Vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAjlwfNDLzI
Wow! GREAT race, amazing last 50m!
It's amazing to think about 43.18, when you see the quality of this race.
Nice work. He made everybody else look like a fool.
I don't ever remember seeing a finishing kick in a fast 400m before.
Not surprised by this at all, he's just too good, and it looks like he put on a bit of muscle as well. If he doesn't break the WR this year he'll do it next year.
Fun Fact: one of the guys commenting is the great Vebjørn Rodal
Great race by James. I love him because he's one of the few top athletes I 100% believe is clean. Talent at it's finest.
Michael Johnson's biggest critique of James was his form. SG, does his form look any better than previous years?
It would have been interesting to see this race with a couple of 400s under Merritt's belt. The placing would not have changed. However, Merritt finishes pretty well also and did not fade too badly here. If he were ramped up another third of a second - to 44.25 say - then we might have seen an even bigger push going into the 43s, even if just barely.
[I know some think Merritt is/was dirty and does not belong on the track, but that is a different issue from this question.]
A finish like James' tells me that he went slower in the first 200 than he could have. I think this was a really fast day for him where he could have gone well below 44 had he had a slightly different race model.
As to his form, he has definitely gotten stronger IMHO. He still runs a bit like a duck, but a bit of turnout in the feet can actually enable longer strides if done correctly, which is a great thing in the 400.
His arm swing in this final 100 was terrific, and his torso position looked advantageous. That guy was moving, he was literally running away from Merritt.
Right, Merritt didn't fade badly at all--but today was no contest. I thought James looked invincible. I don't think he'll necessarily get 43.18 as some are predicting, that's a really great time--but he will be among the all-time 400m greats when he is done.
Sprintgeezer wrote:
Right, Merritt didn't fade badly at all--but today was no contest. I thought James looked invincible. I don't think he'll necessarily get 43.18 as some are predicting, that's a really great time--but he will be among the all-time 400m greats when he is done.
Running that fast, that early in the season? He could probably go 43.5 in that kinda shape...
You heard it here first (well probably not) Kirani will break the WR within the next 2 years and I'd put money on it (if i had any...)
Earned me 30 points for that meet record, he did.
If Pamela Jelimo had shown up and run 1:58 low, I'd be in 1st place in the LR fantasy league.
a bit more muscular now but with a physique resembling wariner.