[copied from another thread]
As crazy as it apparently looks to everyone, the way Montano runs the 800m is one way to do it. When you are a legit low 52x 400m runner, going out in 56 is a training interval. If your 400m PR is over a second faster than everyone in field and if you don't have great endurance, why not try to put up a big lead. Tactics are based on your strenghts and weaknesses, they work and sometimes they don't. Running from the back or the front is high risk, it is a big gamble, but it has pays off numerous times. This time it didn't work for Montano, but no one can accuse her of not going for it.
I assure you that if a few of the ladies in that race had went with her, it would have been a different race, but, they didn't, they let her go and judged their race appropriately. Considering the magnitude of the event, I was surprised everyone didn't get caught-up and let her go and I'm sure Montano was surprised as well. Beating Sum and Savinova was doubtful anyway and she came with in a nipple of getting 3rd. You don't win multiple H.S., NCAA, National titles, DLs and make global championship finals and not know what you are doing. It was a fast race overall, Montano didn't run too far off of her PR after running rounds...how can anyone say that a 1:57x was a flop? Most years America's doesn't even have one 1:57x lady, this year we had 2, I think Montano missed out on a mdeal more so becasue of how great Martinez ran and Sum who came from almost out of nowhere. Like I said, I have seen Montano win tons of races doing it her own way and I think the focus should be on how great Sum and Martinez ran and not on Montano's tactics.
I find it strange that Everyone on Letsrun knows more about Montano and the 800m than Montano and her coach.