YMMV wrote:
blargh wrote:
Interesting thoughts. I like the idea of shortening XC, there needs to be more races anyways, and more competitive ones for that matter. There's a reason high school XC is more fun to follow than NCAA. But I think inherently the 800m is a bit of a unicorn event in terms of real talent. Those 14 year olds that run sub 55 so rarely have the capability to ever run an actually elite mile. It's such a specific mix of disparate abilities to be a world class sub 1:45 800m runner. You have to be able to go sub 45 and sub 4. Brazier is obviously a once in 20-30 years talent, even more rare than a 3:55 high school miler. And to your point, I think the US is already a 800m country. Symmonds, Murphy, Berian, Brazier have all taken global medals in the last 6 years.
Murphy and Hoppel are of equal talent with Brazier. DB is just the Hot Hand at the moment.
Maybe Murphy when you factor in his 1500m speed. But when you factor in Brazier's 1500m speed I don't think so.