why did that london 1500 go out in 70?

1 Anna WILLARD USA 4:07.95

2 Shannon ROWBURY USA 4:08.21

3 Lisa DOBRISKEY GBR 4:08.27 SB

4 Hannah ENGLAND GBR 4:08.38

5 Erin DONOHUE USA 4:08.64

6 Stephanie TWELL GBR 4:08.87

7 Malindi ELMORE CAN 4:09.54

8 Morgan UCENY USA 4:10.15

9 Charlene THOMAS GBR 4:12.01

10 Katrina WOOTTON GBR 4:13.70

11 Anna JAKUBCZAK POL 4:14.39 SB

Alysia JOHNSON USA DNF

Irina LISHCHINSKA UKR DNS

Willard>Rowbury! Pretty obvious now.

Stir the Pot wrote:

Willard>Rowbury! Pretty obvious now.

Sure, when they go out in 70 and 2:17.69, but I'm not convinced that Willard would beat Rowbury in a non-kicker's race. Alysia Johnson just showed that she's the worst rabbit of the year.

Stir the Pot wrote:

Willard>Rowbury! Pretty obvious now.

Let's wait and see how they handle the rounds at worlds. Rowbury has more of a strength background and I think that will serve her very well in Berlin.

Wait, you mean more strength than years of olympic caliber steeple training? Sure, sure.

Kinda funny how the British announcer was still gushing about how well Twell was doing when she was clearly being engulfed by about five other runners.

Arcott Ramathorn wrote:

Wait, you mean more strength than years of olympic caliber steeple training? Sure, sure.

No, I mean more strength as in the specific training that these two ladies have been doing throughout this track season. Rowbury had a long strength building phase. Willard was racing every big meet in the early season and indoors.

Also, Rowbury has several years of cross country training and racing at a higher level over Willard

Willard has made it clear in her interviews that she has not enjoyed her stints at altitude and the longer intervals.

Which is it wrote:

No, I mean more strength as in the specific training that these two ladies have been doing throughout this track season. Rowbury had a long strength building phase. Willard was racing every big meet in the early season and indoors.

Also, Rowbury has several years of cross country training and racing at a higher level over Willard

Willard has made it clear in her interviews that she has not enjoyed her stints at altitude and the longer intervals.

You mean to say that Mammoth is not at altitude? And you really think that Terrence Mahon does not have a stregth-based program? Or that he is not smart enough to have given her 1500m race specificity in the later stages of her season?

It okay if you like Shannon better, but don't make shit up.

The Americans won't show that highly in Berlin.

Unlike a lot of nations, they become nervous about one or two things and don't have the same 'preperation' as they do for a lot of the rest of the season.

The Russians won't be scared.

screamer wrote:

It okay if you like Shannon better, but don't make shit up.

Sorry, but what I wrote was based on fact. Read it again and please point out to me what shit I made up.

Quit talking out of your ass.

We all know the Russians will be pumped up. We all know what goes on there. And there is nothing that compares to it in America.

Well, at least he had the decency to ID himself as "trollism"

Twell commented that the pace makers got it wrong. Steph suits a faster pace which may have helped her stay clear of the other GB runners. US runners looking good in this - they have done good times + shown sprint ability off slower pace

I really didn't understand the point of that rabbit/pacemaker. 70 and 2:17?

colorado girl would have stomped them

Is it safe to assume that Willard and Rowbury both ran 60 second final 400's based on their finishing times and the fact that Twell was in the lead at the Bell in 3:07.4.

I can't remember how far back Rowbury and Willard were from Twell at the bell to know for sure.

Perhaps Willard was 60 low and Rowbury was 60 mid???

Here's a link to day 2 of the London meet

http://www.universalsports.com/mediaPlayer/media.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000&id=632662&sid=13055

Women's 1500 meter race starts at 1:30.09

Dobriskey was pretty far back at the bell. I'm guessing she had the fastest 400 meter split of the bunch.

I haven't seen the race yet since I was working out while it was on live, but I'll see it thanks to DVR in just a bit. If it's true that the pace was so slow, that's really unfortunate. I can remember how frustrating it would be to be in a race expecting a certain pace and having it not happen. I can remember one time when a pacesetter was told to go out in 2:10 and she did 60-70. She couldn't understand why everyone, including the race promoter, was upset with her since she ran 2:10!

I do have to laugh a bit however, in remembering Andy Norman. I know not everyone shares my feelings, but I really liked Andy, including his (sometimes) brutal honesty. Had there been an incident like today, not only would that pacesetter not get paid, but they'd probably never be invited to an Andy Norman-directed race again. In addition, their agent would not have much luck with any borderline athletes for quite some time. My husband told me that on his first trip to Europe, he PR'd in a 3000 and was pleased, but it wasn't Andy-quality. Andy told the person handling Tom's entries to put him on a plane back home and that he wasn't running a f***ing travel agency. Some great memories of good-ol' Andy who always treated me very well, thankfully.

As for the athletes, the reality is that the final in Berlin might go out in 70, so you have to be ready for anything. I've been a big fan of Shannon (and still am), but right now, the edge goes to Willard. How exciting, though to know that we are sending such a solid group of 3 to Berlin!

If I had to pick a top three for Berlin in would be Jamal, Burka and Alminova.

Not sure if anyone noticed, but yesterday Alminova ran a 1:57 in the prelims at the Russian trials. She elected not to run the 800 final today so that she could focus on the 1500 meter race (her specialty).

Alminova beat all of the Americans at Pre, as did Burka. Jamal recently blasted 3:56 and 3:58 back to back races.

I think all three Americans have a very good shot at making the finals, but I'm not sure about any medal hopes.