Is this the worst period for the 800m of all time?

53-50 negative split by Arop is not weak. Better than Rudishas 2015 where he ran 54-51

One thing is for sure, I get a lot more excited watching the current crop of 1500 guys than the 800.

I think we were spoiled in the past decade or so with powerhouses like Rudisha, Amos, Kitum, Brazier etc.. I’d love to see Brazier get healthy again and see if he can get back down to 1:42 low/mid fitness.

I think the 800m is five years behind the 1500m. I think the bust of Asbel Kiprop really energized and gave all the non-African 1500m guys self-belief and motivation, amplified later by Manangoi's suspension.

Aside from Bett's bust, we haven't had the marquee Kenyan name taken down yet. So it's taken a little longer for the belief to return for the 800 men, but now you can see with Ben Pattison today that it's starting.

BTW, it was great watching Pattison just now talking to the BBC and mentioning Kyle Langford's robbed bronze medal by the cheating Bett.

Cry.

The 1349 Worlds were even worse - half of the field DNF'd because they dropped dead from the plague during the race

The last few years the womens' 800 has been far more interesting. Is it the performances or just the characters? Having a Brit and an American as the top 2 helps I guess. But on the mens side I don't get bothered whether Moula beats Wanyoni or whatever.

1:44.24 is decidedly 1:44 low. There’re as many 1:43-44 guys as ever. But there is no alpha like Rudisha. But if Arop runs 1:42 then this era is pretty much on par with the eras without a superstar (01-08).

Yes it’s belief all right. If there’s anything a British guy should not have reason to believe us that he could run under 1:44. Never happened historically. Also Kszcot, Brazier, Murphy, Bosse, Dobek all medaled despite a lack of belief I guess.

Look at the results from 2003 - 2009.

2003 - Guerni 1:44.81

2005 - Ramzi 1:44.24

2007 - Yego 1:47.09

2009 - Mulaudzi 1:45.29

You seem to ignore that the 800 is a middle distance race where tactics play a big role. Not a sprint where everybody is all out from the gun. Rudisha did it once but it's an exception. Winning time of a championship race is completely irrevelant to rate the competitivness of the event.

are you pattison's mate on a wind up?

It starts at the world junior level with the likes of Kyle Langford even being robbed there.

Where did I say no Europeans medalled? What are you talking about? Who is the European 800 equivalent of Jakob Ingebrigtsen? Wightman and Kerr are running faster than Coe and Cram at 1500. No British are getting close yet at 800. Maybe Burgin and Pattison will. The wave of British 800 talent (Burgin, Pattison, Rowden, Hussey, Dustin etc) was a fee years behind that of the 1500 (Wightman, Kerr, etc). My explanation is as good as any and might have some truth to it.

Just like me, you've never set foot on a track, so shut the f up about presuming to know that a promising young European runner would be unaffected by the knowledge that many of his future 1:42/43 African rivals are or were doping with near impunity. Who knows how a teenage Coe would have kept his self-belief if there were Kenyans doping themselves to sub 1:43 times in the early 1970's.

Are you a licensed psychiatrist? Why are the women so much more mentally tough? After all Keely and Reekie seem to have no problems believing they can be competitive. Your explanation is nonsense. Britain had a dry spell in talent after Osagie. One of the few talents Langford got hurt, there is really not so much to it. It is talent, smart training and staying healthy - not all made-up excuses about mentality. My whole point is you seem to draw huge gigantic mental barriers as an excuse for the ebbs and flows of a country’s success in an event.

Bro closed in a *37.2* last 300m while throwing up both hands and celebrating before the line. Arop smashed that field.

He's stuck right now. Either he rabbits the field to a 1:43 and has people possibly outkick him or he chills, let's others lead and dawdle, then he smashes them. He's done 1:43.2 already, he looks better now, if he had someone to chase I'm sure he could go 1:42.

You used to say sub 3:35 was only possible with doping and now a bunch of white guys are running sub 3:30 you completely changed your tune.

When the weight of heavy leather shoes to early to mid-1960s is considered and cinder tracks, for some U.S. high schools to about 1980, 800m hasn't improved in 84 years. Reminder, 1:46.6, 800m, heavy leather shoes on cinder, 1939. Mileage going from 30 miles per week to as high as 150 miles per week did not help 800m runners, at least past 60 or 70 miles per week. Fifteen hundred meter runners certainly benefited up to 80 miles per week. Better HgH and steroid testing most likely is keeping women from racing 800m fast. Reminder, 1st semifinal heat, women 7/24/1976 Olympics, 800m, Anita Weiss split 600m, 83.78 and finished the race. A Weiss didn't trip over her feet and she didn't pass out. No woman 800m runner has split 600m as fast. Not just a five year situation.

"Is this the worst period for the 800m of all time?"

Wasn't the 800m at the 1896 Olympics won in 2:08 or something like that?

Not bad. And you know it. But nice troll that will get many responses. :-)

Arop ran a great race. The others tried, but many overspent qualifying for this final. They had to, but then paid the price.

You know how it is bro! When it’s all white, it’s alright 🤣🤦🏿