Is Sage H-K done?

Did she peak for b.s. unimportant meets in September? Her measurables may be great: free weight squat, 200m TT, and other measurables. Eight-hundred meter athletes need to be amped like sprinters. If an 800m runner really is not in the mood, results will reflect one's mood. Let's have Sage H K 800m performance discussion next summer when it is important.

Yeah, she’s shown more upside than Dani Jones, who has a far better collegiate record.

She reached the pinnacle for most 800 women. Not many go beyond that 1:59 to 1:59 mark. She probably needs to move way up in the distance.

She wouldn’t even be on OAC if she weren’t married to Joe. She’s riding his coattail.

She can't respond in the last 150 against competition that matters. She needs to change distances. She also needs to stop leaning backwards down the final homestretch.

This season? Probably. In terms of career? Definitely not.

What was her mood at USAs?

People do what they do. She does what she does. She is trying. Not everyone can be the very best. She is attractive and who cares if she runs 2:00 or 1:57? As long as she tries. Then maybe she will eventually stop trying. How are you doing?

Despite all the negatives, she does qualify for DL final and has a few other races left. A chance to still do something this year. She's a 1:57 4:01 runner, probably best suited at 1500, but has opportunistically been at 800. Her sponsor must be happy with her qualifying for back to back DL finals - probably only American runner to do that.

I don't think she gets much hype, whatever there was she earned with 1:57/1:58. Hopefully she finds her best form at Olympic trials next year when it counts.

Not just Sage. Jose Norris is done too. She runs one or two good races and everything else is mediocre. Can never get it together for critical races. The 1500 is over (just ran a 4:05 and 4:11) and not spectacular at the 5K. The only reason she's with oac or Reebok in VA is because of Robby Andrews.

She literally has more NCAA titles than him. One might argue he wouldn't be on OAC if he wasn't on the weakest event in men's track (though I think they're both great runners and likable people).

Emotionally, I’m sure Norris and Hurta-Klecker have been struggling since USAs. They both had really good shots to make the team and neither of them did. It just be hard staying at home while the rest of the team is in Budapest. I imagine the motivation to train at a high level just wasn’t there anymore. They’re human. Give them a break.

I'm sorry, but the last 2 WC years count to 99% of the T&F world.

Her 400m PR is 54.84. It is why her 800m has stagnated. But then her coaches were Wetmore and Ritz - both distance people. Either she doesn't have the capacity, or no one has bothered to develop that 400m ability. 4.01 for 1500m is ok - but not good enough to make US teams (even with the lack of depth compared to say Ethiopia).

If you can't run 52 or faster, you are not fast enough to run what should be the top level for women's 800m. This is the problem with even Wiley (like Reekie before her), Good 1500m ability, but not the speed (although hopefully she might develop it as she is still young) - so could stay at that level, but not get much better. Mary Moraa is trying to break 50sec, to match Mu if for no other reason. Hodgkinson broke 52 this year, and could probably put down a low 4.xx for 1500m (and needs to with that lack of speed). Both Willis and Whittaker plateaued at 800m this year. Whereas Werro (2004 like Willis) ran 1.58 last week (behind Wiley) and PR'd in 400m (52.69) this week - she hasn't run a 1500m, but has the WU20 record for 1000m (2.34xx)) W&W (Stanford) seemed to spend more time on 1500m, although Whittaker did break 54sec for a PR.

The point being, that 800m runners ignore speed development too much at times - although it can be a tough balance to develop speed and endurance simultaneously.

There is a reason (doping aspersions aside) why Kratochvilova (47.99/1.53.28) or Jearl Miles-Clark (49.4/1.56.4) ran well, and they didn't go to the 800m until later in their careers. They had speed. Might have been even better if they also developed their endurance as well - something that younger runners (and coaches) can learn from, but not at the expense of speed. Even Ajee Wilson has an official 400m PR of 53.63, from 9 years ago! Is it any wonder (other than age - but the two mentioned were PRing in their 30's) why she has stagnated lately!

Sage is a fascinating runner in the sense she can run 1;57 as a heavy footed heel striker.

I think her event would be 1500/3k.

if she wants to stick w the 800, Ritz and that group just ain’t where she needs to be. But bc of marital situation it just has to work.

Seriously? Boo hoo. Didn't get to go to Budapest. MOST runners didn't make it to Worlds. And they all continue to train and race at the highest levels. These two are getting paid to run and this is their 'profession'. Their motivation should be to keep their end of the contract when they get their check in the mail

She had a great year and is beyond her peak. Picked up some money at the end of the season.

I LOVE Sage! She is AWESOME!!!

Unfortunately, father time comes for us all, and Sage has reached that point in her career to look towards the next thing. IMO, she has done a tremendous job of holding it together this track season.