Oregon 1-2-3 in the 1500

Props to Wheating, Acosta, and Centro. They pretty much made the 1500 finals their play thing.

Acosta didn't care about 1st; all he cared about was the O going 1-2-3. He is (finally) a true team player. Much respect to him for that. AJ bumbaye!!

Jamaul wrote:

poskdkljkd wrote:

And that is why German Fernandez was no better than the 4th best 1500m runner of 2009. Lucky for him, there was no Oregon runners in that race.

OMG, I don't even know where to start. This was one of the slowest 1500 finals in history - actually bordering on pitiful. For a 3:47 to win the mens 1500 final is nothing less than obsurd. None of these cats would have even been in contention 30 years ago. So in 30 years we've made actually no progress - none, nada. That really says a lot for the state of college middle distance running. If it were me, I would hanging my head in shame.

It was a tactical race. Do you have any perspective? Jeez.

First off, props to the Oregon guys going 1,2,3. But who in their right mind would let it go that slow. 2:12?? It was basically the second 800 final at NC's. If it would have started 2:00 I doubt they go 1,2,3, and I think Emanuel would have been much tougher to beat. I hate when championships are won like that. It shows no guts. Didn't Pre hate winners of those kind of races?

Nice job by those 3 guys - especially in front of the hometown crowd. A great meet from Wheating.

Are you serious "called" Acosta was celebrating the team sweep 1-2-3. The race was slow, that doesn't take away from the sweep. Coulda, shoulda, woulda but I'm not sure a fast race would have turned out any differently. Maybe, but what makes you all think it would have. Wheating crushed Emanuel at the Oregon relays in 3:37 and Acosta was about half a second behind Emanuel. You gotta figure if Centro had run he would have been right there. Sure on any day/pace different things could have happened but I don't think there is any reason to try to take away from the 1-2-3 sweep and just assume something differently would have happened off a faster pace....maybe but maybe not

Called Crazy wrote:

Are you serious "called" Acosta was celebrating the team sweep 1-2-3. The race was slow, that doesn't take away from the sweep. Coulda, shoulda, woulda but I'm not sure a fast race would have turned out any differently. Maybe, but what makes you all think it would have. Wheating crushed Emanuel at the Oregon relays in 3:37 and Acosta was about half a second behind Emanuel. You gotta figure if Centro had run he would have been right there. Sure on any day/pace different things could have happened but I don't think there is any reason to try to take away from the 1-2-3 sweep and just assume something differently would have happened off a faster pace....maybe but maybe not

Exactly, last time I checked, EVERY other entrant in that race had the chance to take it out faster, ALL of them knowing full well that a slow place played right into Wheatings hands (er, legs, er feet...)

Before the 800, Wheating looked pumped and happy and energetic.

Before the 800 he looked tired, not enough sleep, nervous and tentative.

His confidence must have rocketed after they took it out in 66.

Detract from the 9 runners who played right into Oregon's hands... They all had a chance to steal this race and...they wiffed.

I completely agree, they all had a chance to pick up the pace during the first half of the race. Why is it the winners fault they didnt do that? its not cowardly for orgeon not to run the race "pre style" thats Lee and the rest of the runners choice just as much as its oregon.

the tight last 100m reminded me of this race:

http://www.mensracing.com/photos/ncaaoutdoor02/ncout114.jpg

just a prelim, but a pretty cool picture.

Any video of the 1500 or the 800?

ya, i missed the race.. any vids? it sounds epic

We'll see wrote:

First off, props to the Oregon guys going 1,2,3. But who in their right mind would let it go that slow. 2:12?? It was basically the second 800 final at NC's. If it would have started 2:00 I doubt they go 1,2,3, and I think Emanuel would have been much tougher to beat. I hate when championships are won like that. It shows no guts. Didn't Pre hate winners of those kind of races?

Well, if someone had the balls like German Fernandez last year and not let the pace lag, maybe we woulda had a faster race, but no, this year nobody wanted to grow a pair and let the first 800 lag.

lakers19 wrote:

ya, i missed the race.. any vids? it sounds epic

not the greatest view, but no Carol Lewis so that's a plus.

Yeah, it isn't like these kids live in a era where the only way they can get race knowledge is either by running in races, coaches telling teaching tales, or old copies of Runners World or TFN...

They have a zillion videos on youtube to watch to see how often championship races go out slow, tactical, and what the risks are...

Wheating himself said he was glad it didn't go fast early. Like I said the results might have been different...

I'm pretty sure the 1:50-1:51 final 800 completely overshadows the "slow" overall time. They picked it up halfway in, never looked back, and it was exciting. The fact that the top 9 were within about 1 second of each other made for an unforgettable race.

We'll see wrote:

Wheating himself said he was glad it didn't go fast early. Like I said the results might have been different...

I wonder if one could say this about most any race?