BlimeyMate wrote:Learn about the benefits of even splits because of this? Ha!
there is no benefit
they only crop up in tactical runs not circuit races
No one learned from Dave Wottles gold in 73, with perfectly eben splits, so its doubtful
that run has so much nonsense mythology attached to it
wottle ran with even/- ve splits because he picked up an injury after trials & was nowhere in trials shape & had to take it out easy
he has alluded he woud no way have let the gap to the leader have grown so much if his ?hamstring had been 100% & wouda stayed right up near the lead & kicked off the ruskie's shoulder
as for trials, wottle's huge -ve split WR run was a "forced" effort which he said was "all down to Jim Ryun"
it started as tactical race as usual to bell & then Ryun put in biggest kick ever between 400 - 500 of 11.6 !!!
this strung out the field & forced wottle to run the race of his life to get near to Ryun, who's stoopid kick off no serious 800 in 4y & well past his peak cost him & he just missed out on 3rd by a dip in 1'45-low/mid to wottle's 1'44.3
Ryun's poor tactics/inexperience cost him hugely, because to kick an 11.6 at 400 & still hold on for 1'45-low/mid is indicative of a guy who with ideal 2s +ve splits is form for 1'42-mid
if Ryun had just cruised around & kicked off final bend, it is guaranteed he wouda got top-3 & likely won & wouda been huge favorite for gold in '72 even if wottle was 100% fit : 1'42.5 v 1'43.25
wottle's -ve spit 1'44.3 converted to 2s +ve split i got as 1'43-low with a formula i use, which is exactly what author of wr progression book, hymans said
~"in fast paced race, wottle's WR run coud have been 1'43+"