Prefontaine Classic 800m women predictions

I think Keely is in better shape than that. The 1-2 slots are probably right then I’d have Keely.

Repeat of Budapest

Moraa, Hodgkinson, Mu

Keely seems to work her speed at the moment, don't know if that will translate directly into the 800, if so I agree with you and she'll probably get in a sprint finish with Halimah and Duguma for the 3th or 4th position.

I just don't know how we can trust anything around Athing Mu - more from an emotional/psychological POV. I agree with you that Moraa is in sub 1.57 shape and I also agree that a happy, healthy, motivated Mu is a 1.56.5 out-of-the-gates level performer, I just am not sure at all she is (yet again) either happy, healthy or motivated. I could be totally wrong, but the constant drama that seems to follow her career post Eugene is just growing tiresome.

I'll take Moraa for the win, toss up betweem Nakaayi and KH for second and Mu looking troubled in 4th running purely on the best athletic talent in the field.

I think the problem is we’ve normally seen what kind of shape Keely is in at this stage in the year as she usually does indoors. She’s been cautious because of her injury but that has been healed up since Nov I think. She got a good training block in South Africa done and just got a 400m PB.

So I do think she’ll be up there in the mix in 1-3.

Maybe this recent interview will take away some of your doubts:

runnersworld.com

Athing Mu: “Last Year Was Pretty Tough”

In an interview with Runner’s World, the two-time Olympic gold medalist said she’s finding a routine that works for her. Sometimes that means not thinking about track at all.

Link:www.runnersworld.com/news/a60803904/at...

Guess it's pretty consistent that athletes first need to experience a couple of results on main track events before decent results start to show. Moraa and Nakaayi had their share already a few times this season, Keely did not run an 800m event yet. Yeah, read about the 400m PB. Of course she's able to surprise.

To be honest not really. It's Kersee I don't trust more than anybody and literally within days of that article being written there was the whole in-out-in-out drama of the 400m in LA.

But we will see, best of luck to her in Eugene.

REVISITED
1. Mary Moraa 1:56.8 shape now
2. Halimah Nakaayi 1:57.4 top shape
3. Tsige Duguma 1:57.6 close call with Nakaayi
4. Keely Hodgkinson 1:57.8 not yet 800 shape

My God. Nobody's paying attention! Previously, Keely has run personal bests in the first races of her indoor and outdoor seasons. For example, in her first outdoor race over 800m of the 2023 season she ran 1min 55 something. Again, pay attention!

So….

what time do you predict she’ll run at Pre?

Because, as you put it she has to finish first.

Can’t see Keely beating Moraa, a top form Nakaayi or Duguma, yet.

I can absolutely see Hodgkinson beating Nakaayi and Duguma. She spent the winner building strength and now she’s already run a 51.61 400 PR so I’m not buying that there’s something special about “800 shape” that is so far eluding her. Like portsea alluded to, she ran 1:57.2 indoors in February each of the past two years, faster than Nakaayi and Duguma’s PRs.

Keely’s outdoor opener last year?—1:55.77. And don’t forget she finished up with a 1:55.19 at Pre, which is getting to be pretty dang fast.

Moraa is going up a gear this year. She romps home in Olympic final. See Keely and Athing maintaining recent years form and that won't be good enough.

Want Keely to win though.

The way to beat Mary is to run fast! Last years Eugene meet, where Mary came 4th, is the way to go.

The way to beat Mary is to run fast! Last years Eugene meet, where Mary came 4th, is the way to go.

you mean from the beginning fast? Didn't look at Keely her approach or tactics. Is she able to run fast from the beginning, hold on and than sprint the last 100 meter? The sprint is Moraa her thing.

Moraa should work her form, if she would be able to through her body more forward and make longer strides, like Gidey, Hassan, Tsegay do, than she would make a huge progress to get unbeatable, imo. It's always as if her posture is holding her back unnecessary.

THROW

I was about to write the same. Keely never starts her season out of shape. She has been training hard. She wouldn’t run if she wasn’t in 1.55/1.56 shape.

What I am hoping is that she has Moraa figured out and Keely controls the race rather than let Moraa. If after all that Moraa beats her with a fast time then we know where they are. But when it becomes tactical this does not play to Keely’s strengths.

It’s a shame Mu is not running. She can handle Moraa and Keely runs better with Mu in the race.