dkny64 wrote:
I see Salazar having a choice:
-move Cain down to the 800m, where she has a very good chance of making the US team, some chance of making the final at worlds, but little chance of being a key player in the final at Worlds;
-keep her in the 1500m, where she could make an impact in a world final but where she will have to confront the randomness of a slow, tactical US final against runners who won't let her control the race the way she was able to at indoors.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Cain has run one sub 2:00 in her life. That is the minimum qualifying time for Worlds. Why would she likely be to make the final?
Same thing in the 1500? Yes she could make it but we usually don't think of 4:04 women making an impact in the final.
The women's 800m looks weak so far this year and Cain currently sits #9 on the world list with her 1:59.51. I think she'd have some chance of making the world final, but I agree that once there she would be very unlikely to be a contender.
No, we don't usually think of 4:04 women as making an impact at the world level, but Cain has unusually good closing speed for a 4:04 woman + she's been improving all year, so if she made the world final, she'd be someone the major contenders would need to keep in mind.