You have not watched the race - how on earth can you give infos how the race unfolded ("... he was not chasing the clock...")?
And directly from Mr Coevett himself:
My replay:
That's the point of view from the liar himself and and one of his many handles (as I believe, or there just is another mad one like him). Just a reflection of what he (they?) think has happened or what they wish. Quotes taken directly right of their as...
And now the correct version.
The race was in August, in the absolute height of the season. It was the purest time trial from Ovett someone can think of. Ovett directly after the start went behind two pacemakers. The three went well ahead of the field very soon, a gap of something like at least 20 meters opened. The 2nd pacemaker took Ovett until 1100m and Ovett reached 1200m in 2:50.44. Then he dramatically slowed down (43.34 for the final 300m). Bile was running at the end of a too big field and passed all of them (running very wide) in the last 500m and closed the gap to Ovett on the homestretch, obviously having no clue about his true potential. The race was run on Ovett's favoured track in Koblenz, where he has set his best 1500m and Mile times (apart from Rieti with the obviously extremely good conditions).
It was Ovett's only sub 3:34 after his last WR at the age of 27. The race was run 1 week after his great 5000m Gold at the Commonwealth games.
And now, compare the reality with the 100% made up "version" of Coevett. We should take any, really any, "fact" which Coevett presents us with the biggest portion of scepticism possible. We are talking here about just number based facts which are easy to verify (but Coevett even doesn't accept pure facts like that if they don't fit his agenda).
What about all the other points which he regularly brings to this forum as "facts" and which are just highly speculative and just nobody has an clear knowledge about the reality.
For sure I can't remember a race which was run 32 1/2 years ago. For sure I have looked on the race before I gave my replay to your lie.
Steve Ovett is one of my favourite runners. After his last WR at age 27 he never was in a shape which puts him as some contender for some global medal. In mid 1986 he was in great shape and won the 5000m at the Commonwealt games. 1 week later he run a pure time trial over 1500m on his favoured track in Koblenz. Two pacemakers (Harald Olbrich and James Mays) helped him until 1100m (well ahead - at least 20m- of the field) and Ovett reached 1200m in 2:50.44. Obviously with the intention to at least break his PB of 3:30.77. Just, he wasn't in that kind of shape. And he never was after 1983 (and even in 1983 he just could run that fast in Rieti, where many athletes just went when they wanted achieve a fast time). Ovett just was not as fast as Coe or Cram, even in he 1500m. That's my opinion (and for sure not even close over 800m). In his best years (1977 - 1981) he was a fantastic "Miler" with a great finish. One of the all-time greats. On a few occasions he could extend his miling class to the 800m and/or 3000m+5000m. But not close to the best in these events. In any (really any) fast race at these events he faded badly. If someone just states fantastic times which he "could" have done - well, everyone has the right to believe what ever he/she wants. It's just not backed up by the facts.