After Centrowitz's super quick final lap of 50.6 in the 1500m, I was wondering what are the fastest last laps you guys know of, from 800m-10,000m?
I guess straight away you could look at Ovett running 50.x for the last lap of the 800m in Moscow 1980, Coe maybe a hair faster though obviously he was coming from further back.
Just interested to see your thoughts and insight.
Elliott ran a sub 50 seconds last 440 yards to win the Commonwealth 880 in 1958.
Ovett once beat Walker in an 800 with a sub 50 last 400.
Plenty of last laps as quick as Centrowitz's - in quicker races too. (Don't even wnat te revive the argument about how fast Ryun finished in 1967 to beat Norpoth and Tummler - in a 3:37 race!)
Didn't silver and bronze run faster than Centro?
Closing in sub 50 is insane! Yeah don't want they Jim Ryan 3.24 arguments again haha
I just used Centro as a recent and relevant example of a fast last lap, though yes I'm sure Makh and Willis would have closed in something very similar. Hard to believe how quick these guys are!
Last lap splits for 1500 metres races are unofficial. The fastest last 300 metres for a 1500 metres men final Olympic gold medalist, Fermin Cacho, 1992 1500 metres final, 37.57. Second fastest last 300 metres for a 1500 metres final Olympic gold medalist, John Walker, 1976, 37.94. Cacho had a 1200 metres split of 3:02.55. Walker had a 1200 metres split of 3:01.23. Saturday's race was pathetic. Running a fast last 300 metres after passing 1200 metres in 3:12 was not impressive!
Gonzalez 49.9
there was a big thread on this subject previously
Have you got a link for that?