So if these Arizona folks can hold a full-fledged, semi-normal meet with more than 300 kids, why can't USATF or World Athletics hold a semi-normal meet?
So if these Arizona folks can hold a full-fledged, semi-normal meet with more than 300 kids, why can't USATF or World Athletics hold a semi-normal meet?
The Floyd wrote:
I love Lester's potential, but the idea that he was any better than 4:08 in that race is silly. They went 2:02.7 off about 60/63 through 800 (not 880) with Lester behind the first pacer, and Lester then only led from 800 to 950, and ran in the outside of lane 1 through that next turn. In other words, it was perfect pacing for him to run that "4:05 or maybe better," and he managed 4:08. Incredible run for him, but let's not get carried away here.
rabbitt wrote:
Lester ran his 4:08 PR while rabbiting for Daschbach's sub 4. He led from 800 to 1000 and then moved over into lane 2 and stayed there around the curve while the others went by in lane 1. He had a couple surges first to get in position to rabbit and then to get out of the way as Boyden was on his shoulder. If he was running his own race he could have gone 4:05 or so. Maybe better.
I wouldn't discount that he couldn't have gone faster then and certainly now.
Several considerations:
-Speed matters in sub 4 realm and Lester has it, bigly.
-He was and is way less experienced than his peers and was a rabbit and specifically the second rabbit.
-Had he just ran his own race and knowing his 1:48 low 800 speed, absolutely gets close to sub4. .... He could probably jog a 2:08 opening 809 and close a 1:53 or better and be close to sub 4 right now.
-Of note is how Lester actually seperated a bit from Cullpepper at 200 to go despite Cullpepper going full throttle in chase. Hard to tell from existing video but it doesn't appear until the last 30 meters or so that the gap starts to close.
Of even more impressive note. .....He has a total of 30 track meets under his belt (not including his 9 xc meets) Lots of them he ran sprint events only
Runner10287 wrote:
Lester. Heckuva baseball player too.
I would have been disappointed if zero letsrunners made this comment.
For those saying his XC times are weak... plenty of 800 guys don't even bother to run XC because they hate getting smoked. His XC times show that he has a ton of heart and is genuinely dedicated to his craft. He could easily just say "I am a 400 guy" and goof around with the sprinters all year like most talented 800 runners. I love it when 800 guys run XC.
I feel like Lester will ba Murphy type 800/1500 guy (not saying he will reach that level but he seems to have similar skills) After seeing his 48.75 in the wind I think he could definitely drop a 46 relay split.
T&F justice wrote:
So if these Arizona folks can hold a full-fledged, semi-normal meet with more than 300 kids, why can't USATF or World Athletics hold a semi-normal meet?
because it costs more to have world class athletes and if you can't have full on-site attendance you lose a source of revenue? And maybe they don't have time to set up TV coverage/rights which would be another source of revenue. Just guessing..
Forty six relay split? Are just just crazy.....stupid?
More evidence of why you should be running in compression shorts. If Cruz had them on too he could've won.
Tbbtg wrote:
Forty six relay split? Are just just crazy.....stupid?
Just need a coach that is quick with the stop watch annd 46.9 is probably doable:)
Giving a distance guy a running start in a 400m can really bring down his time. Murphy, as mentioned before, has a 47 400 but a 45 400 split
compression for power wrote:
More evidence of why you should be running in compression shorts. If Cruz had them on too he could've won.
wat
Give them a tailwind and downhill and they can go even faster. Who cares what somebody can split?
FYI, looks like Cruz is doing a sub-4 attempt with Matt Strangio: https://www.milesplit.com/articles/281812-we-might-not-have-seen-the-last-sub-4-of-2020-just-yet
Oh nevermind. Two different races -- Cruz is running a pro race July 12. He is also running a mile in Grand Junction CO on June 27 (there has never been a sub-4 in CO).
Strangio is doing a HS-only field. He may get some bites from somoene like Cole Sprout that didn't do it with Daschbach.
So do you run, like, marathons? wrote:
birdbeard wrote:
Culpepper is great but he suffers a bit from Robbie Andrews-itis. Just sits way too far back in the field and then has too much ground to make up in the last 150-200 in the mile/800. He was coming in hard. I think Cruz could run 1:47.XX based on that finish. Just needs to commit to going out harder.
Oh shut up. I hate know-it-alls like you. He ran perfect splits in that race. He is in 1:48 shape, not 1:47.
I suggest this guy go back and watch some Robbie Andrews races where he was 30m or more back with 200 to go. He was often not even in the picture at the bell and sometimes even so with 1/4 or less of the race remaining.
Cruz sat in 3rd through the bell and lost 10m on the back stretch before making up 5m of the 10m on the home stretch. He just got beaten by a better 800m guy.
the kid from florida ran a 4:09 and is a sophmore?
looks like Lester is running in Strangio's attempt, and they'll have a collegiate pacemaker... that'll be interesting.
Don't discount how difficult it is to rabbit and then finish the race. Lester has a lot more headroom in the mile.
To break 4 at Grand Junction (at approximately 5,000 feet of elevation), Cruz would have to be in at least 3:56 shape. Not sure why he chose to run there.
speedy bois wrote:
To break 4 at Grand Junction (at approximately 5,000 feet of elevation), Cruz would have to be in at least 3:56 shape. Not sure why he chose to run there.
If his goal is to run the first sub-4 in Colorado, there are not many places lower.
He's doing a race with the rest of the Bosshard group, with Nick Harris, Morgan Mcdonald, and Trip Hurt. Probably going for the colorado solid HS record.
Jgt11 wrote:
He's doing a race with the rest of the Bosshard group, with Nick Harris, Morgan Mcdonald, and Trip Hurt. Probably going for the colorado solid HS record.
Should have no trouble breaking 4:10.98 with that group ahead of him.
I don't think Sprout's 4:07.2 will count. I would think Cruz could better that as well, though.