Watch all Continental Tour races here: https://flosports.link/3sk0HZ0Abel Kipsang obliterates the men's 1500m field, running 3:31.01, the second-fastest perf...
Closing in 40.1 is worth probably close a second on its own… between that and the altitude (& any other mispacing, I’m sure it wasn’t perfect as no race is) this has to be worth 3:27 or better… maybe 3:28 flat at worst. Incredible
I was asking a genuine question you cretin. Two DNF and Rotich finished last. Thought there might be a trip or something.
Robert Korir looked like a pacer, moving wide at about 600. Kipruto also (somewhat surprisingly) put his arm down and moved wide like a pacer would do with about 100 to go, but Wanyonyi still ran around him. Don't know why Rotich had a sub-par performance by his standards.
I'd say those conversions are too generous. I mean, maybe we eat our words and Kipsang destroys all comers this year and is El G 2.0, but I have my doubts. 3:25 shape in the first week of May? Also looking at Welteji's time. It still is probably her best ever result, but she's shown nothing to indicate she could run a 3:55.70. Even with pacelights and Freweyni Hailu to chase last June she only managed 3:58.70. She's particularly odd though given she only managed 4:13 and 4th at Ethiopian champs 4 weeks ago, losing to multiple women who have never made a single ETH outdoor team.
Long story short, I would bet a lot of money neither one of Kipsang or Welteji go 3:25/3:55 this year.
The conversion are definitely too generous. Kipsang is probably in 3:28 mid-3:29 flat shape right now however. It’s gonna be interesting as far as sustaining it all. He’s got several huge races to come potentially - African Champs, Commonwealth Games, Kenyan Trials and then Worlds. He already was in solid shape for Indoors but he’s a whole level above that now.
He’s just had a solid winter camp and he’s ready to race this summer. Hopefully will be back close to his best this year after an injury plagued previous year.
oxygen % is greater at cooler temps and lower altitude. so what needs to be looked at is how this affects things closer to the equator at higher elevations.
since the total "air" is thinner sprinting times are better, but maybe at 5000-8000ft (Nairobi and mexico city) the cooler temps concentrates the % of oxygen to close to sea level levels. add in the less restriction of air and boom fast times all around.
also to add to this, timberline here in colorado is around 10,500-11,000, but can go as high as 13,000 near the equator, thus adding more things to consider about altitude near the equator
This is absurdly fast! Might even be the performance of this entire weekend if you think about it. I mean, even if he ran 3:31.0 at sea level that'd still be really impressive. But a dude with a 3:29 PR running that fast in early May is definitely exciting stuff. Worlds in the 1500 is gonna be one for the books.