Did Rupp split sub-52???

In his post-1500 interview he said he ran the fastest 400 he's ever done, 52.2 or 52.3.

LukeTheRunner wrote:

In his post-1500 interview he said he ran the fastest 400 he's ever done, 52.2 or 52.3.

Luke you crazy. Everyone born on March 14th is crazy

Didn't he come 2nd, and in 3:51?

Amazing!

Oregon's strategy in that race was brilliant.

Can't argue with results!

Slow, but point gorging.

ukathleticscoach wrote:

Didn't he come 2nd, and in 3:51?

Amazing!

Yeah, but in front of 3:38/1:45 Wheating, and just .1 off 3:36 Centro. His DMR 54i last 400m, and 52.2 now, combined with his endurance, makes him darn near unbeatable by UK athletes.

Baddeley could have him on the 1500 & Farah on the 5,000m!

Actually, I was just amazed someone was getting so excited about such a slow race, not critisising the athlete. He should get some good pr's this year

All the speculation on the boards, kept checking the results all day, then 3:51!

It was a championship race, and they (Oregon) went 1-2-3. Times were irrelevant.

You gotta love what Salazar is doing with Rupp this year. He doesn't necessarily need to run 26:30 to medal at a major championship - just low 27's with a vicious kick.

I know, I know, low 27's is easier said than done when Rupp's pr is still just 27:33, but assuming he is overdue for a pr...things could get interesting at the World Championships.

I like that they are really working on his speed. Too often we seem to think that speed is a limiting factor and we can only work on endurance. Obviously not true. I can't get over the fact that he beat Wheating in a kicker's race!

Right -- if you can't run a 54 or 52 off a slow pace, you have no hope closing that fast off a fast pace. Now Rupp has proved he's at least capable of that fast a final lap, and just needs to show what he can do after a race in AR territory.

is there a video anywhere of this race?

Rupp is my favorite white runner- I AM A CONTRARIAN

I don't think there's video of the whole race yet but here's the last 400+ meters

http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view_video/235051-2009-pac-10-outdoor-championships/180077-day-2-mens-1500-highlights-oregon-123

the cool part is he made the first big move knowing full well that there was a 3:36, 3:37, 3:38/1:45 & 3:39 guy all waiting to kick still and once centro went by and heath came up he fought tooth and nail to the line and had an extra gear down the homestretch. he once seemed satisfying with running very fast and competing very well, now he wants to be his absolute best.

Things won't get interesting at the world Championships unless he can go out in 13:45 and come back in 13:20 or faster which he cannot. He could maybe back into a top 5 if he sits back and tries to run 27:30 by himself while faster guys die in front of him.

2007 WC 10K:

5K split = 13:42, 10K = 27:05(13:23)

2005 WC 10K

5K split = 13:51, 10K = 27:08(13:17)

2005 WC 10K

5K split = 13:52, 10K = 26:49(12:57)

Reality Checker wrote:

Things won't get interesting at the world Championships unless he can go out in 13:45 and come back in 13:20 or faster which he cannot. He could maybe back into a top 5 if he sits back and tries to run 27:30 by himself while faster guys die in front of him.

2007 WC 10K:

5K split = 13:42, 10K = 27:05(13:23)

2005 WC 10K

5K split = 13:51, 10K = 27:08(13:17)

2005 WC 10K

5K split = 13:52, 10K = 26:49(12:57)

this is all great, but can you dig up the splits for bronze? and rupp can certainly go out in 13:45 comfortably at this point. it's just a matter of how much he can come back with. i think by late summer he can come back with 13:30. be fun to see.

Reality Checker wrote:

Things won't get interesting at the world Championships unless he can go out in 13:45 and come back in 13:20 or faster which he cannot. He could maybe back into a top 5 if he sits back and tries to run 27:30 by himself while faster guys die in front of him.

2007 WC 10K:

5K split = 13:42, 10K = 27:05(13:23)

2005 WC 10K

5K split = 13:51, 10K = 27:08(13:17)

2005 WC 10K

5K split = 13:52, 10K = 26:49(12:57)

I wonder what exactly is the point of posts like this. Is it just naysaying for its own sake? Yes, we know Rupp is not currently in world champion condition, or else he would be an olympic medalist or world champion. Thanks for the mathematical help with that.

The point is, he's improving and if he does get into a championship race that unfolds along those lines, he at least is getting closer to having a hope of being able to kick to a medal... if not this time then maybe next time.

Heard through the grapevine wrote:

I wonder what exactly is the point of posts like this. Is it just naysaying for its own sake? Yes, we know Rupp is not currently in world champion condition, or else he would be an olympic medalist or world champion. Thanks for the mathematical help with that.

That's silly and you know it. One can be in "world champion condition" without being a world champion. Mottram certainly was in "world champion condition" a few times that last few years, and didn't come close to winning a world or olympic championship the last 2 years. What does that tell you about Rupp's chances?

And the guy was replying to the other poster who wrote: "He doesn't necessarily need to run 26:30 to medal at a major championship - just low 27's with a vicious kick." And while that is true, we certainly don't know if Rupp can "just" run low 27's with a vicious kick.

Now no race may ever be as astounding as 2003 wc's, but, the other poster was simply showing that in a race like that, or even close to that, it would be absolutely impossible for Rupp to medal, even with current improvements by Rupp.

But again, no top 3 may ever be that devastating again. On the other hand, the east africans bring superstars out of the woodwork, and the likes of Bekele, Sihine, Tadesse, Kogo, Gebemariam, and Kipchoge( could move up to 10k), etc don't seem to be going anywhere.

I got 53.5 from the video.

You have a point, but I think some skeptics are going to be surprised by Rupp when he's really put to the test at his core distances, both in times and in competing. He can legitimately attack the 13:00 and 27:00 barriers, and he has become a pretty savvy racer with several cards in his deck. With an NCAA double coming up he may elect to skip racing in Europe so the times may not really come this summer, but I think he'll have a darn good showing in Berlin in either the 5K or the 10K.

Come August Rupp will be a 3:35, 7:30-7:32, 13:00-13:05 and 27:00-27:10 runner and be have the best range of any American distance runner thus far. And while there will be faster africans, it's still very cool because his future is still ahead of him.