Maggie Vessey making some noise in the 800... could do great at Worlds

I dont see how she can even get the standard if all she does is go out slow and kick the last 200. She simply relies on her kick which could work well in a slow tactical race but not in achieving a desired time.

jessicaL wrote:

If she gets the standard which she has a very good shot at, she should be going to Worlds... looking at her tactics and kick right now, she has one of the best kicks out there. She could do very well at Worlds...

She could do well if everyone runs a tactical race. But when you have women running 1:57 out there, from the front, not happening.

uhm, getting in a faster race

She needs the A standard first.

She doesnt do well in faster races because it doesnt make her go out any faster.

And why is anyone assuming she is going to worlds? If Gall or Wright get the A, she doesnt go.

Also, even if they dont, she still doesnt go unless she breaks 2.

She is very close... She still has all of July.

I'd love to see her go sub-2:00, but chasing an "A" standard can be emotionally and physically exhausting. You're traveling constantly looking for the right race and every race has the pressure of "the time." No matter what, she is gaining valuable experience, and whether it happens this year or not, she hopefully has many great seasons ahead of her. Unfortunately, if the time doesn't happen soon, there may not be much left in the tank for Worlds even if she does make it.

quote]scaredomarathon wrote:

I dont see how she can even get the standard if all she does is go out slow and kick the last 200. She simply relies on her kick which could work well in a slow tactical race but not in achieving a desired time.[/quote]

You should find Vessey's splits and see that what she in fact did was run very even pace. Yes, she appears to be kicking like hell down the stretch, but what's really happening is that everyone else is spent and not able to finish as strongly as she is. So the way I see it, she is quite a good bet to get a sub-2:00 because she knows how to pace herself and is very strong. Achieving a desired time almost never happens be going out like mad and trying to hang on, it's done by understanding pace and executing a smart race, which Vessey did in Rome today.

Do you think Rowbury will get the AR?

The jump from 4:00 to 3:57 is huge. It also takes the right race/pace for it to happen. That would be unlikely at the World Championships. I don't see it happening this year, but with continued progression and good health, I wouldn't rule it out in the future. Don't forget Mary's great range and 800 speed. I'm sure Shannon can go sub-2:00, and she's shown strength at 5000, too. But, a drop to AR this summer might be expecting a little too much. I'd be really impressed if she dropped a 1:58 or so for 800. She's still relatively young and gaining in experience by the year. There is a whole group of American gals breaking through and pushing each other now, so I think we can hold hope that the AR will go at some point in the next year or two.

Ruth brings up a good point. There hasn't been much talk about the strength end of our top 4 1500 meter runners.

It makes sense that the stronger 5K runner will have the advantage assuming the 800 meter times are comparable? Does a strong steeplechase effort indicate superior strength over the 5K?

It is too early in the season to make this comparison right now, but I would be interested to see how our top 4 ladies compare at 800 - 1500 - 3000 - 5000 at the end of the year.

I found the comment in the recap that the IAAF should get a brain and give Vessey the A-standard as she`s won a Golden League event pretty stupid. If she`s that good, she will make that standard, and I really think she is able to get it. That being said even if she doen`t find a fast race and somehow does not get the A-standard she could still go to the worlds according to the IAAF rules. Isn`t Vessey`s situation a very good example why it makes sense that they allow one athlete with only the B-standard to enter? So if USATF think Vessey is among the top 3 800m runners in the nation they could send her. The fact that the USATF select athletes strictly by their finishing order in national championships has (although I personally strongly support that rule) nothing to do with the IAAF and they just can`t be blamed for Vessey`s situation.

I`m really confident Vessey will continue to figure largely in her races this summer (wherever they may be, hopefully also in Berlin) and I´m looking forward to seeing more of her!

Was a very, very close finish, here's a clip (in Italian):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7d4hi64azI

Looks like the runner in lane 1 got the first foot across, but Maggie got the first torso across.

The winners of the South American championships get into Worlds regardless of standard. The South American women's 5k champion has a PR of 16:01. That isn't even close to the B-standard. Maybe there should be a series of qualifier races in different areas of the world to get into Worlds instead of solely by time?

maggie vessey = 1:58 or better this year in right race and being 'smart'

She won it with the lean.

Always appreciate your insights and perspective Ruth.

I'm cheering for Shanon, her 4min last year seemed easy, so I think she can do it. They are purposely starting slower this year so maybe it will be this season.

Yea and Rowbury ran 4:03 in her season opener plus closed in 60 at Nationals. She can do it.