Fall season schedule: Road Races, Marathons, and Halfs

Winner of Tokyo in an outstanding time and finishing before four that i thought were better than her. Here is my profile from then:

Next woman should be Lonah Salpeter, 31yo and ranked 16. Following is my profile from Kolkata 25k where she did't start.

Before the w/champs I thought Ruth would win and two of the Ethiopians would battle with salpeter for the minor medals. The Ethiopian girls were underwhelming: retiring early in the high humidity. Lonah gave it absolutely everything until her body actually gave out and she collapsed. Don’t know how one month to the day later she could run another marathon and she must have been a little underdone (or maybe overdone) to come 4th in Frankfurt. At 15k in Doha, Lonah was 6th: 55sec behind the lead pack. By 25k she had cut it to 16 sec but 5k later it was 49 sec and she was fifth. Gone before 35k.

Turns 31 before the event and is ranked 7 as a road runner. Busy? Here are some highlights:

10 mar half Ostia won 66.40

6 Apr half Prague second 66.09

5 May marathon Prague won 2.19.46

1 sept 10k Tilburg won 30.05

27 sept marathon w/champs-collapsed

27 Oct marathon f/furt fourth 2.23.11

That day in Tokyo without much of a crowd and elites only (the only way we will see September events), seven were through halfway in 69.16. Only Birhane could temporarily go with Lonah when she said go between 35 and 40k. 15.54 is outstanding at that stage of the classic distance.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Sixth ranked in my eyes is Birhanu Legese, winner in Tokyo last year and second in Berlin.

There is a gap after the top six: where I believe none from below that line could finish in front of any above it this fall, barring injury or illness. Seventh may focus primarily on winning the world half champs, or at least challenging Cheptegei there in Poland. Kamworor won New York last year and may not return to defend.

Do

Aussiestatman wrote:

Next lady is where my year end rankings have started to change a little with some 2020 results added.

Jepkosgei seventh, winner of New York on debut. With her undeniable ability to run a quick half, is it only a matter of time she goes sub 2.20?

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

Sixth ranked in my eyes is Birhanu Legese, winner in Tokyo last year and second in Berlin.

There is a gap after the top six: where I believe none from below that line could finish in front of any above it this fall, barring injury or illness. Seventh may focus primarily on winning the world half champs, or at least challenging Cheptegei there in Poland. Kamworor won New York last year and may not return to defend.

Mule Wasihun at eight after third in London in 2.03.16, 1.21 off his best, and a DNF at Worlds.

Aussiestatman wrote:

After the Olympics:women 8 August, men 9 August, it goes:

Sept 13 Copenhagen half

14 Boston

20 Istanbul half

27 Berlin

Oct. 4. Cardiff half

London

11. Chicago

17 World half, Gdynia, Poland

More in a min

Apart from Copenhagen and Istanbul halfs, I cant see any elites chopping and changing between halfs and the classic distance. The fall is too packed in.

Down one place from year end and on shaky ground is Vivian Cheruiyot. Her second in London keeps her afloat here. The saving grace of her fourth in Valencia is that she was so quick and so close to the top three. Twenty two seconds behind the winner and the second time Vivian has run sub 2.19, making her one of only seven women to achieve that.

Sisay Lemma confirmed his top ten placing with third in Tokyo this year, making his awful 30th in Boston last year a distant memory.

I mentioned eight at halfway in Tokyo, but Ruti Aga was just behind but finished soon after 30k. That DNF drops her 3 or 4 places from my year end ninth.

None of these events are going to happen (Boson and London will be outright canceled). The virus will most likely be in decline, but it will still being spread on a lesser level and what events wants the liability of even one athlete contacting it at their event.

I would say its going to be a year minimum before any large scale events go back into play. It sucks, but new reality.

Is it C.S. Lewis that wrote, it will go as quickly as it came?

Ninth woman in a tough choice between her and the next place is Azmera Abreha. Fourth in Paris then second in Valencia. Determined comeback in the second half of that latter event. Behind by 21 sec in fourth at halfway, was quickest of all the ladies between 25 and 35k: crushing it in 32.37.

Tenth ranked by me is Shura Kitata. Fourth in London and fifth in New York. I think that usurps two fast wins in lesser events like Vincent toroitich (Kipchumba), who is unbelievably ranked 5.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Aussiestatman wrote:

Sixth ranked in my eyes is Birhanu Legese, winner in Tokyo last year and second in Berlin.

There is a gap after the top six: where I believe none from below that line could finish in front of any above it this fall, barring injury or illness. Seventh may focus primarily on winning the world half champs, or at least challenging Cheptegei there in Poland. Kamworor won New York last year and may not return to defend.

That gap in the men after 6 is similar in my mind to after ten among the ladies. When Birhane is added to the above nine, it’s obvious that no other can go with them. The disclaimer here is that over this fall season and into early next year that Ababel Yeshaneh will concentrate on the half.

Aussiestatman wrote:

Ninth woman in a tough choice between her and the next place is Azmera Abreha. Fourth in Paris then second in Valencia. Determined comeback in the second half of that latter event. Behind by 21 sec in fourth at halfway, was quickest of all the ladies between 25 and 35k: crushing it in 32.37.

Birhane Dibaba, third in Valencia and second in Tokyo this year is ten. In Tokyo kept up with Salpeter and ran between 30 and 35k in 15.54.

This year Olympic will be a delay.

DaveAlce wrote:

This year Olympic will be a delay.

It’s on next year

Aussiestatman wrote:

After the Olympics:women 8 August, men 9 August, it goes:

Sept 13 Copenhagen half

14 Boston

20 Istanbul half

27 Berlin

Oct. 4. Cardiff half

London

11. Chicago

17 World half, Gdynia, Poland

More in a min

Kinda premature there, hoss.