Leo Manzano- 1:52 800m at Texas Relays

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  • Hermès link ice blue mink
    2 years ago 03/29/2018 9:12pm CDT
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    So Leo opened up his outdoor season with a 1:52 800m. He’s traditionally opened at Texas relays with an 800 the past 5-7 years. He’s progressively gotten slower each year I remember him running 1:45-46 with ease then it became 1:48-49, last year I think it was a 1:50 now this year 1:52. I know he’s not the most consistent racer but 1:52 is something different it shows an aging former Olympic medalist.

    In a flotrack interview he says he has more races out together with an ultimate goal of breaking 4 in the mile!!!?

    Really? This isn’t a good sign.

    Is it safe to say... manzano is officially done?

    Let’s say: he never breaks 3:40 for 1500 for the remainder of his career... is that a safe bet?

    Discuss..
  • Swaglord
    2 years ago 03/29/2018 9:26pm CDT
    re: Hermès link ice blue mink
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    Yeah I mean he's getting up there. Blows my mind that these guys are retiring. Makes me feel old.
  • Qwertu
    2 years ago 03/29/2018 9:36pm CDT
    re: Hermès link ice blue mink
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    Have you not been watching for the last few years? He is routinely DFL now. Got beat in a mile race by an American high schooler-that was nearly two years ago now, and he’s only gotten slower. It wasn’t even Hunter, it was some other fast kid that year. Manzano has been done for years.
  • FrenchDawg
    registered
    2 years ago 03/29/2018 9:56pm CDT
    re: Hermès link ice blue mink
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    Faster than our reigning Olympic champion...
  • esemaich
    2 years ago 03/29/2018 10:03pm CDT
    re: Hermès link ice blue mink
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    Congratulations! You officially don't get it.
  • hart crane
    2 years ago 03/29/2018 10:09pm CDT
    re: esemaich
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    He has 3 - 7 good races in him every year. Sometimes thats all you really need.
  • The Real Deal
    2 years ago 03/29/2018 10:10pm CDT
    re: FrenchDawg
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    FrenchDawg wrote:

    Faster than our reigning Olympic champion...


    Leo is quite likely the actual Gold medalist in London 2012.
  • mcvred
    registered
    2 years ago 03/30/2018 3:02am CDT
    re: FrenchDawg
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    Centro ran 1:49 indoors as the anchor on a 4x800.
  • Moby
    registered
    2 years ago 03/30/2018 3:26am CDT
    re: mcvred
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    mcvred wrote:

    Centro ran 1:49 indoors as the anchor on a 4x800.


    This is such a random statement
  • Not Fast
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    2 years ago 03/30/2018 4:23am CDT
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    Leo is a great ambassador for the sport. You can see him running around town with the younger athletes from University of Texas. He gives back to the community in so many ways. Let him finish the way he wants to. He's earned it.....
  • donuts matter
    2 years ago 03/30/2018 6:16am CDT
    re: Not Fast
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    wait...which athletes from UT do you see him running around with?

    And he can finish any way he wants to, but we are all just saying he is done. And has been for some time now.
  • Gertrude
    2 years ago 03/30/2018 7:29am CDT
    re: esemaich
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    esemaich wrote:

    Congratulations! You officially don't get it.


    Wtf are you talking about? You don’t get sh** bro
  • Back whip
    2 years ago 03/30/2018 7:40am CDT
    re: hart crane
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    hart crane wrote:

    He has 3 - 7 good races in him every year. Sometimes thats all you really need.


    Leo used to have 3-7 good races a year. He depends on a running contract for survival.
    He's like the the guy in the movie The Wrestler, hanging on for one last match by a thread not knowing how to give it up. Fans like him but lower their heads after his races remembering when he was the champ.
    His biggest mistake was not diversifying himself by running the 5k.
    Leo needs to figure on how to make himself unique. Running in Europe won't do it, he can barely get a lane if at all, running at the back doesn't do much for you in big races.
    Whats left in the US, nationals and the Pre meet for big stuff. He's not fast enough for the big race at Pre so he gets into the b race.
  • ATXATXATX
    2 years ago 03/30/2018 7:51am CDT
    re: Back whip
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    Leo is an awesome athlete, competitor and person. To those saying he hasn't been relevant for a while have a pretty short memory. In 2015, at USAs he got Bronze and made the world's team again. That was his 10th time in a row to finish in the top 3 at USA Outdoor Track and Field championships. In 2016, at the Trials, Leo finished 4th just behind Ben Blankenship (who he nudged out in 2016) Meaning he was still relevant as of 2016.

    Between 10 consecutive podiums at USAs, 2 Olympic teams, 1 Olympic Medal, and an IAAF Continental Cup Bronze in 2010. He is one of the best 1500 meter runners we have ever had. Much respect.

    That said, I think it was actually last year that may have been the beginning of the end. 2017 was the first year that age, and lack of fitness really began to show up with no real silver lining to the season. I worry this year will be the same. I do enjoy watching him continue to fight. That shows courage. Props to Leo for doing what he does, even if he is an older, less competitive version of himself.
  • ATXATX
    2 years ago 03/30/2018 8:29am CDT
    re: ATXATXATX
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    He’s at the point Alan Webb was about 4-5 years ago when he simply couldn’t get it done anymore. Like running 1:55 indoors and tripping and falling. Leo is handling it better from an emotional stand point but you can tell he’s done
  • The lioness
    2 years ago 03/30/2018 9:08am CDT
    re: ATXATXATX
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    Awesome person? Hmmm. He WAS a great athlete. He had one good race in 2016 but that was it since 2015.

    Leo is likely running so he can keep his sweet paycheck. Not a great chance he ever makes this money again.
  • Drew butler
    2 years ago 03/30/2018 9:54am CDT
    re: The lioness
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    Talked to him last yr at tx relays, seemed to be a lil confused as to his decline, he felt normal but like it wasn’t clicking and didn’t know why or what to do. It’s been rumored for years that Manzano takes too much time away from running and doesn’t eat the best. Watching the flotrack interview sorta confirmed that. If he wants to turn it around he needs to leave no stone unturned. I think he lacks the motivation to do that it would be too much work for him. He wants to just be able to run and live like a normal vato and somehow still run 3:50 for mile.... won’t happen
  • pacedeffrt
    2 years ago 03/30/2018 10:16am CDT
    re: Hermès link ice blue mink
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    He ran it at his mile pace. Look for a 3:4x mile (or equiv 1500) from him this season
  • DirtyrunnerBen
    2 years ago 03/30/2018 10:30am CDT
    re: ATXATXATX
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    ATXATXATX wrote:

    In 2016, at the Trials, Leo finished 4th just behind Ben Blankenship (who he nudged out in 2016) Meaning he was still relevant as of 2016.



    He would have finished 3rd(and place on the team)if dirty Ben hadn't impeded Leo's progress down the home straight.
  • Spondy
    2 years ago 03/30/2018 10:42am CDT
    re: Hermès link ice blue mink
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    Pretty sure he ran 1:52 in a race I was in when Leo was a sophomore in high school.

    The guy has an Olympic silver, so I’m not going to trash him for milking out getting paid to run for as long as he can. Pretty sure I saw him run in his final US championship in ABQ.