She improved to a time (1:55) that was really good but not beyond the bounds of what other non-PED using, no-DSD women have run. Werro just improved by nearly 2 seconds to a time that puts her in a line with renowned dopers. That's the difference
Thats true,but werro's high 1.53 is worth about a 1.55 flat on the track that olizarenko ran on at the moscow olympics. Slower track,and no super spikes.
Ok, but my point was that Keely's big jump put her in line with someone like A'jee Wilson, Werro's puts her a full 1-1.5 seconds faster than that in the company of dopers from the 80s. And returns tend to be diminishing and jumps smaller as athletes get closer to WR times. E.g. if a 100m guy went from 10.3 to 10-flat in a year, it'd be remarkable, but not crazy. If someone went from 9.9 to 9.6, eyebrows would be raised. It's just uncommon is all
Just saw an immediately post-race interview with Keely. Apart from the fact she showed a commendable and sporting attitude, she did say "..I don't think I did much wrong, but if I'd have know what she was capable of, I probably wouldn't have kicked at 300m to go..."
Better to find out in a Diamond League that a championship though...
That is an excellent quote by Keely. Her tactical instincts are never the greatest. It's one of the reasons she had so much trouble with Mary Moraa for several years. Heck, Moraa got into Keely's head as recently as last year's world championship final.
These days the Hodgkinson camp seems to believe that if she is capable of 1:55 or lower then the tactics don't really matter. That was proven wrong last year in Tokyo and again today.
Werro did a tremendous job of backing off during the third quarter. Her split from 400 to 600 was easily her slowest of the race. I always used to emphasize that on the Track and Field News forum. The conventional wisdom of pushing the third 200 is sheer idiocy. A frontrunner needs to establish at the bell then back off slightly. Moraa frustrated Keely several times using that tactic. Today Keely played right into Werro's hands by foolishly taking the lead on the backstretch even though the pacer was still full of run. That meant Werro was paced throughout. She never led one step of the race until the final 60 meters.
Once they turned for home the outcome seemed inevitable. Credit to Keely for unbeaten at 800 during 2024. Otherwise she tends to lose the close ones.
Now it's a matter of whether Femke Broeders-Bol will establish toward the 1:54-1:55 block or back toward that second wave at 1:57-1:58. I will be very surprised if Femke isn't quickly top tier. There is no comparison whatsoever in speed and ability level between Femke and her longtime teammate Eveline Saalberg. Femke is training specifically for 800 while Saalberg is splitting emphasis between 400 and 800. Today in Poland Saalberg set a personal best by 2 seconds while winning an 800 race in 2:00.30
This is being wise after the event. Going into the race, Werro had a 1:55.9 PB and Keely had smashed her up in Tokyo, Lieven, and at World Indoors. Werro had done nothing to suggest she could contend with Keely in a sub-1:55 race. Her tactics were correct with the information available. There's no way she could account for Werro making a a nearly 2-second leap.
Thats true,but werro's high 1.53 is worth about a 1.55 flat on the track that olizarenko ran on at the moscow olympics. Slower track,and no super spikes.
Ok, but my point was that Keely's big jump put her in line with someone like A'jee Wilson, Werro's puts her a full 1-1.5 seconds faster than that in the company of dopers from the 80s. And returns tend to be diminishing and jumps smaller as athletes get closer to WR times. E.g. if a 100m guy went from 10.3 to 10-flat in a year, it'd be remarkable, but not crazy. If someone went from 9.9 to 9.6, eyebrows would be raised. It's just uncommon is all
Yes i remember keely's huge jump back in 2021 i think it was. I just assume everyone at top level is a doper,no matter where theyre from. Its just part of sport,and It doesnt bother me.If you want to take drugs, knock yourself out. Im pretty sure theres no such thing as clean at olympic level.
That shouldn't be even up for debate. It's basically guaranteed that the top-3, or more, over any distance are doped. Otherwise, a similarly talented doper would take their place.
I just watched it - the first lap, she looked more comfortable than Keely. Speed reserve is the forgotten training focus over 800 (and 400).
I don’t think Keely looked comfortable all the way through. Whereas Werro looked relaxed.
I’m trying to figure out why. Too fast a first 100m? I know Werro’s 400m time is quicker so maybe the faster start doesn’t affect her as much. Was Keely tired from the 400m? Shouldn’t have been really. Or is she timing a London peak and has more to give?
Keely made the mistake of going too soon at 300m to go. And that wiped her out for the last 100m.
Wonder what her tactics will be next time with Werro?
I’m not sure if we’ve seen the splits yet on here but here we go:
H W 13.9 13.7
13.3. 13.3
14.3. 14.2
14.7. 14.6
14.5. 15
14.6. 14.8
14.3. 14.1
14.7. 14.2
So my thoughts are that Keely expended too much energy between 400-600 so had nothing left - particularly in the last 100.
