Slowest 800 Mens NCAA win since 1955

Why can't they just race? wrote:

Why do they always have to run a fast time. I don't know why people get so caught up in time. It is a race for a national championship. Those guys are going to employ what ever tactic they think is best to win, and yesterday everyone thought they could out kick anyone, the last 300. If you want to see fast times then watch the prelims.

Two things. First, of course they should use the tactic they think is best to win. But it is obviously only the best tactic for one guy. Second, telling someone to only watch the prelims is like telling someone to only watch the opening act. A spectator sport is supposed to be entertaining for the spectators.

Hey, guess what, before that there was another slowest winning time, distance, height etc... We were lucky it has been so many years. Maybe it won't happen again for a while. There's also a bunch of records that haven't been broken lately so maybe you'll be lucky to see one of those as well. You just haven't been around long enough to appreciate all of it. Sorry Varuca, you just can't have it all right now!!!!!

Like someone else said, it's not so much the slow time. It's the fact that none of those guys were pushing it.

Are you guys really going to act like running a tactical 800 in a championship race is normal?

Sure 1500 and up it may happen all the time but normally 800s are ran pretty true

Hhhhhhhh wrote:

Like someone else said, it's not so much the slow time. It's the fact that none of those guys were pushing it.

Are you guys really going to act like running a tactical 800 in a championship race is normal?

Sure 1500 and up it may happen all the time but normally 800s are ran pretty true

Perfect post.

They shouldn't hand out medals if the first lap goes out slower than the next distance up.

The 1500m was the most garbage, screw noelle. Stupid son of a bitc.h. thinking he's hot shi-t winning in 3:55. On oregon! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's not exciting because they're blatantly NOT TRYING for 3/4 of the race. At least make the pace somewhat honest. Would a football game be exciting if all the players walked around and didn't try for the first three quarters and only went hard in the fourth? Because that's what these races are like.

You mean like the NBA before may?

I think Shaquille Walker would have won that race had he not ran the 4x400. The guy runs a 45 and was poised to put that speed to use.

Kidder was a little late too, don't know why he waited there at 150m

Why can't they just race? wrote:

Why do they always have to run a fast time. I don't know why people get so caught up in time. It is a race for a national championship. Those guys are going to employ what ever tactic they think is best to win, and yesterday everyone thought they could out kick anyone, the last 300. If you want to see fast times then watch the prelims.

I agree. Tactical races can be very exciting. Fast races can also be exciting. In the end, the excitement is not knowing how it's going to play out--isn't that sort of why we watch sports, because it is not scripted?

I overheard a reporter in Eugene last night talking with his editor over cell phone. Big story coming. Tom Courtney and a few other guys from the '55 final were apparently seen in the warm up area shortly before the 800 final, talking with Kemboi, Kidder and all the young bucks who had made the finals. Apparently the old dudes were offering cash payments and stock options if they dogged it and kept the race slow--"as slow as 55" Courtney was heard to say. Apparently McBride had second thoughts afterward so he is talking. Looks like we have another track scandal on our hands.