Berian......wtf?

I don't think he did many tune up races due to that crap with Nike. Its not like he didn't make the olympic final.

he didnt have any race varience leading in. Clayton ran alot of 1500 and 4x4 in the past 6 months. Boris legs were shot

I guess things worked out perfectly for the Beaverton folk. Trick New Balance into signing a washed up fast food worked...throw said fast food worker's Olympic prep and mindset into a shambles...pick up a much cheaper and yet more talented new US star...score a nice Olympic medal.

Nerves, baby, nerves, coupled with Brenda Martinez's performance wrecking his psyche. He can't run against the big boys yet. No Rudisha or Murphy at World Indoors.

Something wrong in Big Bear. Martinez and Berian bonking hard.

P. Knight wrote:

I guess things worked out perfectly for the Beaverton folk. Trick New Balance into signing a washed up fast food worked...throw said fast food worker's Olympic prep and mindset into a shambles...pick up a much cheaper and yet more talented new US star...score a nice Olympic medal.

*cue X-Files music*

The beginning pace killed his legs. No one saw that coming. The Kenyans ran everyone out of it before the second lap. Boris likes to lead, and he does not know how to win or come from behind.

He's just not that good of a tactical racer. He can only run from the front ala Montana and that obviously was not going to work in the final. But he doesn't have a kickers speed to come from behind.

Time to train like the Africans.......race hard for the full 800m

American coaches think the key is ridiculously complicated intervals and repeats but the key is aerobic preparation and speed endurance.

hasty pudding wrote:

He's just not that good of a tactical racer. He can only run from the front ala Montana and that obviously was not going to work in the final. But he doesn't have a kickers speed to come from behind.

He definitely has the speed, it's probably his endurance that's been neglected. Should be a tough learning experience, a steady dose of easy mileage is probably what is due for him. He's been inconsistent, and tends to slow down a lot in races, so that's most likely the problem.

I'm tired of these posts bagging on pros like you have any idea how it's like being a pro. First of all, lack of racing because of the Nike dispute. Then probably felt pressured like everyone else but took it the hardest. Clayton has been racing 800,1500,4x4 so of course he was fitter. Boris made the Olympic final is that not an achievement already?!

Mad props to all the Americans who ran today. They all ran with courage and accomplished historic things. It didn't work out for Berian, but at least he ran without fear. To the original poster, the next time you make an Olympic final, feel free to criticize, until that day comes, STHU. Two Olympics in a row with two countrymen in the 800 final is something to be savored.

Out of his element could not get close to lead, panicked, tightened up game over.

He looked worse and more out of his element than our HS hurdler did tonight...

majorkey wrote:

I'm tired of these posts bagging on pros like you have any idea how it's like being a pro. First of all, lack of racing because of the Nike dispute. Then probably felt pressured like everyone else but took it the hardest. Clayton has been racing 800,1500,4x4 so of course he was fitter. Boris made the Olympic final is that not an achievement already?!

joedirt wrote:

Mad props to all the Americans who ran today. They all ran with courage and accomplished historic things. It didn't work out for Berian, but at least he ran without fear. To the original poster, the next time you make an Olympic final, feel free to criticize, until that day comes, STHU. Two Olympics in a row with two countrymen in the 800 final is something to be savored.

Good stuff, fellas. Good stuff all around. Two years ago, not a single one of you had heard of Berian, and today he ran in an Olympic final WITH another countryman. Be proud of USA middle distance and distance running today.

Do any of you remember the 90s and early 00s when the US would have no finalists in most distance races?

We've come a long way, baby. And it's damn fun to watch.

lol of course it's a great accomplishment for him to make the final, I'm not trying to make a personal attack on him, I just think he way under-performed (yes, running 1:46 and finishing last is an under-performance) that's all. He got through the rounds looking sharp, then shits the bed in the final. I'm noticing a recurring theme.

He was great in the semi. The disappointment in the final isn't about him not medaling, IMO, even though he had an outside chance. To me, the disappointment is how the race unfolded. If he would have been in position to possibly nab a medal and die down the homestretch, that would have been cool. But, he lost it around 550m.

I don't think he knew what to do once Kipketer went out so fast. He tucked in then gave chase and really expended himself. I don't think he really knew what to do at the beginning and it prevented him from running a controlled race.

I think the problem with him is that he doesn't know what to do if someone spoils his race plan.

D-Nice wrote:

He was great in the semi. The disappointment in the final isn't about him not medaling, IMO, even though he had an outside chance. To me, the disappointment is how the race unfolded. If he would have been in position to possibly nab a medal and die down the homestretch, that would have been cool. But, he lost it around 550m.

I don't think he knew what to do once Kipketer went out so fast. He tucked in then gave chase and really expended himself. I don't think he really knew what to do at the beginning and it prevented him from running a controlled race.

Nonsense.

Look at him at the 200m mark. He's half a step ahead of Murphy. Had nothing to do with Kipketer going out fast. Just Berian running out of steam.