on the 10 year anniversery of Michael Johnson's Olympic win in Atlanta in the 200m, in world record time; I am wondering if he ever ran an 800m....even in a time trial. I can see him running a 1:48....in a time trial....but have no idea....anybody know?
I'm guessing he could have run 146 in a measured time trial.
I doubt he could run a good 800. The guy was solid 200 400 runner. He could probably run a better 100 than 800.
This is the first time I've seen this topic brought up. Very interesting questions!
I could see him desperately tying up around 600 meters. And yeah, as "Observer" hints, this topic has been covered before, and Johnson was on record as saying he never ever would do an 800.
wow....ten years ago today? Where did 10 years go so quickly? It seems like he's only been retired a 'few years'.
He ran a 1:44.82 at a GP race in Europe back in '99
Are you sure about that?
In an interview some years ago, Johnson said he felt the 800m was the hardest event in track and he had absolutely no interest in running it. Being an 800 guy at the time, I clipped it out and pasted it in my training journal.
Not saying he didn't run what you say, but there aren't too many 400 guys who have moved up that successfully (sub 1:45).
He never ran an 800, it's a joke. He and Wariner never have and never will run an 800, as they have previously stated.
In one of his books the author claims he did repeat 600's where he would run the 1st 400 in 48 and the 2nd 400 in 46. I realize that sounds like 800 meters, but assume 200m of overlap. When you calculate the three reasonable split combinations, assuming he won't split a 21sec segment, they are superior to Gray's 600m WB of 1:12.
24+24+22=1:10
25+23+23=1:11
26+22+24=1:12
As for 800m speculation, if he could've done it, he would've, but he couldn't. He named his first-born Sebastian, after all.
Butch Reynolds ran one in Cincinnati (I think) and my mind says he ran a 1:58 or something.
just wanted to throw that in.