A world class 400m runner in the mile

yeah - some nice range. that ncaa regional meet was at lehigh where you ran 34:29, correct?

if you really wanted to start some trouble, you could've claimed the PRs of the kenyan marathoner with the same name as yours!

In the UK we have an outstanding talent by the name of Richard Davenport. He ran the 400mH at the WJ Champs in 2004, breaking the British Junior Record for the event. His coach is claiming that he will run 1:46 within the next 2 summer seasons as they plan to concentrate on 800m....which they have been doing for the past 3-4 years already, the 400H being a sideline almost (they appear adamant that 400/400H is not where his future lies). Not sure if he will run 1:46 this, but it will be interesting to watch him try.

Anyway, here are the PRs;

400m 46.80 aged 18 03 Jul 2004

400mH 50.20 aged 18 15 Jul 2004

600m 1:18.49 aged 16 28 Aug 2002

800m 1:51.25 aged 17 31 May 2003

1500m 4:02.30i aged 19 02 Jan 2005

3000m 8:53.60 aged 19 29 Sep 2004

not a bad range i am sure you will agree. This guy has been a child prodigy for years, but is now moving up into the U20/Senior age groups with lots of confidence and a huge amount of ability. I am not sure how fast Richard can go over 800m, but over the past few years we have seen no real improvement from him at all at this distance, so common sense tells me that it could be 2-3 secs this summer.

Lisa O'Dea-Matin-Ondieki went to the States as a hurdler and ended up running 2.23 for a marathon.

I already withrew the post ... as I said, I was sceptical when I thought (incorrectly) you were 57, as in years old, as opposed to 5-7, as in height. RUnning 1:50.89 indoors in 1968 is quite different from doing the same in 2001, I think you'll agree.

I'm sure you are who you are ...

Martin

rich davenport has not improved over 800 in the last 2-3 yrs cos thats when the big fool stopped growin. huge talent, but will not be an 800 metre runner. he shuld stick to 400 hurdlin!

Check THIS out,

Damn, you did your research. Anyway, I don’t run track anymore. I switched to cycling with the intention of representing Kenya in the triathlon at the 2008 Olympics. I am biking very well but still having problems with swimming…but as you can guess I have more than three years to perfect my weakness.

Mary Decker was in indoor 400 metere AIAW Champion (52 somethng)? while at Colorado and went on to run...

3:57 1500

Martin –X,

I am with you…by the way I am not trying to prove anything. I just love running and everything else that comes with it.

I second that!

There are a lot of 400 runners that can do well in the 800, but the 1500 is a different story. As someone said earlier, the world class decathletes can often run the 400 in under 47 seconds, but they run terrible 1500's. Someone like Seb Coe, who is a middle distance runner that runs a fast 400 is not a good example. The idea would be to see what a pure 400 runner like Michael Johnson could have done in a mile and I personally don't think he would have run under 4:40 or 4:50 in the mile. I think it would have been interesting to see what Alberto Juantoreno could have done. He was huge and ran an amazing 400/800 double. I would imagine he could run a better 1500 than Michael Johnson, but I still don't think he would have been world class at the mile or even a sub 4:20 kind of guy. There is a big difference between an 800 and mile, especially for someone sprinter oriented. Flo Jo used to talk about becoming a great distance runner after she retired from sprinting and she was nothing more than a jogger (of course in her case the steroids probably helped the sprinting much more than the distance running).

I was training with the Kenyan 2000 Olympic 400m group and these guys are pure sprinters, but their training philosophy is different. And that’s what makes all the diffrence. We did I hr morning runs every morning Monday-Friday and these guys were dropping somewhere close to 5.30 pace. I couldn’t keep up… At the time Joseph Mutua-1.43.33 guy was the only 800m guys in the camp so he went for morning runs with the 400m group. And this guys kept up with him the whole way. So, What my point? There 400m sprinters who can run a decent mile. And my nomination for this award goes to…. Simon Kemboi.This guy has a 44 high PR in the 400 but he used to kill the 800 guys in long runs. At his prime I would have place him around him around 44.80 (his pr) and 3.59.00-4.02.00 range. I asked him why he didn’t run the 800m…he told me he had military orders (he was a Kenyan army guy) to stick to the quarter…. at that point I didn’t want to ask any further questions regarding that issue…. While I was in the camp I got to meet and talk to many great runners, and at one point I spoke with Samson Kitur (44.18), 1992 Olympic bronze medallist. He told me of his training schedule and trusts me; if this guy had some little help from balco he could have run 42.++ and 1.41.00.

