Maggie Vessey???

Wonder if she's healthy. Love watching her, hope she can return to form next season.

her times are about the same as last year....the competition has stepped it up!

My recollection is that she was consistently under two minutes by this time last year......

2010: USA Outdoors runner-up (2:00.43)...9th at Pre Classic (1:59.90)...3rd at Rabat (2:01.55)...11th at Monaco (2:01.85).

2009: 7th in semifinal at World Champs (2:03.55)…4th at the USA Outdoors (2:01.19)…1st at Monaco (1:57.84PR)...1st at Nike Prefontaine Classic (2:00.18)…4th at Reebok Grand Prix Classic (2:01.49)...2nd at World Athletics Final (2:00.31)...best of 1:57.84.

You mean running minimal mileage and riding on an exercise bike won't make you the best in the world?

1:57.84 was her best time last season. The rest of her races were pretty much in the 2:00.xx range. She and Pierce were 1-2 for USA in the world last year according to IAAF stats. This year her top time is 1:59.00 at Lignano.

She changed brands of gum and it's not working out so well.

Maybe she needs to consider moving away from Aptos/Santa Cruz and joining a more "professional" group to make it to the next level. She obviously has the talent to be a consistent sub 2:00 performer. I would like to see how she would do with John Cook for a couple years.......

The facts are Maggia Vessey is getting old fast and runs with NO confidence. I wouldn't put much hope in her. The smart money indicates she won't make the 2012 Olympic team, even if she gets her head on straight.

Yes she is getting older, but still has a few good years left if she is willing to make some smart courageous changes.

Why doesn't see borrow some HGH from her boyfriend?

Boyfriend???

yeah, her boyfriend

Seriously, no? wrote:

Boyfriend???

Yes, the American 800m runner that looks like a caveman, Nick something?

Seriously, no? wrote:

Boyfriend???

In her flotrack interview after popping 1:57 she mentions how much "Brad" talked to her and helped her. I thought she was talking about her coach, but that's not him. I admit I was curious about who "Brad" was. I think I need one!! :)

I hear that she doesn't like running so she doesn't log enough mileage.

IMO she is not a very good tactician either.

You have to have more than one way to run a race.

Maybe all the NB $ is weighing her down.

I train on the same track she does and often see her when she is in town. We chat now and then.

Sweet gal. Very nice. Not full of herself.

I do agree that she lacks a certain level of confidence. She could run more easy miles for strength but her coach is worried about her getting injured. In the past she got beat up running miles on the road but I think she was just running them too hard (for her).

I think she just doesn't have the killer instinct that let's say a Thomas or Pierce have. That's not the way she is wired. I think she surprised by her success last year. Now she is having what looks a bit like a sophomore jinx.

Still, she is not running that badly. Competition is fierce over in Europe.

Brad, I believe, was her former coach or adviser. He helped give her confidence.

I would really like to see her back running better times. If you meet her, you become a fan.

By the way, she ran 2:01 in London. Just a tough field and she is 1-2 seconds slower on average.

Seascape, thanks for the perspective. I think your post backs up the idea that she needs to change her environment for a couple years to have a shot at realizing her potential.

BTW I am also a fan although I have not met her. AND I live close to Santa Cruz and have been there (and to the Aptos track) many times.......