much slower than Timothy wrote:
Coevett wrote:
Still finished with a 3:31, of course, on probably a much inferior track.
3+s slower than Cheruiyot.
That’s because Cheruiyot reached 800m in 1:49.8 with a 54.3 first lap (so 54.3, 55.5), whereas Coe was 0.7 faster at 800, and got there with laps of 52.4! And 56.7.
For Coe the damage was already done on the first lap.
Moreover, Cheruiyot had someone pacing and drafting (for much of it) him up to 1000m, with clear lap times/splits given on the infield and on big screen. Coe had none of these. Robinson drafted him for 100m on the first lap before he was too far ahead to offer anything beyond the 300m mark. No lap times were called out and he was basically running ‘blind’ and solo for last 3 laps. Had Coe had the more economic distribution of effort, a faster track, drafting to 1000m and lap times called out, then he would have run considerably faster than 3:30.
Cheruiyot was magnificent though in Lausanne. My concern for him in Doha is if the pace is slow, as he doesn’t have the change of pace of some of the others.
Soulieman, like training partner Dibaba, seems to be returning to previous levels of ability since before Aden was caught with EPO syringes! Seems as if Aden and his athletes have served their time.