Fact: 2019 is the greatest year in US women's 1500 history

It was a great race. Sinclaire has a bright future.

You might be right. This might be the best year ever for American women in America. But is does not look to be the best year for American women internationally. To see the difference, we need to look at different statistics. The first is the number of women who get podium finishes internationally, in the DL, WC or OG. The second is the number of women who have run under 4:01.

These two measures go hand in hand. Since 2009, the same seven women -- Houlihan, Martinez, Rowbury, Simpson, Uceny, Willard and Wurth-Thomas -- have finished in the top three in world class events as have run under 4:01.

The lesson is clear: To be competitive internationally, you have to run under 4:01.

By these measures, the greatest era for American women's 1500 running started in June, 2009, when Jenny Simpson finished second at Pre in 3:59.90. That era, when many American women competed at the highest level, is now winding down. Now, only two Americans can compete at the highest levels internationally, and only one is under 30.

Unless more youngsters join Houlihan in the 4:01 club, she will soon be all alone.

https://www.iaaf.org/records/all-time-toplists/middle-long/1500-metres/outdoor/women/senior?regionType=countries&region=usa&page=1&bestResultsOnly=true&firstDay=2008-12-30&lastDay=2019-07-30

In terms of depth this year is amazing. But in 2009 the US was more competitive at the top with 3 women under 4 (Simpson, Wurth-Thomas and Willard) and Rowbury at 4:00.81.

The US placed 3 in the top 6 in the WC final with Rowbury getting the bronze - of course there were 3 DQ'd in the race.

Did you even watch the 1500? Johnson and Hiltz are in sub-4:01 shape, and Grace is still decently strong, 4:02 PR.

Schneider's 4:21 mile is equal to 4:01 and Purrier and Schweitzer will be in that area within a year. That is four solid new runners knocking on 4:00 and more in the hopper.

Grace's PR is 4:02.99. In other words, it's 4:03, not 4:02. And 4:03 is who she is. She is an elite runner who, unlike Houlihan, Martinez, Rowbury, Simpson, Uceny, Willard and Wirth-Thomas, is not competitive in fast races.

Schneider is 27. That's pretty old to be getting fast, especially for someone who's only run under 4:08 three times. Like Grace, her record says she can run fast in a fast race, but she won't be competitive.

As for the rest, I agree they show promise. But until they consistently run under 4:01, promise is all they have. And unfortunately, promise is not enough. In track, it's all about delivery.

Just ask Andy.

4:01 is the magic number wrote:

The lesson is clear: To be competitive internationally, you have to run under 4:01.

"Fact: 2019 is the greatest year in UK women's 1500 history" ??

1 3:56.73 Laura MUIR

2 4:00.46 Sarah MCDONALD

3 4:00.63 Laura WEIGHTMAN

4 4:00.97 Eilish MCCOLGAN

I think girls look at Jenny Simpson and are not intimidated by her, but inspired that they can also be like her. They believe that she is clean and that it may be possible to run fast clean. Now I am not naïve to think that all these girls are clean.

Before we had people like Regina, Slaney, and Suzy. Regina and Slaney were runners that were on a pedestal and were not someone girls thought they could become. Personally, I also think Suzy was on something during her peak years around 1999-2003.