sp2 wrote:The 1000 splits don't tell the story at all.
It was a thoroughly ridiculous, ugly, stupid race.
Girls surging to the front, or half-way to the front, and then slamming on the brakes, running up each others' backs,
backing into each other, clipping and shoving each other, weaving in and out.
It was beyond stupid. Like a minor-league roller derby match.
At one point, I think there were successive 200 splits of something like 34/40/33.
It didn't look like any orchestrated strategy, just like a bunch of goofy, inexperienced girls with no idea what the hell they were trying to do.
But later in the race, there was a point where Mary literally had 4 or 5 African girls closing down on her from every conceivable direction, when you couldn't help but think there might've been some serious, pre-planned 'ganging-up' going on.
Mary certainly didn't seem to do a brilliant job of positioning for much of the race, and repeatedly got herself stuck in some ugly-looking spots,... but she kept her composure beautifully, fought off every incursion, battled for her space, waited and waited till she finally got a little room,... and then absolutely steamrolled both Kenyan girls in the last 150.
Left them in the dust, and made it look *easy.*
All things considered, I'd say this was a pretty tremendous performance.
And she was clearly good for a HELL of a lot faster than her time tonight.
8:58 in this ridiculous, Keystone-Cops race suggests she could easily run 8:50 in a time-trial right now. (Maybe even 8:45.)
I think all the people happily announcing Mary's demise after a couple of disappointing races earlier this summer are gonna be pretty disappointed.
She's already back in great shape, and ready to continue marching forward towards true world-class status.
Don't be surprised to see her challenge that 4-minute mark later this season.
Mary's the real freaking McCoy.
I thought the race was fascinating, not keystone coppy at all. what is wrong with surging and strategy? Why would we prefer 6 perfectly paced laps and then a kick?
That was a very entertaining, interesting race, with the outcome in doubt til the last 15 seconds. I'll take it everyday over a processional diamond league race.