candyman can wrote:
The women's 800m is definitely weak these days. But it was still a good race by Sharp - she is now one of the contenders. Wilson struggled (jet lag?) but BMart redeemed herself after a sub-par 1500m. No one in this group is going under 1.55 anytime soon.
Where are the Russians? Waiting until next year? or all on doping suspension? At least Montano has an excuse not be competing this year.
Agree with this, but expecting sub 1:55 is like expecting sub 1:42 from a given group of men, it's historically very unlikely.
Sharp has a lot of power and if she can stay injury free for a few years can get down to 1:56 territory, why not? She seems to have the action, the temperament, the necessary genetics. Just needs to her body to let her put in a really good spell of conditioning work so she can last.
The other British hopes, Muir and Judd, are potentially going to threaten world class, but both look like it'll be over 1500m as their basic speed seems a bit lacking against the world's best.
Wilson wasn't herself today but - again, injury dependant - looks a reasonable bet for 1:56 and becoming something pretty special over the next year. Presumably she's being brought on quite carefully in order that she doesn't burn out, and next year could be big.
Sum looks to have stalled but one hopes that competition can inspire her to get down to the times she looks capable of. She's rangy and powerful but just doesn't seem as fit as the top 800m runners of years gone by. Again, there's surely 1:56 in there somewhere.