Melissa Bishop-Nriagu Canada · Women's 800m

Got very boxed in. Bumped into back of Athing Mu with 170m to go killing all momentum.

Main problem was that she led the first 200m very quick but slowed it down too much so that the 400m split was slow. I think if the first 400m was more even, she'd still be able to hang on for third in the heat in the last 100m.

It was a little (lot) shocking

I had her top 3 in the LRC contest. Disappointing for sure.

Big fan of the Bish but not surprised by this. She has had a good year so far this year, but she has kind of been a one trick pony with how she has executed her races. Go out to the front - push the pace while controlling the front, and hold on the last lap.

There are two issues with this:

1) It works well vs other 1:58/1:59 runners but leaves you very exposed to faster women as they can just jump on your train and ease past you (as lots of women did to her in earlier races).

2) If she doesn't make the first lap hard enough then women with more turnover can blow past her in the 2nd lap. Example would be Canadian trials where she front run but didn't make the first lap hot enough to burn Lindsey Butterworth's kick and Butterworth was able to blow by her in the last 100m. Also see 2019 when Maddy Kelly outkicked her in a similar (but slower race).

She had issues with both 1+2 today. Got out to the front, but not fast enough to string people out or burn their kicks, but also she was in the same race as another front runner in Mu, who took control of the race away from Bishop, leading to her getting overtaken by the pack.

I had making the final as being good for her, but likely going out in semis.

KT tape all over the back of her leg. Maybe a bit of an injury too. Couple that with some bad tactics and you have yourself a quick exit.

She also hasn’t had a great four years since rio. Some ok races but nothing to suggest she had improved on her 2016 form. Between having a kid and reduced access to training facilities due to Covid she hasn’t been progressing as much as needed. Too bad though because her rio form was legit.

She posted on her Instagram that she had a bad hamstring injury. Still love her though!!

Many people here did not watch the race.

She went like 28-34, which was kind of inexplicable. Then protected her stride once (not spending the whole race shoving people), but at an inopportune time as it was 180 to go or something and totally killed her momentum. Was boxed in at that point, but I think navigable if she had a full head of steam.

No better way to kill a running career than by getting pregnant. She’s still a 2016 medalist in my book. Finished 4th, losing to several men.

JBaller33 wrote:

No better way to kill a running career than by getting pregnant. She’s still a 2016 medalist in my book. Finished 4th, losing to several men.

Tell that to SAFP, Felix and many others.

Turns out she had a very recent hamstring injury, very sad.

This makes a lot more sense to be honest. Historically Bishop has demonstrated excellent racing tactics both in the pack and front running. The injury likely explains the lack of confidence during the second 200m which ended up being very costly since it put her in a poor position. The injury also explains why she likely couldn't accelerate the way she normally does in the last 200m, even despite the jostling.

Overall disappointing but I hope she is back for Worlds next year.

Melissa Bishop goes home....devastated

Hamstring injuries are usually a result of excessive speedwork. Makes sense to happen right before a peak race and also early season when starting a speed program, but an avoidable injury which can be nagging once it begins. And yes, she did deserve a medal in Rio but (fake) wokeness/stupidty from the IOC and co didn't allow that.

Sadly her main competitive peak lined up with her coming 4th in the Olympics with 3 DSD girls ahead of her

Good career Melissa

Old Oregonian wrote:

JBaller33 wrote:

No better way to kill a running career than by getting pregnant. She’s still a 2016 medalist in my book. Finished 4th, losing to several men.

Tell that to SAFP, Felix and many others.

Allyson Felix? … had a kid?

Yeah, I was pulling for her to get in on time, watching things slip away as each subsequent round was run. She was in many peoples minds the legitimate Gold Medal winner in Rio.