Werro looks to have paced it perfectly and that slower pace through 400-600 allowed her to leave something for the final 200m. Which was clear looking at their faces.
I’m not sure if we’ve seen the splits yet on here but here we go:
H W 13.9 13.7
13.3. 13.3
14.3. 14.2
14.7. 14.6
14.5. 15
14.6. 14.8
14.3. 14.1
14.7. 14.2
So my thoughts are that Keely expended too much energy between 400-600 so had nothing left - particularly in the last 100.
Werro looks to have paced it perfectly and that slower pace through 400-600 allowed her to leave something for the final 200m. Which was clear looking at their faces.
Audrey did have the benefit of being paced for 700 metres, unintentionally by Keely between 500-700. It will be interesting to see Audrey's next Keelyless races to see how well she goes.
Kratochvílová record is primed to fall. Now that there's a true battle and legit competition between at least 2 women (Werro and Hodgkindson), they will push each other every time they race — this is the purest way for the record to fall — neither one watching the clock, per se, just wanting to beat the other. This has been the missing piece over the years — a single elite woman, but no real competition. It's a new day...and exciting new day!
That shouldn't be even up for debate. It's basically guaranteed that the top-3, or more, over any distance are doped. Otherwise, a similarly talented doper would take their place.
One incredible performance every week. The sport is quite a circus. The former head of WADA has effectively conceded that when he says antidoping is "ineffective".
This post was edited 1 minute after it was posted.
Yaa Keely knows it. Her post-race interview reveals it. But she is a champion and will handle this surprise defeat as such. The tactical plan was good given the data at the time, that was not much different than her plan at Lievin just a few months ago when she gapped Werro substantially before 600.
I agree that a solid 800 training block will reposition her with respect to the last 100 and in some ways, this training cycle keeps her fresher for the peak 800 later this year.
Werro ran an amazing race which should be the WR as I'm sure many reading this agree. But can she sustain this to peak later this year? Keely has shown great professionalism in peaking for the big events.
I also agree with other posters that this changes the tactical plans and could well result in slower overall times if Keely now hangs back from Werro from 400-600. Maybe it means the actual WR attempts - by both, now - will be conducted in the absence of the other.
That is an excellent quote by Keely. Her tactical instincts are never the greatest. It's one of the reasons she had so much trouble with Mary Moraa for several years. Heck, Moraa got into Keely's head as recently as last year's world championship final.
These days the Hodgkinson camp seems to believe that if she is capable of 1:55 or lower then the tactics don't really matter. That was proven wrong last year in Tokyo and again today.
Werro did a tremendous job of backing off during the third quarter. Her split from 400 to 600 was easily her slowest of the race. I always used to emphasize that on the Track and Field News forum. The conventional wisdom of pushing the third 200 is sheer idiocy. A frontrunner needs to establish at the bell then back off slightly. Moraa frustrated Keely several times using that tactic. Today Keely played right into Werro's hands by foolishly taking the lead on the backstretch even though the pacer was still full of run. That meant Werro was paced throughout. She never led one step of the race until the final 60 meters.
Once they turned for home the outcome seemed inevitable. Credit to Keely for unbeaten at 800 during 2024. Otherwise she tends to lose the close ones.
Now it's a matter of whether Femke Broeders-Bol will establish toward the 1:54-1:55 block or back toward that second wave at 1:57-1:58. I will be very surprised if Femke isn't quickly top tier. There is no comparison whatsoever in speed and ability level between Femke and her longtime teammate Eveline Saalberg. Femke is training specifically for 800 while Saalberg is splitting emphasis between 400 and 800. Today in Poland Saalberg set a personal best by 2 seconds while winning an 800 race in 2:00.30
This is being wise after the event. Going into the race, Werro had a 1:55.9 PB and Keely had smashed her up in Tokyo, Lieven, and at World Indoors. Werro had done nothing to suggest she could contend with Keely in a sub-1:55 race. Her tactics were correct with the information available. There's no way she could account for Werro making a a nearly 2-second leap.
Which ties in with exactly what she said after the race...
Nah,not my thing. I dont watch sport,except for occasional track and field.Thats it. Ill admit obviously doped athletes can be good to watch,but i wasnt interested in the enhanced games.I knew it would be a dud.
Sage haters must be starving right now. She opened her outdoor season with 1:58.1 in Rabat last week and followed up with 1:58.2 today in Stockholm. Solid, consistent, world-class. She looks ready to contend for USA 800m championship again this year. Roisin Willis is probably the current favorite for that, but I know Sage will make her work for it :)
1:58 isn't world class anymore.
Agree. It's more like national class. And newsflash - a lot of other women besides Willis who are faster or just as fast as Hurta who will be contending for the US 800. . M. Rose, A. Wiley, M. Paige, Jallow, Akins, MacLean and Congdon. Any one of those or all have a huge chance to beat Hurta.
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