1:43.25 Michael Saruni

jamin wrote:

Imagine if college guy came out of nowhere and ran 3:45 for mile (roughly equivalent to 1:43 for 800)

"roughly" ?? Yes, VERY roughly.

1:43.25 is more like 3:48 flat for the mile. (per IAAF tables. I'll take those over Jamin's-#-pulled-out-of-butt "tables").

Stick to trolling.

WHooa wrote:

Wow that was windy. That is easily a 1:42 under better conditions.

If you're basing your 'windy' comments on the quality of the sound from the amateur recording link, then I think it's a bit misleading. Maybe not perfect conditions, but there doesn't seem much indication of strong winds from what can be seen on the infield and around the track.

Also, the men's 100m heats, which started 18mins before the 800 final (according to schedule on website) recorded wind readings that ranged from + 0.3m/sec to + 1.1m/sec. Likewise, in the women's 200m heats, which came 20 mins after the 800 final, the wind readings were +1.9, 0.0 and +0.8 m/sec.

The wind didn't change direction and was never above the legal limit of 2m/sec for sprint record purposes. It is unlikely that it was any stronger during the race.

I also see that he was drafted up to 450m, but probably ran 1m wide on the 3rd bend.

The splits, that are barely audible on the video posted above, seem a bit out to me, especially the 200 and 600m ones.

I don't think there were any official splits taken (but if anyone knows if there were and where to find them, I'd really appreciate a link), and the announcer says things like, '51 and change'.

I have located the 200m curve at end of back straight, and using that, I suggest that Surani's splits were roughly - 24.3, 50.8, 1:16.6 and 1:43.2, meaning his 200m splits were something like - 24.3, 26.5, 25.8, 26.6.

Tsk, Deano... you're moving towards DVTT (tm) territory here.... Official figures do not tell the story.

The wind did more than "Change direction" dude. Let me be clear. I was there for the entire meet.

The wind was gusting from the W and then NW during the meet. The afternoon began very hot (36 degC). A cold front passed through after the meet started, with wind gusts exceeding 25mph at one point. A small pitched tent moored with ropes behind me had to be held down by the people who brought it with harsh rattling of the canvas. This occurred not long before the start of the M800.

The stands and bleachers are on the W side of the track and there are no tall buildings nearby, meaning that wind readings on the W side of the stadium are not a reliable indicator for wind speeds on the E (backstretch) side.

Events were switched in direction during the meet e.g. the 100 and 200 were run contrary to the 400/800/distance runs.

The 800 was run at a point when the wind was swirling - the layout of the stadium and the nature of gusting fronts in the desert SW meant that although one of those readings was +1.9, there were sections of the track where it was much greater. In no way was this ideal. Henderson's 10.98 - another world leader, which the announcer failed to call BTW - was run with +0.1 but there was quite a strong crosswind at that time.

It was not Rieti, where according to your own oracle, "everyone runs 1:42" and anyone who was there will confirm, there was significant windage during the 800 although from which directions was hard to tell.

Now if that windage and bad lane habit means Saruni's DVTT (tm) was ~1.39, well, I don't know. For that, we need expert analysis to assist us.

jamin wrote:

...

Best 800 performance in the entire world over the past couple years

????

Two guys ran faster than that last year (including Korir)

It's probably the fastest 800m ever before the end of April however.

Tytfytfgyyf wrote:

It's probably the fastest 800m ever before the end of April however.

*fastest *outdoor* 800m...

...since it's slower than the indoor WR

Not An Expert wrote:

Holy . . .

Damnnn, he made it look so ez , he jogged the first lap, and the rest of the field probably got dragged to decent times, id bet.

and just like Korir last year, I wonder if he'll be able to improve on that at all for the rest of the year. Like Korir this may remain his lifetime best.

Tytfytfgyyf wrote:

jamin wrote:

...

Best 800 performance in the entire world over the past couple years

????

Two guys ran faster than that last year (including Korir)

It's probably the fastest 800m ever before the end of April however.

Most 1:42s or 1:43s are split like 49/54 and draft for the first 600m.

For some reason I find it a lot more impressive to see 2 51-highs in a row, mostly solo.

Didn’t korir set his seasons best in the summer winning a diamond league race? 1:43.10? Can’t recall which meet.

Deanouk wrote:

jamin wrote:

lol wtf

Just goes to show how much depth the 800 (and 400, 200, etc.) has compared to the 1500, 3000 steeplechase, etc., especially in the United States

Imagine if college guy came out of nowhere and ran 3:45 for mile (roughly equivalent to 1:43 for 800)

I think that’s a bit optimistic. I’d say a 1:43.2 800m is equivalent to more like a 3:48/3:49 mile or a 3:32 1500m, which is still excellent for this time of year.

I'd say it's excellent for any time if the year, especially as a collegian.

Deanouk wrote:

jamin wrote:

lol wtf

Just goes to show how much depth the 800 (and 400, 200, etc.) has compared to the 1500, 3000 steeplechase, etc., especially in the United States

Imagine if college guy came out of nowhere and ran 3:45 for mile (roughly equivalent to 1:43 for 800)

I think that’s a bit optimistic. I’d say a 1:43.2 800m is equivalent to more like a 3:48/3:49 mile or a 3:32 1500m, which is still excellent for this time of year.

How many guys in the world run under 1:43.25 each year? Maybe 5?

And how many guys run 3:32 or under? Maybe 50? 75? And who in the NCAA can run that? No one.

This wreaks of calculo/ventolin^3...I think we've been trolled the entire time. Tip of the hat to play that character, but also makes me question your sanity.

Korir ran that 1:43.10 in Monaco in July. In great conditions and on one the fastest tracks that exists. He ran 1:43.7 in April so it wasn't as big as an improvement as some were expecting. If I recall, there were some letsrun "experts" that had him breaking the world record by end of summer.

C'mon, man... wrote:

Wasn't he the one that had "visa troubles" in getting to Birmingham?

Nope. That was Korir. Pay attention; an athlete can’t compete in an international champs and at NCAAs in the same season (at least not if worlds was before NCAAs). He would have potentially earned prize money, which isn’t aloud if also using NCAA eligibility.

On a side note; I got stoked when I saw Harris’ 1:44 split at Penn, but this is just nuts.

PrZ wrote:

Nope. That was Korir. Pay attention; an athlete can’t compete in an international champs and at NCAAs in the same season (at least not if worlds was before NCAAs). He would have potentially earned prize money, which isn’t aloud if also using NCAA eligibility.

On a side note; I got stoked when I saw Harris’ 1:44 split at Penn, but this is just nuts.

As an ncaa athlete, you can win prize money. You just can't accept the prize money.

WHooa wrote:

Wow that was windy. That is easily a 1:42 under better conditions.

What was wrong with the conditions? A track at ~3700' elevation is even better than sea level and it didn't look windy. Don't be surprised if he doesn't improve much on it this year.

Hardloper wrote:

WHooa wrote:

Wow that was windy. That is easily a 1:42 under better conditions.

What was wrong with the conditions? A track at ~3700' elevation is even better than sea level and it didn't look windy. Don't be surprised if he doesn't improve much on it this year.

You must be, for some reason, unable to see the flags on the infield and the trees around the track,as well as hear the wind on the microphone, all confirmed by the testimony upthread. Don't let mere facts get in the way of your preconception.

The U of A track is nowhere near 3700' elevation. Try ~2600'.

Ryun's record lasted 50 years. Brazier's didn't even last 2. Interesting.