dudd wrote:
It works if you assume the relative depth is the same, but the argument can be made that men’s running is much deeper.
I think it’s worth to compare to the world records (taking Jelimo’s 1:54) the assumption that both are relatively comparable quality is safe.
Proportionally:
1:40-*1:45*
1:54-2:00
12:37-*12:53*
14:11-14:30
Two methods giving a range of 1:45-1:46, 12:50 to 12:53.
Good starting point. Closest is Lagat at 1:46 and 12:53. After that, just finding 800m performances is a challenge. El G 12:50 and 1:47. Haile G at 12:40 and 1:49i. Sangok has a 12:50 and 1:50.
Baumann 1:48 12:54
Aouita 1:43.8 12:58
Moorcroft 1:46 13:00
And one reason for finding these marks is that men's running is deeper, so fewer are running good 800 and 5000m. Another reason is that women's 800m is more aerobic, so one does not need such specialized athletes for the event. I think the range you gave is close enough although I believed that the top women's 800m marks (ca. 1:53-55.x) are really suspicious and therefore proportionality to the WR is problematic. But as you have shown, it's not a big difference for the estimates in practice.