HS Junior John Lester runs 1:48.93 negative split (June 27)

The pacer is a 48 second 400 meter guy. How do you go out in 55 and then pull off? They should have had him out in 52.5 and pull into lane 2 and race as far as possible which probably would have been about 550.

The Pacer was a sprinter who probably didn't really know how to run sub-max or hit a split and took it way too easy on accident.

He looked at his watch at every 100.

We planned for Tomas to come through 400m between 52.5 and 53. Unfortunately, that didn't happen last night. Pacing is a hard job for people who are experienced at it and it was something that Tomas had never been asked to do before. John also could have said something or gone around, but he did not. So the time didn't come out the way that we hoped it would, but that's okay. It was a strong run anyway and John got to run the race differently than he usually does, when he goes out fast.

As for Tomas, he has helped John out a lot this season. The two provided motivation for each other as they continued their training on their own, and more recently, when guidelines relaxed, have completed some of their max velocity work together. So last night didn't go perfectly, but it was still good. And we appreciate Tomas' effort yesterday.

That’s a sick negative split tho. Big props to the young man

Maybe the wind affected him on the home straight. At any rate, this kind of negative split proves that Lester can run 1:46-47 this year with pros (which it seems he will not try) and that he should be able to go well under 4, as could Culpepper.

Quality neg split! At this age each time out is a learning experience. Basically equaled his pr the hard way.

Experts say when you negative split 800m your second lap is your true 800m pr pace. What’s 2(53.84)?

Who was the last sub 1:50 guy in the Bay(Cal and Stanford included)?

Wow. I guess he should have gone out in 65 to close in 50 which would make him a 1:40 guy using that silly math.

Sprinters make notoriously bad pacers. Better to have a miler running all-out, and moving to lane 2 at the 300 mark.

younger man wrote:

Wow. I guess he should have gone out in 65 to close in 50 which would make him a 1:40 guy using that silly math.

Interesting point and maybe he should give it a go. Running 50 after a 65 might not be as easy as it sounds. For most of us posters here it was “Child’s Play” when we were in peak fitness.

53.8 pace would put him at 1:47.6. Which is what the Wizard of Oz predicts before the time trial. A better opening 400 would be 51/52.

200 splits of 25-26-27-28.

Also- Paralysis by analysis as they say. His best will(and should) happen during competitions.

Just watched the video-

Looked like the rabbit slowed looking at his watch just before 400m.

Lester looks like he sits(in the bucket)when he runs.

Cool that Granville was out for support.

What are Lesters prs at 400 and 1600?

800m Expert wrote:

Experts say when you negative split 800m your second lap is your true 800m pr pace. What’s 2(53.84)?

What experts say that? Is there empirical evidence or anecdotal? I'm not asking because I doubt it's true but because:

1) I don't know, and it sounds like an estimate with high variability

2) I think knowledge like that if verified is extremely valuable.

If someone goes out in 60 and finishes in 56, can we really assume that they would run 1:52 with splits of 56/56?

labenis wrote:

That’s a sick negative split tho. Big props to the young man

Some of you are not particularly bright. Those splits are not that uneven and actually did not hurt his final time very much. I know, most fast 800 times are set with positive splits but that doesn't prove that a slightly negative split is a huge negative, so to speak.

cbenson4 wrote:

800m Expert wrote:

Experts say when you negative split 800m your second lap is your true 800m pr pace. What’s 2(53.84)?

What experts say that? Is there empirical evidence or anecdotal? I'm not asking because I doubt it's true but because:

1) I don't know, and it sounds like an estimate with high variability

2) I think knowledge like that if verified is extremely valuable.

If someone goes out in 60 and finishes in 56, can we really assume that they would run 1:52 with splits of 56/56?

It's not bro science. It's science, bro!

You got that correct. He does sit in the bucket. Good observation. He needs to work on running tall with his chest up. Pretty smooth otherwise. Its the small things. Keep up the good work!!!

How about the high school sophomore who ran a 4:09?

This guy will probably bust in college. Most highschool phenoms in the 800 do. Almost every single 1:49/1:50 guy that I've seen has not improved in college at all or will improve by .1 seconds only. Donavan Brazier is the only 800 specialist I've seen improve by bounds after highschool.

hansen9952 wrote:

This guy will probably bust in college. Most highschool phenoms in the 800 do. Almost every single 1:49/1:50 guy that I've seen has not improved in college at all or will improve by .1 seconds only. Donavan Brazier is the only 800 specialist I've seen improve by bounds after highschool.

Bryce Hoppel?

Yea sure. But that's not the point. 800m specialists are the easiest to burn out, the most unpredictable in performance, and the most reliant on talent to achieve success in their event. That's why I don't bat an eye at fast highschool kids in 800. Too precarious to know. Most likely to have peaked already.

The high school indoor 800 record went on to be the NCAA champ. Most 800 specialists have improved greatly in college. You are not only incorrect, the opposite is true.