said88 wrote:
Coevett wrote:I wonder if anyone knows how fast Aouita ran in his famous 3000m steeplechase run in 1987? I know he lost to Alessandro Lambruschini who finished 9th in the world championships that year in 8:24, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was slower than the time Jakob has just run at 16.
Furthermore, I recently discovered that the 1987 steeplechase wasn't Aouita's debut in the event. He had actually been competing in it since 12 years previously, as he was 'ranked second as a junior in 1975' according to an old news article. He would have been 15 then. This is interesting as Said88 here has claimed that Aouita didn't even start running until he was 18.
Aouita was the 2nd fastest Junior in 1979, not 1975. I think I have given you his progression at least three times before.
Your comparison to Jakob Ingebrigtsen probably is a new all-time low-level even for you: "Aouita was such a terrible runner, because 16 year old Ingebrigtsen came within five seconds of his steeple-time".
For sure, if Cou would have tried the event, he would have run 7:55 (Ovett probably 7:45).
Aouita ran his steeple in his last race of '87, after two victories at the meditteranean games the days before. He reportedly almost came to an stop at the last barrier. But still ran a respectful 8:21.92 (than 82nd fastest all-time). Unfortunally he never tried the steeple and the 10000m again (800m in '88, injury problems from '90 onwards and probably loss of dedication after the Bronce from Seoul).
There can't be much doubt that 8:15 was possible for him. Anything else just would be pure speculation (unfortunally I just have small parts of his steeple on tape).[/quote]
Actually, on this occasion I wasn't so much trying to knock Aouita but praise the talent of Jakob.
Well the article got it wrong if he ran the steeplechase in 79 and not 75.
I would say though that when Aouita's steeplechase is mentioned it is often put in the context of a claim of this type - 'Aouita even ran an ultra-fast steeplechase on his debut in 1987, narrowly losing only to the Olympic bronze medalist'.
The truth is that Aouita was already an experienced steeplechase runner, even if as a long way back as a junior, he lost to Lambruschini by over 2 seconds, and Lambruschini was a long way from the elite steeplechaser he was when he won his bronze medal - NINE YEARS LATER.