Kenya will do better than the U.S. in the men's 800m

ladysman wrote:

No offense, but you keep mentioning Kitum when he won't even be competing in Moscow. You mention Amos, too, and he is not competing in Moscow.

Amos is still listed as competing in the championships and there are no heat sheets at this point. I would not ignore him just because some anonymous posters said so. Kitum is the only Kenyan with times that would have made him a threat to Amman, Solomon, Souleiman, Bosse, and others. In fact, I have doubts that Bosse and Souleiman can be factors against the 1:42 guys, and that would leave Amman, Solomon, Symmonds, and Amos if close to healthy. I doubt the Kenyans this year will even be a single medal threat. Certainly not by the times they've posted thus far this year.

I think nick has been around the block for so long people are taking him for granted.

Honestly the guy is arguably in the best shape of his life. He didn't run a smart USA race and got second, but I feel if the race doesn't go 1:42 at Worlds, Nick will win Gold assuming he is on for the final.

If you want some perspective. At London USA swept 1-2-3 in the 800, beating the 3rd place Kenyan from their trials. And the 4th place Kenyan going to worlds lost to Tyler Mulder at Monaco.

USA is deeper and stronger than Kenya, assuming USA peaked right.

Without Rudisha taking it out as in 12, it's anybody's race. Symmonds won't lose contact with the leaders this time around. His clock is ticking and he's got to play his cards right but his experience at rounds and running fast in final gives him as much chance as anyone. Worse case scenario would be a slow 500, a lot of jacking around on the backstretch and people still banging and clanging coming off the final turn. Anybody's race at that point.

coach d wrote:

ladysman wrote:

No offense, but you keep mentioning Kitum when he won't even be competing in Moscow. You mention Amos, too, and he is not competing in Moscow.

Amos is still listed as competing in the championships and there are no heat sheets at this point. I would not ignore him just because some anonymous posters said so. Kitum is the only Kenyan with times that would have made him a threat to Amman, Solomon, Souleiman, Bosse, and others. In fact, I have doubts that Bosse and Souleiman can be factors against the 1:42 guys, and that would leave Amman, Solomon, Symmonds, and Amos if close to healthy. I doubt the Kenyans this year will even be a single medal threat. Certainly not by the times they've posted thus far this year.

Again, Amos is NOT competing. I am not relying on some anonymous poster.

In last Solomon v. Symmonds matchup, nick went out in sub 51 and had the strength to gut out a faster last lap than Duane. That is how he wins. If Amman, symmonds, and Solomon all go out sub 51.5, nick wins. If it is slower than that or nick does not go out with leaders, either someone else from that group or an unnamed Kenyan wins.

Track and Field News has a formchart for Moscow events and they have ZERO Kenyans in the 10 people listed. Hahahahahahahaha. That shows what they know over there.

Incidentally, Ferguson Rotich was a decathlete/high jumper who claims he used to run "400m in 47 seconds without any training."

It is fairly common knowledge that Jeremiah Mutai was a 400m hurdler.

They, along with Anthony Chemut, make an interesting team at 800m, as they have much talent without experience.

http://sporton.co.ke/latest-headlines/no-regrets-for-mutai-rotich/

The heats have been published. Heat 2 look like the strongest heat with Johnson, Kszczot, Lopez and Amos (if he's running). Lopez and Johnson have run the fastest times in this heat this year, but I'd consider a weak Amos and a focused Kszczot to be stronger runners.

I don't really see any of these guys taking it out hard (considering Amos' injury) so getting through on time is risky.

Heat 1 should see Bosse, Lewandowski and Davide advancing (don't count out Hamada Mohamed and Bybyk (who defeated Bosse in the heats of the euro u23 championships))

Heat 3 Solomon should win this, Osagie, Mohammed, Marco and Olivier will battle for the other spots (I don't think Olivier is that strong).

Heat 4

Symmonds-Balla-Mutai, I don't expect any surprises.

Heat 5 Aman in a weak heat.

Heat 6. Souleiman, Chemut, and probably Ananenka, maybe the Morrocan?

amos is listed in heat 2. is he racing? how badly is he hurt?

ladysman wrote:

I don't think Symmonds is even going to medal, and there is a better chance of Kenya getting 2 medals in the men's 800 than for the U.S. to do so..

GONG!

kenya: 0 in the final

US: 2 in the final

time for a new screen name.

Good call

Nice to reflect back and see how many LR experts were completely incorrect

obummer wrote:

kenya: 0 in the final

US: 2 in the final

time for a new screen name.

zing!