Wow: Guy who didn't even make NCAA finals - Carlos Villareal of Arizona/Mexico - just won the Pan Am 1500 gold in 3:39

He is Mexican. It is the opposite situation as the ones that you listed. This would have been like Parsons moving to Germany but continuing to compete for the US.

Meh*Meh wrote:

Gregorek is a tactical idiot.

This

Mexicana wrote:

He is Mexican. It is the opposite situation as the ones that you listed. This would have been like Parsons moving to Germany but continuing to compete for the US.

Everybody did notice Paulson’s British accent, right?

Bob schul country wrote:

Meh*Meh wrote:

Gregorek is a tactical idiot.

This

I thought he was being very patient coming into the last 400 and just kept the leaders in range until 250 to go. I watched without knowing the results and was being impressed by his patience, and suddenly into view came the winner. He wasn't a tactical idiot - the winner just had it that day.

WinnytheBish wrote:

Hejendo76 wrote:

Im sorry but Gregorek must be the worst tactical racer ever.

No that title goes to Alan Webb

I still go back and watch the 2005 WC 1500m final and just crack up when he throws down that 12 second 100m on the backstretch of like the second or third lap.

You think he would have won NCAAs even though he didn't win the Pac 12s? He was 4h at Pac 12s outdoors and 4th at NCAAs indoors.

It's possible he could have won it but I wouldn't have predicted it.

I put it on the front page and started this thread for three reasons.

1)To highlight the depth and quality of the NCAAs. It's amazing how deep it is now as compared to say 20 years ago.

2) It's unusual to see someone come from a slight gap with 200 meters remaining to a convincing victory. 25.8-9 is pretty damn good period.

3) There isn't much else going on right now.

I don't agree with that at all. Yes, I know I made a video about him displaying poor tactics at USAs but here he had the best PB of anyone in the field, so he wanted an honest race. He made it honest, ran the whole thing on the rail and just got beat. If this had been tactical, all the armchair critics would have said, "He's a 3:49 miler, why didn't he make it honest?"

Whenever someone goes to the front and wins, people call them a tactical genius. Just because he didn't win gold doesn't mean it was a bad plan. He's clearly not in 3:49 mile form right now. He ran 3:54.50 at Pre. That equates to 3:37.1 for 1500. Well the third placer in this meet Paulson ran 3:36 in June. The winner has a 3:37 pb. So there were three guys in the race in 3:35-3:37 shape and he beat one of them and lost to one of them.

This proves that Gregorek lacks the gears necessary to win the sprint finishes, although he is very, very good in time trials (reminds me of Steve Holman from the 1990s), while Villareal obviously has that, and Nuguse has it even more.

Villarreal has been in Arizona since he was six, so he could well be a dual national, but he was born in Mexico. With that kick, he would have a chance in the next few years to qualify for a US team if he were eligible.

https://arizonawildcats.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=10748

mooonshot wrote:

Mexico has been dominating the distances on the Men's side, must say something about running in tough conditions (Lima is no joke) -

Marathon

Silver and Bronze

5000m

Gold

1500m

Gold

Tough conditions?? How so? Altitude? Too cold? I believe it was 62 degrees there yesterday for the 1500. Seems like ideal conditions.

Hejendo76 wrote:

Im sorry but Gregorek must be the worst tactical racer ever.

It's been an awful year for the Gregoreks. That he's racing at any level right now is admirable.

Jager sighting wrote:

I see Jager ran for Uruguay and ran under the name Gregorio. Came in last poor lad.

+1

doppelgänger?

British father and Canadian mother. He runs for Canada and we're proud to have him.

Hshshsj wrote:

Everybody did notice Paulson’s British accent, right?

There is not altitude in Lima. You must be thinking about La Paz, Bolivia. The tough conditions are the travel, the food, the living conditions and then the field itself. These fields are very small and tactical, completely different racing conditions than you find in the NCAA as they level of talent varies significantly. I actually applaud how Gregorek ran. He's the only sub-3:50 miler in the field. He's head and shoulders the best, but Villarreal has an established lethal kick. It's basically what has made him famous in high school and college. JG almost pulled it off, Carlos was just motivated moreso because his teammates are full of passion right now and the Pan Am Games mean a lot to Latinos.

kmaclam wrote:

Tough conditions?? How so? Altitude? Too cold? I believe it was 62 degrees there yesterday for the 1500. Seems like ideal conditions.

zcxvzxvc wrote:

This proves that Gregorek lacks the gears necessary to win the sprint finishes, although he is very, very good in time trials (reminds me of Steve Holman from the 1990s), while Villareal obviously has that, and Nuguse has it even more.

Are you out of your mind? Have you forgotten what happened at 2017 USAs? That wasn't a fast race. It was a 3:43 race Gregorek closed crazy fast . Gregorek's final 200 was exactly what Villareal's was in this race - 25.9. His last lap was 52.36. ANd he ran most of it on the outside.

It was an incredible finish. Third to last at 1200 to 3rd at the finish. Watch it for yourself.

What this race proves is Gregorek's not in great form right now. He ran 3:52 in Oslo then 3:54 at Pre a few weeks later then USAs wasn't good . But some of his fitness has left him. I think he should be proud of that medal. He made it honest and lost.

-Rojo

Ps. I should have also mentioned in my tactics video from last week that it's also possible that in addition to not running great in that race tactically that he may have also lost some fitness.

As a strength runner i feel Gregorek could learn from Cheruiyot. Cheruiyot has learned when to push the pace and when to hold back and has had a dominant year.

Needed to keep the pace a strong 58.00, or 58.20 maybe.

Other guy wrote:

Bob schul country wrote:

This

I thought he was being very patient coming into the last 400 and just kept the leaders in range until 250 to go. I watched without knowing the results and was being impressed by his patience, and suddenly into view came the winner. He wasn't a tactical idiot - the winner just had it that day.

Fully agree. No reason for Gregorek to be slumming it mispack in that race with a bunch of 3:42 guys. Villarreal kind of had the home field advantage and used it to good effect. Gregorek thought the crowd was getting raucous for him at the end but it was for Carlos.

Funny thing is. No one is butthurt he is running for Mexico. Stop doing the liberal thing and making problems where no one has a problem.

mooonshot wrote:

Mexico has been dominating the distances on the Men's side, must say something about running in tough conditions (Lima is no joke) -

Marathon

Silver and Bronze

5000m

Gold

1500m

Gold

Still not sure what you mean by "Lima is no joke". I know it's not at altitude, I know the weather has been benign, most all the athletes had to travel there, no? And when interviewed, Gregorek remarked how great he's being treated down there. I think it has more to do with the Hispanics taking the PanAm games way more seriously than the Americans from the U.S. (All athletes at these games are from the Americas).