Both in 4th place
Alexa ran about 15 meters farther though.
Both in 4th place
Alexa ran about 15 meters farther though.
I watched, I noticed.
Clear top-4 in each heat.
Alexa closed in approx. 65, Elise in 66, both appeared to ease up at end otherwise could have taken 3rds.
2:21/800 first heat, 2:13/800 2nd heat so all time qualifiers from the latter.
Alexa wanted to be near the leaders so, yes, she was running in lane 2 quite a bit.
Elise appeared content to run on the rail in mid-pack until the final lap when she eased into 5th, then 4th, then throttled back near the finish.
Both looked great . . . but so did the 2 Ethiopians, 2 Kenyans and the Polish girl.
For the finals, I can see a 2:10-2:12 opener with a 61 last-lap finish, winner under 4:10 which should be no big deal for the 3:59 girl. Presuming no one gets tripped up, I think it would be remarkable if Alexa or Elise make top-5.
Will make for prime-time TV watching Sunday afternoon
Dawit just lorded over the field. It will be a real scrum for the lesser medals, but I like Alexa's chances. Remember that she will be eligible in 2016, so this is all great experience for her.
Interview with Cranny
LetsRun.com wrote:
Race recap
http://www.letsrun.com/news/2014/07/w-1500m-800-alexa-efraimson-american-tretez-kinnaird-advances-800/
"Cranny had to battle a bit more as she was in a group of four for three auto spots, but in the end she got the last auto"
Typo ~ there were 4 auto spots.
Much faster semis than were run at NCAAs last month. In fact, faster than NCAA finals.
From recollection, this was Elise's 2nd fastest time ever while 3rd fastest for Alexa.
Excellent times to put down in championship -- non-rabbited -- races.
Now, they have to come back in two days and run even faster, something Alexa did at World Youth Champs last year but Elise has never had to do.
Don't know if this comparison is all that relevant, but when Jordan Hasay set her 4:14 hs record in the semis of the 2008 Oly Trials, she came back to run something like 4:16 for 10th in the finals. But, the 4:14 was her pr, while Alexa & Elise did not have to pr today, so faster times hopefully await on Sunday.
Looks like everyone got what they wanted: Cain qualifying for Worlds in the 3k and now bagging gold, Alexa & Elise qualifying in the 1500m and now both making finals with a slight chance to medal.