Roger Benjamin wrote:
ironside wrote:
She was an extremely slow high school XC runner, two or three miles. High school coaches would not race McLaughlin at any distance longer than 400m. College coaches would not race McLaughlin at any distance longer than 400m. There is no logical basis to assume McLaughlin is a 2:00 800m runner. Unless someone has seen her train, any statement regarding McLaughlin as an 800m runner is based on something else besides evidence.
What does cross country have to do with the 800m?
I can rattle off several 1:45 guys who are terrible at cross country.... most 800m runners don't even run cross country in college.
1) I doubt your accuracy in stating most 800m runners don't run XC in college. An 800m runner needs to have a 400m PB to make him/her one of the top six or so 400m runners in their school to get a XC exemption. If you were to state most 800m runners do not make the seven person varsity for XC, that's a different statement.
2) XC and 800m runners: I have posted numerous times over the past few years that 800m men whom race 400m, sub-47 should get a XC exemption and the 47 to 48 400m guys should get a modified XC training program. With McLaughlin, her XC performances matter because her high school XC performances were so awful. 5K and longer XC are largely VO2 max events. VO2 max is a factor in the 800m. I would have mentioned her performances in t&f in events longer than 400m, but no coach would place her said events.
3) Lastly, this is unfair a bit but her brother Taylor with whom Sydney grew up, share an extremely high percentage of same to similar genes and share an extremely similar nurturing environment (within same household boys may be raised differently). Taylor, with his 46.xx 400m PB fell of a cliff in 600m, 81.xx. One should race 600m at 400m pace plus 2.5 to 4 seconds. Taylor, a 46.xx 400m person raced this winter 600m at 54.xx 400m pace. I know this analysis was somewhat unfair to Taylor but there is no evidence Sydney won't crash and burn in 800m.
Furthermore. On a percentage basis, in my salad days, my best event was 600 yards (about 548m). [I know, not a real event.] Sprinters, pure sprinters could stay close to me in 600yds. event. When we switched to 600m, nearly all the sprints fell apart. I am certain Sydney McLaughlin would have raced a beautiful 600 yards.