Just going to put it out there. There seemed to be no stronger shoe in for a gold medal in Eugene than Keely and she was clearly beaten today by a better runner.
I think you mean medal, certainly not gold. But yes in the last 10 days it went from a shoo-in for Silver to looking like the 4th best at this moment. She's so talented this could all change, but she better have another level to go to in Eugene because it seems the 3 in front of her do.
Now, I want you all to read what you have written and ponder it. In one race - her final race before Eugene -Keely has gone from being, in some people's minds, favourite or joint favourite - to not be expected to win a medal in Eugene. Interesting that...don't you think?
She ran a poor tactical race. Got heavily boxed, allowed too many to come around her just after the bell so she had to run a lot more distance to get out of the box. She'll need to learn from that, keep herself positioned better. I still think she'll medal but this is a warning for her: she can't let too many bodies get between her and Mu in Eugene
Yes Moraa likes to go out ** harder ** the first 200 than Athing. This will be very interesting because could we see Athing running in second place after the break? It reminds me of the brief period in Rudisha's career when he was being challenged for the lead at 200 within the 800. Either way Keely is going to have to position herself well behind those 2 and get used to a sub-27 split.
But look at the frantic first 200m (it took Billings that long to get in front of Moraa) compared with the US champs:
Moraa 26.6, Keely 26.8
Mu 27.21 AJ 27.48
That's a mental pace to recover from. Maybe chalk that one up to the new 50s one-lapper.
Yes Moraa likes to go out ** harder ** the first 200 than Athing. This will be very interesting because could we see Athing running in second place after the break? It reminds me of the brief period in Rudisha's career when he was being challenged for the lead at 200 within the 800. Either way Keely is going to have to position herself well behind those 2 and get used to a sub-27 split.
I think she'll just have to let Mu and Moraa go. They're both 49/50 second 400m women, Keeley runs 51/52. If she goes with them, she's playing their game. Her strength is a negative split with a 58 first lap and I've seen nothing this season to suggest she would do better running any other way
I think she'll just have to let Mu and Moraa go. They're both 49/50 second 400m women, Keeley runs 51/52. If she goes with them, she's playing their game. Her strength is a negative split with a 58 first lap and I've seen nothing this season to suggest she would do better running any other way
Yeah, interesting maybe the move is that she runs more of a Borza type race. They go out in 26-high, 57pt, she comes through likely in 6th or 7th at 58.0. Like last year she closes on the backstretch and picks off the pieces the last 150. Doesn't seem like running the fast first 200/400 is generating her best performances.
Just going to put it out there. There seemed to be no stronger shoe in for a gold medal in Eugene than Keely and she was clearly beaten today by a better runner.