Sebastian Coe vs Said Aouita - 1500/mile race - Who would win?

What was Coe's stride length compared to Aouita?

Richard Wharton wrote:

What was Coe's stride length compared to Aouita?

I believe Coe had a big stride length for a man of his height.

coe would win this.yes aouita had an almighty kick but coe was quicker.in one of his major races aouita ran his last 100 meters in 11.7.......but coe ran one of his in 11.3 ! sebastian coe also said in one of his books,that a kick for him was running the last 200 meters in 23 seconds.

jeff tallon wrote:

coe would win this.yes aouita had an almighty kick but coe was quicker.in one of his major races aouita ran his last 100 meters in 11.7.......but coe ran one of his in 11.3 ! sebastian coe also said in one of his books,that a kick for him was running the last 200 meters in 23 seconds.

When did Coe run his last 200m in 23 seconds?!

Warholm wrote:

jeff tallon wrote:

coe would win this.yes aouita had an almighty kick but coe was quicker.in one of his major races aouita ran his last 100 meters in 11.7.......but coe ran one of his in 11.3 ! sebastian coe also said in one of his books,that a kick for him was running the last 200 meters in 23 seconds.

When did Coe run his last 200m in 23 seconds?!

He ran a 24.0 in lane 2 in the European Cup final in 1979, in a finishing time of 1:47.2. That means he ran 3m extra in lane 2, so 24.0 for 203m = 23.6/23.7 for the last 200m.

Deanouk wrote:

Warholm wrote:

When did Coe run his last 200m in 23 seconds?!

He ran a 24.0 in lane 2 in the European Cup final in 1979, in a finishing time of 1:47.2. That means he ran 3m extra in lane 2, so 24.0 for 203m = 23.6/23.7 for the last 200m.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3POxQG_K70

He slowed down!

Seb would not beat 8:30 if able to finish

To JackieLovelock - You're very realistic person who love and understand the holy athletics. Both of them, Seb and Said are TOP 10 (middle) distance runners ever. I saw all that races You're talking about and much more. Admired Coe for his incredible efforts in '79 and '81 and his drive and attitude, but Aouita was equally capable runner. I remember '81 season when Coe dominated, but that same year i saw Aouita for the first time. He won Universiade 1500m in a meet record of 3:38 something that stands today if I'm right.

I was impressed by Aouita's kick and gear shift and it was obvious that he's capable of running much faster time (3:33-3.34) and that he has a chance to dominate in the future, but You have to understand and to admit that it was different time and it was much tougher for athlete from Morocco to gain international recognition and entrance for bigger meets.

Aboot PEDs at the time - don't know, both had clean records but also possibilities to use some enhancements. It's just a fantasy league today, but take a look at Mo Farah,his performances prior to Alberto Salazar and late, sudden improvements. I mean, if anyone suggests that Aouita was dirty and Farah clean, he's intentionally stupid and blind. When talking about running - there's no religion and race and many of guys here prefers theirs...

To Mr. Coevett - i agree that both Coe & Ovett are legends, but some of Your commentaries are foolish and inadequate. In some aspects You disgraced their names in attempt to prove that Your breed is superior than others. Ovett capable 12:35 5000m on PEDs??? I would like to try these drugs too.

Who would win in 1984 1500? Coe if 1200m slower than 2:50, Aouita otherwise... Both had legendary performances in L.A.

I think Coe would win if they raced over lets say 10 races.

Coe's speed is as good as Aouita.

I believe Coe is the superior tactical racer than Aouita if the race is slow.

Michael Swenson wrote:

I think Coe would win if they raced over lets say 10 races.

Coe's speed is as good as Aouita.

I believe Coe is the superior tactical racer than Aouita if the race is slow.

Has Aouita ever won a world class 1500m race which wasn't paced???

Coeva wrote:

Michael Swenson wrote:

I think Coe would win if they raced over lets say 10 races.

Coe's speed is as good as Aouita.

I believe Coe is the superior tactical racer than Aouita if the race is slow.

Has Aouita ever won a world class 1500m race which wasn't paced???

Does the Mediterranean Games count?

Michael Swenson wrote:

I think Coe would win if they raced over lets say 10 races.

Coe's speed is as good as Aouita.

I believe Coe is the superior tactical racer than Aouita if the race is slow.

