber was way back the first 3 laps too.
Merber is a monster competitor and he's a huge talent. If you had any idea what little he had done before he ran that 3:41 1500 a few weeks ago, you would be singing his praises. Once he gets on the right track again, he's going to be a very good professional runner. Definitely one with the capability of qualifying for a spot on a World/Olympic team someday.
Senor Senior wrote:
Merber is a monster competitor and he's a huge talent. If you had any idea what little he had done before he ran that 3:41 1500 a few weeks ago, you would be singing his praises. Once he gets on the right track again, he's going to be a very good professional runner. Definitely one with the capability of qualifying for a spot on a World/Olympic team someday.
about as much capability as my left testicle which was removed seven years ago after an accident with the lawn mower
Random stat
3:37 flat would get you a medal in every National Outdoor Champs this century save last year when it took 3:36.7.
serious bro wrote:
about as much capability as my left testicle which was removed seven years ago after an accident with the lawn mower
That must be why you have the "balls" to rip on a great person and runner anonymously on an internet forum.
rojo wrote:
The runner-up in Merber's fast race at Swarthmore - Jordan Williamsz of Nova - also didn't make it.
That Swarthmore race was just crazy.
A prominent coach told me, "Throw out your PR. It doesn't count." Sort of like in stats, throw out the highs and lows, and what not.
I've done osme research along those lines. 4 of the top 5 at Swarthmore last year ran huge liftime PRs in that race. I list them below with their next best time last year and then their times from this year if it's better than their next best time.
1 Kyle Merber USA 3:35.59 - next best time 3:42.49 (3:41.63 this year)
2 Jordan Williamsz AUS 3:36.74 - next best time 3:39.91.
3 Nate Brannen CAN 3:36.77 - had lead but tied up and ran 3:34.22 later in year.
4 Sam McEntee AUS 3:36.81 - next best time 3:42.33.
5 Liam Boylan-PettUSA 3:37.05 - next best time 3:39.65 (3:38.26 this year)
Merber's the man on twitter though and certainly better than a 3:41 guy in my mind. He'll be back.
That's the only time trial 1500 that McEntee has ever run in college, and Williamsz hasn't run any fast 1500s this season either. Going strictly on time to support your claim is flimsy at best, because this was a rabbited race.
I'm really surprised no one has mentioned the true reason why this track is so fast. It is perfectly situated. It is sunken down in a gully with a hill that surrounds half of it, with another quarter blocked by bleachers and trees and the final quarter blocked by a building. The track is literally built down into the ground and is blocked from wind. If you go there on a calm day the wind will be minuscule. That plays a huge factor in times, look at tracks like Monaco where fast times are routinely run because of the favoring winds.
It's also run during the time of the year when most kids are in the best shape.