So I watch this 1500m and while it wasn't optimally paced for a truly fast time, someone needs to explain how that doesn't count as real "race" or "competition". Right there shows how the DL could structure use of wavelight to cater for record attempts but also create really competitive, solid races with still a high level of performance (3.31.XX is still a very good time).
I actually think this is kinda a DL problem…19 athletes rendered the 2 pacemakers useless with no natural frontrunners in the race. 17 with the wavelight as pacer would’ve been better. The first 5 seconds of the race were straight-up chaotic. The positives were the only reason we got the amazing result from Koech was the loose field size. So maybe it’s worth it, but it was a truly messy affair with Essayi giving Komen a massive shove among other moments. Easiest cuts were 3 Moroccans who were there b/c of DL politics, and then Ts hite has shown terrible form of late and Tanner hasn’t looked DL-worthy in a good stretch.
They should establish some field size rules like 10 racers in the 800 and 15 in the 1500, but I’m not holding my breath.
This post was edited 3 minutes after it was posted.
Sears ran 10.77 last year then got injured. I wonder if she's going to get back to that sort of speed and better. Some injuries you just don't recover from.
Dejeah Stevens: Didn't know she was still around after being banned for missing testing.
Cambrea Sturgis: Has not delivered after winning the NCAA 100/200M double a few years ago in a sub 10.9 time for the 100M (wind aided I believe).
So I watch this 1500m and while it wasn't optimally paced for a truly fast time, someone needs to explain how that doesn't count as real "race" or "competition". Right there shows how the DL could structure use of wavelight to cater for record attempts but also create really competitive, solid races with still a high level of performance (3.31.XX is still a very good time).
I actually think this is kinda a DL problem…19 athletes rendered the 2 pacemakers useless with no natural frontrunners in the race. 17 with the wavelight as pacer would’ve been better. The first 5 seconds of the race were straight-up chaotic. The positives were the only reason we got the amazing result from Koech was the loose field size. So maybe it’s worth it, but it was a truly messy affair with Essayi giving Komen a massive shove among other moments. Easiest cuts were 3 Moroccans who were there b/c of DL politics, and then Ts hite has shown terrible form of late and Tanner hasn’t looked DL-worthy in a good stretch.
They should establish some field size rules like 10 racers in the 800 and 15 in the 1500, but I’m not holding my breath.
Agreed. The runners ignoring the pacers and the lights is what made it a true exciting tactical race instead of a time trial.
I mean there needs to be a thread about this astronomical rise of Botswana from relative obscurity to where they are right now. I mean come on.
I thought I was the only one who was thinking that. There is something fishy going on there.
Pal , the same could be said of Norway which fast tracked distance and hurdles runners in record time, and Greece where a certain long jumper is leaping to heights that rival the invincibility of Carl Lewis and Bob Beamon...... out of nowhere.
I mean there needs to be a thread about this astronomical rise of Botswana from relative obscurity to where they are right now. I mean come on.
I thought I was the only one who was thinking that. There is something fishy going on there.
No - and it's slipped under the radar because everybody loves the new "Usain Bolt of Africa" Letsile Tebogo and that "feel-good" story post Olympics.
This is the last 3 seasons over 400m for that nation.
In 2022 they had 3 guys in the top 100 holding times of 44.87, 45.25 and 45.40. In 2023 they had 4 - 44.61, 44.80, 44.82 and 45.13. Their relay team went to Budapest and ran 2.59.42 in the heats to make the final as a time qualifier then ran basically the same time as India in the final (2.59.9) before being DQ'. In 24 they 5 guys inside the top 50 running 44.10, 44.22, 44.29, 44.54 and 44.99. They go to Paris and run the 3rd fastest relay in history at 2.54.53.
Over 800m in 2022 they have two guys inside the top 100. One of them is cheat (Nijel Amos) at 1.44.92, the other guy was Boitumelo Masilo at 1.45.74. In 2023 it's only one - Masalela at 1.44.03. Come 2024 it's 2 guys inside the top 25 at 1.42.92 (Masalela) and 1.43.94 (Haingura)
Masalela has taken his 1500m PR from 3.42.39 to 3.30.71 in one season. For some perspective, LRC messageboard friend Rashid Ramzi went from 3.39.30 to 3.30.25 back in his "breakout season". Haingura took his 1500m PR from 3.48 to 3.35 at Grand Slam Miami and yeah I get that he had barely raced the distance but that is still a very large drop for someone who clearly saw themselves as just an 800m specialist for their entire career.
Honestly the size of the country is what gives me pause. It’s 2.5 million. That’s smaller than Mississippi. This is not like Uganda which is a very large country (49 million) with altitude. This is either a random and unlikely talent boom or yes foul play has to be considered. Sepeng is the coach or former coach for the two 800m guys and Sekgodiso, and he was banned for Nandrolone late in his career…
On the 400m side a few train together with Tebogo, but the depth is crazy to have 3 guys sit out and still easily break 3 minutes.
Honestly the size of the country is what gives me pause. It’s 2.5 million. That’s smaller than Mississippi. This is not like Uganda which is a very large country (49 million) with altitude. This is either a random and unlikely talent boom or yes foul play has to be considered. Sepeng is the coach or former coach for the two 800m guys and Sekgodiso, and he was banned for Nandrolone late in his career…
On the 400m side a few train together with Tebogo, but the depth is crazy to have 3 guys sit out and still easily break 3 minutes.
You said size, but the figures you quoted represented populations. Jamaica's population is 2.8 million but it dominated the sprints in a 10 year stretch over the US with 340 million . Norway is 5 million plus but is light years ahead of China in distance running. China has a billion people and a bigger landmass . Tina Turner probably has a posthumous work coming out and it will be titled : What's landmass and population got to do with it ?
Same here. Isn't the Diamond League supposed to be some kind of high-falutin' international sporting organization? Their website absolutely sucks.
It’s insane that this is a continuing problem from meet to meet. Thousands of low key high school and college meets have perfectly functional up to the second live results, and the highest level of our sport is putting up a complete dud. Unacceptable.
MLB.com you can track the game pitch by pitch and it runs ahead of the actual broadcast feed. And pitchers have a 15 second pitch clock on them. And Track and Field wonders why they have a branding problem.
Tebogo is trash this year. Is there something wrong with him? Botswana's 4x4 might be cooked if Tebogo is not near his best and Ndori is now injured.
It’s May
The US is still focused on the NCAA - which peaks in a few weeks (look at what happened to Morales-Williams last summer). That World's isn't until September seems to not compute with this crowd - disappointed at the Grand Slam times in April!!
You said size, but the figures you quoted represented populations. Jamaica's population is 2.8 million but it dominated the sprints in a 10 year stretch over the US with 340 million . Norway is 5 million plus but is light years ahead of China in distance running. China has a billion people and a bigger landmass . Tina Turner probably has a posthumous work coming out and it will be titled : What's landmass and population got to do with it ?
It's more the depth I guess that gets me. Jamaica was pretty top-heavy and we all know the history, importance of Champs, use of the NCAA system, infrastructure etc. Were they ever really rolling 7-deep in the 400 like Botswana? Maybe in the 100, but there're plenty of doping bans in there. This Botswana thing has happened quite quickly. I'd love for it to be just a talent boom, of course.