Last year Ryan finished 7th and was 43 seconds behind the winner. Today he finishes in an excellent 5th place but 62 seconds behind Martin Lel, who incidentally looked awesome. The first 3 look clear favorites for the Olympic medals. Ryan's Olympic dream is further away from realisation.
Kenya has a poor record in the marathon in WC and OG. Halls chances are better.
without the pacers it is a very different race...anything can (and will?) happen in China. Lots of people, including Hall, can medal. I think we all know this though.
I disagree. A 2:08 guy isn't a threat to medal just because he finishes close to someone else. A 2:06-low guy is much more likely to medal.
Considering that no Kenyan has ever won the Olympic marathon, I wouldn't put my money on any of these three.
The Olympic Marathon isn't won in 2:05. Plus Hall has actually gotten faster in the marathon unlike other elite American men.
Look at Meb. I'm sure he beat plenty of people with faster PR's when he medaled.
Hall has run fast enough that he's shown he can be in the neighborhood of the world's best.
If he has a great day in Beijing and a few in front of him tank, he'll be good to go.
The Olympic Marathon is not as big of a deal as the London Marathon.
the former mobile9 wrote:
Considering that no Kenyan has ever won the Olympic marathon, I wouldn't put my money on any of these three.
You think? I think it's about time that a Kenyan won, sort of like how Canada didn't win an Olympic gold in hockey for 50 years (1952-2002). That's especially the case if their best like Lel, Wanjiru and Cheruiyot make it a priority.
guy not from there wrote:
I disagree. A 2:08 guy isn't a threat to medal just because he finishes close to someone else. A 2:06-low guy is much more likely to medal.
History says the opposite.
geo wrote:History says the opposite.
Haha, I know what you're saying, but come on, you don't actually think that Hall is less likely to medal because he ran 2 minutes faster today.
World record-holders aren't a sure bet to win at the Olympics, but fast runners are going to beat slow runners everywhere. Baldini had a PB of 2:07, as did Abera.
Megadon wrote:
Last year Ryan finished 7th and was 43 seconds behind the winner. Today he finishes in an excellent 5th place but 62 seconds behind Martin Lel, who incidentally looked awesome. The first 3 look clear favorites for the Olympic medals. Ryan's Olympic dream is further away from realisation.
Are you joking?
Last year the pace was slow and tactical so you're more likely to be close to the front.
This year the pace was suicidal. 1:02:13 half way. Hall hung with the pace, stayed with it virtually the entire race until the end and got 5th in a field that upfront is nearly as good as the Olympic Marathon.
He's closer to a medal. Last hear he hoped to go out in 1:03:30.
negative negative negative
the guys finishes in amazing 2:16.17
and the vultures are immediately at work
Megadon wrote:
Last year Ryan finished 7th and was 43 seconds behind the winner. Today he finishes in an excellent 5th place but 62 seconds behind Martin Lel, who incidentally looked awesome. The first 3 look clear favorites for the Olympic medals. Ryan's Olympic dream is further away from realisation.
You think Meb could run 2:06:17 at London and finish a minute behind the best marathon runner in the world? Didn't stop him. Hell, the Olympic Champion himself was in this race, and he finished 8 minutes behind the winner in 2:13:06. Too bad he didn't have you around 4 years ago to tell him he had no chance of medaling.
I'm certain that in 2004, Meb wouldn't have been capable of keeping up with the lead pack in a spring marathon with a fast field and pacesetters. We saw how he did on a hot day in Athens. It's certain to be a hot day in Beijing
Proxy Tips wrote:
2:16.17
2:06:17.
wejo wrote:
...got 5th in a field that upfront is nearly as good as the Olympic Marathon.
Uh, how many sub 2:06 guys do you think will run the Olympic marathon? Up front, London will be better than the Olympics.
Without Geb (and the army of sub 2:08 Africans) the OM is a poor representation of the world's best marathoners. It's true that you can only race the runners that show, but with the constraints of the Marathon, you'll only get those willing to sacrifice. It is what it is; and what it is, isn't anything like the 1500m, 5000m, or 10000m finals.
I find Hall's 2:06 to be incredibly impressive and will await to see his first sub 2:06. It looks like the world is moving into a sub 2:06 era and his moving with it.
Guys guys guys...remember that in 2004 Tergat choked in the heat of Athens after having run his WR 2:04:xx. PRs don't mean jack in the heat of this year's marathon. The marathon will be won by the best heat-humidity runner. The problem with these 2:05 studs from the London marathon is...they usually race in perfect conditions at Chicago or London or NYC. Beijing is whole other pot of water. European runners, surprisingly enough, do better in hotter conditions...(Pinto in '97 in Athens and Baldini in '04 in Athens...bothh races were hotter than hell).
I actually think Ritz can medal and beat Hall. Ritz is a seasoned humid-hot weather runner. Unlike Hall or the Rift Valley kenyans who enjoy their low-humidity cooler high altitude locations. Remember when Ritz ran like a 7 mile tempo on the track in Florida to get used to the heat?
In any case, Beijing will the WORST conditions for the OLY marathon EVER. A combination of Heat, Humidity, and Pollution will destroy all these 2:05 studs.
He's much closer! The trials showed he can close fast after a slower start, and today showed he can hang in there at WR (sub WR) pace for the bulk of the race. 2:06:17 is just incredible and justifies his name being mentioned with the very best in the world. I think an Olympic type race actually suits him better than these paced affairs. He'll be in the hunt for gold.
Ritz is a seasoned hot weather runner? Since when?