OFFICIAL 2014 Oslo Diamond League Discussion Thread.

Agreed that we looked good (apart from the mile) and I'm excited for the rest of the season

The PRs of the top six guys other than Rupp and Ndiku (new guy) is 12:46-12:51, avg 12:48. This is the kind of shape Rupp is in right now in a fast conditions race.

El Keniano wrote:

I love how people here think "the Africans" exist only to make things optimal for Rupp.

When "the Africans" are designated pace makers and are PAID to do this, then yes, it is expected they do their job.

I notice all the jamaicans are disappearing off the scene almost as quickly as they appeared

he cannot break 12:50 at this point in time.

1 SOULEIMAN Ayanleh DJI 3:49.49

2 WILLIS Nick NZL 3:49.83 PB

3 TESFAYE Homiyu GER 3:49.86

4 INGEBRIGTSEN Henrik NOR 3:50.72 NR

5 MEKHISSI BENABBAD Mahiedine FRA 3:51.55

6 GEBREMEDHIN Mekonnen ETH 3:51.59 SB

7 ÖZBILEN Ilham Tanui TUR 3:51.71

8 CENTROWITZ Matthew USA 3:52.23

9 BIRGEN Bethwell KEN 3:53.96

10 CRONJE Johan RSA 3:54.24

11 ROBINSON Paul IRL 3:54.77 PB

12 HANNES Pieter-Jan BEL 3:55.33

Number four Ingebrigtsen is making his breakthrough. PB by 2.9 secs.

El Keniano wrote:

I love how people here think "the Africans" exist only to make things optimal for Rupp.

No but rabbits are routinely paid in every Diamond League distance race to set a fast (but realistic) even pace that will contribute to a fast finishing time.

In this race, the rabbiting was botched from the start in such a way that the race played out to favor the 5000m kickers and disfavor the 10000m runner. The 10000m runner who got everyone's attention by winning the last Diamond League event.

Rabbiting screw-ups do happen but reasonable people could conclude this particular event was not a random occurrence.

Good God, the Kenyans are getting good at field events now!

Woooo. A Kenyan is now one of the world's best spear chuckers. Julius Yego keeps getting better.

Jefe in the CO wrote:

george oscar bluth wrote:

Closer on place for Jager? I don't think so. And, yeah, sub 8:10 no AR was pretty accurate. Kipruto boned me though.

Ok, we'll call that one a push. My man Rupp will come through for me now.

If only comparing variables that you both commented on (exclude Kipruto over Koech since Jefe didn't comment on them) then I would say the score is Jefe 0 George 2.

Steeple

George - Jager 1 place off, 3 seconds off

Jefe - Jager 1 place off, 7 seconds off

5000m

George - Rupp 1 place off, 4 seconds off

Jefe - Rupp 2 places off, 10 seconds off

Good on Ingebrigsten for setting a NR in front of the home crowd, what a great feeling that must be. I wonder what the percentage is for NR's actually being set on home-soil, must be insanely low.

4 INGEBRIGTSEN Henrik NOR 3:50.72 NR

5 MEKHISSI BENABBAD Mahiedine FRA 3:51.55

Big PB for Ingebrigtsen! New high tech speed suit?

Where has MEKHISSI BENABBAD Mahiedine been recently? I haven't heard a peep about him since he punched Mehdi Baala.

Alan Webb's Triceps wrote:

4 INGEBRIGTSEN Henrik NOR 3:50.72 NR

5 MEKHISSI BENABBAD Mahiedine FRA 3:51.55

Big PB for Ingebrigtsen! New high tech speed suit?

Where has MEKHISSI BENABBAD Mahiedine been recently? I haven't heard a peep about him since he punched Mehdi Baala.

Breaking 8:00 in the steeple last year.

brilliant run for henrik, and a mustache that rivals the American leer in panache...

Ah, didn't realize he ran last year: http://www.all-athletics.com/node/32882

WTF is wrong with all you people (not just who I am replying to).

It's a frickin race. It's not a time trial. Not every race has to be set up to run a PR. The point is to win or place as high as possible. Sometimes that means you have to go out on your own. Sometimes it just means you have to have better tactics. Sometimes it mean you just have to be lucky to win.

Rupp would have to be lucky to win this race. However, he can still place high, and he did. 3rd place in a high quality race like this is great. He beat a lot of good runners. 13:03 is good time, and he ran a good race.

Rupp's PR is 12:58, so he only 5 seconds off. Lets say that he is in 12:50 shape as some suggest, then he still 13 seconds off. Hey if you are some 14:30 5k guy, ghe 14:43 is still hard. Especially, if you are pushing hard the last 1k to beat other 14:30 guys who are right there with you.

I suppose if you are some 10:00 HS guy, then you think every race is a chance to better your PR. It's NOT. Especially once you get to a higher level. The purpose is always to place as high as possible. On rare occasions you may set up a race as a time trial, but those are usually in races with less consequences.

Of course, when you are way back with no chance of winning, then, yes, every race is a PR attempt until you can get up there with the leaders. I'm not sure why this is such a hard concept. It's about place, not time. Always has been. Always will be.

of course he can't, he just ran 13:03 off a slow pace with a ~1:55 last 800. HE'S TIRED YO!

yyy wrote:

he cannot break 12:50 at this point in time.

TJ wrote:

When? In a 4x4 in high school? Certainly not in any race that he's run recently.

LM wrote:

Except for the fact that Rupp has closed in 52 seconds before. It's correct to say he can do it.

No, in a 5000 at US Trials in 2012 to qualify for London 5000. Whether that is recent or not is up to you.

Admittedly not quite the same as in this race they had already rolled a 58 or so, which is a little different than just going to the bell and kicking; but Rupp is physically capable of closing as fast as anyone. He just only produces closes like this once in a blue moon.