Calling it Now: 5000m AR and Medal for Manzano

And has a Vo2 max of....... 66. He did a test last week with U of Texas' Kinesiology department. Look on Austin Track Club's Facebook page.

Vo2 Max means nothing

I love Manzano, and honestly have no idea how he'd fare in the 5000m. He always struck me as a guy with wicked turnover who could maneuver quickly in a shorter race, like the mile/1500.

5000m is pretty far, no? Doesn't Mo weigh about the same, even though he is "listed" at 143 lbs? Sorry, there is NO WAY Farah weighed 143 in London. 123 might even be pushing it, don't you think?

Bear in mind, I know nothing about distance.

Leo is a 800-1500 guy and I think his times would fall off hard after the mile. He is not really known for putting in tons of miles. Leo's success comes from his speed not his endurance. He is a mid distance guy not a distance runner. He is also only 5'5" so 125 is really not that light.

agip wrote:

I just want to be on record early for this. A 28 yr old 3:32 guy with lots of miles in his legs who can close (and weighs just 125 pounds) - when he moves up he will run 12:50 and could medal in 2015 or 2016.

High marks for boldness.

Low marks for lacking any understanding of Manzano. There is zero chance of your predictions coming anywhere near to actually happening. You should know better.

I don't know about AR or close, but I think people are underestimating his 5k possibilities. Torrence ran 13:16? They train together. Leo was all-american in XC in college too I think. Under 13:10 I can see as a more reasonable possibility.

Leo won silver this past summer. He isn't going to be moving up anytime soon I don't think.

Lets get real.. Leo isn't breaking an AR

dude, what kind of beer are you drinkin' tonight?

runner85 wrote:

I don't know about AR or close, but I think people are underestimating his 5k possibilities. Torrence ran 13:16? They train together. Leo was all-american in XC in college too I think. Under 13:10 I can see as a more reasonable possibility.

They train together therefore they must have similar 5k abilities?!? What the heck!?????????

someone had to do it wrote:

Vo2 Max doesn't mean everything

That's more like it.

I agree. Leo is a speed guy. That's how he (3:32) beat a bunch of 3:30 guys in London. Then again Lagat was pretty much in this position a long, long, long time ago.

You definitely have not done your homework. I love your enthusiasm, but you have zero idea of the type of engine Manzano has under the hood. He's strictly a middle distance guy.

good call on the beer question - tonight I have had a miller high life and a shot of tequila, each of which have altered my judgment in small but real ways. And also today I narrowly escaped a large speeding ticket, so I am probably unwisely optimistic.

I also have done very little homework on Manzano except watch him race. And he seems comfortable in a pack, he loves nothing more than closing, and he is getting up in age. In my book that could translate into a good 5k runner.

We'll see - I put it in my calendar to check back in 2015.