It is very convenient for you to state Coe was the superior tactical 1500m runner to Aouita. Coe was too busy juicing &/or PED levels were too high, 1983 W.C. 1500m to show up. That was the slow 1500m for Coe to prevail as you stated. If I recall, 1000m split, app. 2:36+. Coe would've been fighting Ovett for 4th place.

How convenient for you wrote:

Michael Swenson wrote:

I think Coe would win if they raced over lets say 10 races.

Coe's speed is as good as Aouita.

I believe Coe is the superior tactical racer than Aouita if the race is slow.

It is very convenient for you to state Coe was the superior tactical 1500m runner to Aouita. Coe was too busy juicing &/or PED levels were too high, 1983 W.C. 1500m to show up. That was the slow 1500m for Coe to prevail as you stated. If I recall, 1000m split, app. 2:36+. Coe would've been fighting Ovett for 4th place.

That was a Finnish tabloid which concocted that story about Coe being on PED.

There was no grounds for that claim.

Michael Swenson wrote:

How convenient for you wrote:

It is very convenient for you to state Coe was the superior tactical 1500m runner to Aouita. Coe was too busy juicing &/or PED levels were too high, 1983 W.C. 1500m to show up. That was the slow 1500m for Coe to prevail as you stated. If I recall, 1000m split, app. 2:36+. Coe would've been fighting Ovett for 4th place.

That was a Finnish tabloid which concocted that story about Coe being on PED.

There was no grounds for that claim.

I am not specifically familiar with Finnish journalism standards. Here in U.S., so-called tabloids often print true stories, the news NY Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune or L.A. Times would not touch.

How convenient for you wrote:

Michael Swenson wrote:

That was a Finnish tabloid which concocted that story about Coe being on PED.

There was no grounds for that claim.

I am not specifically familiar with Finnish journalism standards. Here in U.S., so-called tabloids often print true stories, the news NY Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune or L.A. Times would not touch.

Source or link???

Hank Scorpio wrote:

How convenient for you wrote:

I am not specifically familiar with Finnish journalism standards. Here in U.S., so-called tabloids often print true stories, the news NY Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune or L.A. Times would not touch.

Source or link???

There isn't any.

Coe said "Basically Aouita breaks all the rules..." lol.

Coevett wrote:

Coe ran the last 200m at the AAA after being tripped and injuring his hamstring in 25.2 seconds.

Yeah that was a good race with Ovett in the final as well, it was pretty much an Olympic final calibre race - people forget that winning the british title in the mile in those days was at least as hard if not harder than winning an Olympic final such was the depth - a bit like winning the Kenyan cross country title today.

But what about Aouita in the Seoul 800m? He practically had his leg in plaster and almost had to be carried in a wheelchair to each of his qualifier heats yet he gutted it out to win a bronze medal in the final with his head almost rolling off his shoulders - that was unreal considering that he was moving down from 5000m at the previous Olympics - the guy was tough!

Aouita was going for the double 800m and 1500m.

Imagine if he won both!

Mapelli Mozzi wrote:

Aouita was going for the double 800m and 1500m.

Imagine if he won both!

Yes, the Olympic 1500m in 88 could have been the greatest race over the distance of all time, but it turned into quite a depleted field and one of the weakest standard victories at that level. Rono practically never won a race before that final and I don't recall him winning another race again!

Had Cram not made the (terrible) decision to run the 800m first (as he was carrying an injury) he would likely have won the 1500m. Had Elliott not succombed to injury too in running both events, he would likely have beaten Rono but not a rested Cram.

Had Aouita not run injured in the 800 it would have been neck and neck with Cram in the 1500m. Had Bile not got injured and been there he too could have won the 1500, especially in the form he showed in 87 and 89.

And if Coe had been allowed to run and been given a chance to recover from the chest infection that had affected him in the UK trials some 6 weeks earlier, then he too would have had a good shot of winning the 1500.

It could have been Cram v Aouita v Coe v Bile at something approaching their best, but instead we ended up with a little known Kenyan beating an injured Cram and Elliott.

The moral of this is that it is exceptionally difficult to double up in those 2 events in an Olympic arena, never mind winning medals in both events. That is why only 1 man, Snell, has managed it in the modern era, and why Coe came close twice.