Jungle Bunny, very interesting to see that you are aiming for triathlon. I didn't know that the Kenyan Olympic Assoc was into that? Good luck with it.

Out of interest, what have your triathlon and duathlon results been like so far? You say that you are struggling with your swim....how bad is it? Have you been receiving good coaching for the swim? This is the only way ahead. #

I coach a Duathlete/Triathlete, who is pretty new to the event also. He competed in the World & European Duathlon Champs as an Elite last year, but that was really his first proper season as he only dabbled in one or two events during 2003. Have you considered using Elite Level Duathlon races as a stepping stone to a decent Triathlon career? This is what my guy is doing. His run is ok, having raced a PR of 30:33 for 10k in Dec04 and he is a natural on the bike....at 6'4" he is built well for the event, especially if its non-drafting.

It would be really interesting to see you compete in a good level Duathlon/Tri event as i have never seen a decent Kenyan do this before. Do you have a team or are you trying to go as an individual??

This shit does sound a bit patronising, but its not meant to. Good luck.

Dave

A lot of crap out there...

Then again, I have a friend who runs the 400h in maybe 57 (whatever that converts to) and ran 2:11 for a 4x800 without putting a lot of effort into it. I always wanted to see him run a 1500.

This thread is a prime example of why all the good posters have left Let's Run.

It started out by asking if anyone knew of a W.C. 400 runner that eventually went World Class in the 1500...

instead...we get..."my friend ran 57 and 2:11" (big shit) and I once ran a "50 second 400 and then 3:58, and by the way, my 10k PR is 33:40"; or "I like chocolate cake".

Nothing ever stays on topic - all we get is a bunch of wannatellitalls. Surprised this didn't get into religion.

Advice: Go down to your local coffee shop and start talking to everyone about what you have done in your illustrious running career - and you will clear the establishment in no time.

Same goes for here - the site is left to those with nothing to contribute.

Maybe you can start a thread about your car accident you had last night - that would be interesting.

Did the door hit you on the way back in too?

welcome back wrote:

Did the door hit you on the way back in too?

yes, actually it did. Hit me right in the face to realize that it had not changed, but that it has gotten even worse.

What ought to be deleted and what ought to be banned is the constant dribble of non-topic crap those goes on and on.

Now do you know any world class 400 runners who also excelled in the 400? The key phrase is world class or nearly, like Steve Ovett, Coe, Lisa Martin, Mary Slaney, Peter Elliot, Jim Spivey, Joetta Clark, maybe you have something to contribute, probably not.

Door hit me in the ass & Moscow,

What ever I did and achieved in track and field will always be a part of me and no one will ever take that away from me…. Dude I worked for it!…. By the way I am very grateful to have been given the chance to better myself. As for the coffee shop I take my girl friend there and unleash stories of running in the jungles of Kenyan and boy oh boy…I always get lucky after that..if you know what I mean.

BillZeebud…I will get back to you

jungle bunny wrote:

Door hit me in the ass & Moscow,

What ever I did and achieved in track and field will always be a part of me and no one will ever take that away from me…. Dude I worked for it!…. By the way I am very grateful to have been given the chance to better myself. As for the coffee shop I take my girl friend there and unleash stories of running in the jungles of Kenyan and boy oh boy…I always get lucky after that..if you know what I mean.

BillZeebud…I will get back to you

The point is, nobody gives a shit.

door hit me in the ass wrote:

jungle bunny wrote:

Door hit me in the ass & Moscow,

What ever I did and achieved in track and field will always be a part of me and no one will ever take that away from me…. Dude I worked for it!…. By the way I am very grateful to have been given the chance to better myself. As for the coffee shop I take my girl friend there and unleash stories of running in the jungles of Kenyan and boy oh boy…I always get lucky after that..if you know what I mean.

BillZeebud…I will get back to you

The point is, nobody gives a shit.

Or better yet, start a thread about all your achievements that are part of you, but unless you are a "World Class 400 meter runner moving to the mile" as the thread is titled, try to stay on the topic. Although not world class, Steve Ovett was a very good young 200/400 man.