MERRITT 44.93!!!

[Powell]

Re: MERRITT 44.93!!!

>Believe me, Eldrick. It WAS specifically about MJ's
>200m.

Half of the posts on this board (and the IAAF Forum) would be unnecessary if Eldrick didn't always refuse to believe the voice of reason.

[eldrick]

Re: MERRITT 44.93!!!

>>Believe me, Eldrick. It WAS specifically about MJ's
>200m.

Half of the
>posts on this board (and the IAAF Forum) would be unnecessary if Eldrick didn't
>always refuse to believe the voice of reason.<

powell, your total percentage contribution to all posts on this board & the IAAF one is probably about 2%, which unfortunately constitutes the other 50% of unnecessary posts on both this & the IAAF board

way to go !

[beasleye]

Re: MERRITT 44.93!!!

But as a young and inexperienced runner at this level, a 21.9 may have caused him to panic and tighten up when running with the pack. The 21.04 boosted him and his confidence and that lead alone spurred him on. As he gets stronger, he'll be able to handle more balanced splits, but a 21.04 can be intimidating for others and a confidence builder for him during the race. His strength, even at 18, is good enough to fend off the hard-chargers. In other words, he still has to work through the mind games.

[silva]

Re: MERRITT 44.93!!!

It's funny...2,3,5 years ago this would be so far-fetched, but this kid could actually be going pro after this or next year!!

I mean, why "waste" time running in college when you could be making more than your scholarship money beating the best in the world?

I see a possible new generation of "leave-early" or "don't-go-at-all" tracksters like S.Sellers (HJ), B.Daniels (TJ), etc. It just makes more sense to me if you can compete at that level now, do it. There is no guarantee that you will be a better performer in later years.

[Powell]

Re: MERRITT 44.93!!!

First of all, even splits are NOT the way to go at 400 meters. EVERYONE slows down in the second half in their best races. The only races with splits that are anywhere close to even are the half-hearted efforts. Of course you have to strike the right balance and not go out TOO fast, but that's another matter.
Indoors, there's also the matter of not running in lanes on the second lap, which means there is a definite benefit to opening the race fast. If Merritt started in 21.9, he would have been way down the field and would have had to swerve to overtake the others. I'm absolutely sure he would have never gone sub-45 with such tactics.

[SQUACKEE]

Re: MERRITT 44.93!!!

Especially indoors!!!

[gh]

Re: MERRITT 44.93!!!

>First of all, even splits are NOT the way to go at 400 meters. EVERYONE slows
>down in the second half in their best races. The only races with splits that
>are anywhere close to even are the half-hearted efforts.>>

Not quite true.
Jim Lea's 45.8y WR in 1956: 22.8/23.0
Mike Larrabbee's 44.9 WR in 1964: 22.4/22.5
John Smith's 44.5y WR in 1971: 22.1/22.4

[Powell]

Re: MERRITT 44.93!!!

Not quite
>true.
Jim Lea's 45.8y WR in 1956: 22.8/23.0
Mike Larrabbee's 44.9 WR in
>1964: 22.4/22.5
John Smith's 44.5y WR in 1971: 22.1/22.4

Fine, but consider that the first 100 has to be some 0.8 slower because of the start, so even 22.4/22.5 implies quite a significant slow down in the second half.

[SQUACKEE]

Re: MERRITT 44.93!!!

>Fine, but consider that the first 100 has to be some 0.8 slower because of the start, so even 22.4/22.5 implies quite a significant slow down in the second half.

good point, the 100 meters makes even 50's more silly to compare

[gcheves]

Re: MERRITT 44.93!!!

Actually, the first 100 requires more work because of acceleration to cruising speed. If the first 200 is 22.1, for example and the second is 22.4, that doesn't mean you're running signifigantly slower. It means that you covered the same distance with less effort because you were already at cruising speed.

[slowcoach]

Re: MERRITT 44.93!!!

>Actually, the first 100 requires more work because of acceleration to cruising
>speed. If the first 200 is 22.1, for example and the second is 22.4, that
>doesn't mean you're running signifigantly slower. It means that you covered
>the same distance with less effort because you were already at cruising speed.

It's not just about cruising speed, it's about the onset of lactic acid, too. The further you run, the greater the effort required to run at the same pace.

[gcheves]

Re: MERRITT 44.93!!!

Good point! And may I add that going out too fast quickens the onset of lactic acid build-up.

[Track fan]

Re: MERRITT 44.93!!!

Where did this guy come from?

[slowcoach]

Re: MERRITT 44.93!!!

>Where did this guy come from?

Which guy? Merritt or gcheves?

[Track fan]

Re: MERRITT 44.93!!!

Since the post is about Merritt I was wondering about cheaves........