Would Syd be a world beater in the 800m?

You are way off the mark in starting another thread about this.

Yes, you are way off the mark.

She could break 2 minutes, probably 1:57/1:58. No way she runs 1:55.5.

In any case, why would she switch to an event where she would struggle to even make the team, when she could easily demolish all the other US women in the 400 and make the team easily?

Who are these former 400m hurdlers that made great 800m runners?

Yes, please provide us with an extensive list.

There are several that were very good including Harald Schmid and David Patrick and at least one more. Surprised you don’t know this.

most likely not. she is a legit 200m talent. seems good 400 runners are usually 1-4 type talents or 4-8 talents.

Patryk Dobek moved up from the 400h to the 800 last year and won an Olympic medal in his first year doing the event.

I did not mean to imply that I think McLaughlin can run 155.5 now. I mean if she got bored of destroying everyone in the 400mh and switched to the 800m instead of the 400m, and trained like an 800m runner, where would she end up? I think better than 1:58. But I don't see her in the 1:54s.

If Kersee is talking about her breaking the 400m WR, she'd have to be at least a 1:56 talent I think. Her 200m time is 22.39 and 400m 50.07. Whereas Alison Felix at 21.69 and 49.26 is 0.7 faster at 200m and only 0.8 faster at 400m. So she's more of an endurance runner than Felix, but Felix was a sub 11 100m runner so that doesn't really tell me much.

I know that it won't happen so it's just mindless speculation. I've been on the board pretty consistently during the WCs and haven't seen another thread about this during the championships. I know it gets annoying seeing these kind of threads (like back in the Jeremy Wariner days), but when someone annihilates a WR the way she just did, it kind of changes the picture. I'm just curious what other people think. Honestly, even though it might get boring for her winning by that much, she's smartest to just continue dominating her event. The wider general public will only understand her as a megastar if she continues to completely dominate. If she switches to 400m and loses sometimes or wins in "only 48.80" the average dummy who only tunes in for the Olympics and who needs Gail Devers to tell them what to think will think she's not as good as she used to be.

Also, as for 400m hurdlers switching over to 800m, Brandon Johnson (USA) was a 48.59 400m hurdler in 2005, and later switched and ran 1:43.97 for the 800m in 2013. It's not a super common thing, but common enough that you should have heard of it happening if you are any kind of track and field fan.

She has the physique to make the transition, but why? Her alternate event is the flat 400m. Definitely a medal threat Amazing natural talent! Before you ask, she would be a non-factor in the 100-200m.

Yeah, I agree, no reason to do it. Well, one reason to do it would be to give yourself a real difficult challenge, kind of like Jorgenson did quitting the tri and trying distance running. But that wouldn't be very smart. Wish we could see it though. She's an amazing athlete.

SM is a sprinter who doesn't really care for running,, If she doubles or moves to another event, 100H & long jump seem to be the two likeliest options. Elite-level 800m performance requires a healthy amount of real distance training, a grind for which McLaughlin has shown no appetite.

Sydney's best 200 and 400 times are from 4 years ago. What Sydney could run now is much closer to Felix's best times, as we will see if Sydney follows through on what her coach said and actually runs a 400 next month.

So while Sydney is probably slightly more of an endurance runner than Felix, it's only just barely.

A better question might be how fast could Mu run 400 m hurdles? She could just step right over them – probably wouldn’t slow her down much

I agree Sydney might make a great 800 runner. She has so much strength. the main problem I see is that I don’t think she has much or any experience with positioning and tactics in a race without lane assignments.

If she did go that route, I would love to see and Mu go for the 800 record in a race after Sydney gained experience. a 400 between mu and Sydney will also lead to a world record in the future.

Interviewed Cathy Freeman in 2020 and one of her regrets was never giving the 800m a go. I think Sydney could run a pretty good 800m with some small changes to her training. Remember Cade Flatt prances around saying he only runs 5 miles a week. Pretty sure Sydney runs a little more than that with warm up and down. A Kersee coached athlete could run a good 8 I would imagine.

Literally Brandon Johnson

1:43????

No, no she would not. Would Warholm be?

The 400/800 athlete, or in this case 400h/800 is rare...but it does happen.
Juantorena comes to mind.

Alan