Fast 200 for Richardson at Nairobi CT

[CD203]

Should clarify that it's the mispronunciation of names that galls me.

I'm assuming the commentator was Jenny Meadows? She has an astonishing talent for mangling names to the point of incomprehension, especially non-European athletes.

[berkeley]

Results page for Nairobi is a bit strange, doesn't fit on the page.

Hit ctrl-minus (or command-minus on a Mac) a few times to reduce the size of the text, and it will fit. Even then, the site is a bit flaky with some buttons not working properly. It looks like it was developed by a summer intern in about 2003.

[ATK]

Also notable were the commentators saying that the meet director and others were in talks of moving SCR into the 100m after SAFP pulled out, but then after winning the 200m, SCR said no one ever asked her about being put in the 100m.

[Track78]

Wow...if only she didnt celebrate. That was a 21.9 or 21.8 performance...

22.07 with hands up at 20m

Easily! I just saw the race in much better quality and wow, she eased up 40m from the finish. Sub 21.9 for sure.

[Awsi Dooger]

I mentioned in the mental health thread that Dressel ducking Popovici would have the track equivalent of Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce ducking Sha'carri Richardson.

Little did I realize it would play out that way within days.

Otherwise I'd say the story of the meet is Janat Chemusto. I have no idea who she is or where that came from. Kipyegon has trouble running that number at altitude. They cruised around at moderate pace throughout then Chemusto separated just before the bell and continued to draw clear. However, she staggered a bit after crossing the line, indicating she was spent and this may have been more of a one-timer than a sudden new medal contender in her mid 20s.

Mary Moraa ran absolutely the perfect race in the 800, establishing position on the rail behind the pacer after 400 and then really taking it easy during the third 200. She waited until the pack nearly gathered her before taking off with roughly 220 remaining. Plenty left. Dominant win. Moraa was so thrilled she danced in the aftermath.

I've described that tactic here and elsewhere. It maximizes the frontrunner advantage instead of stupidly throwing it away by pushing the third 200. But in Moraa's case you never know if she intended it that way or it merely played out thay way and you'll never see it again.

Regardless, Mary Moraa is big problems for Keely Hodgkinson and anyone not named Athing Mu. Moraa has still not demonstrated she'll take it out fast enough to bother Mu. And if she ever did, that might be the type of Honest Pleasure/Bold Forbes suicidal Preakness pace tactic that Hodgkinson needs, benefiting a la Elocutionist in 1976.

Beatrice Chepkoech is rounding into form for the first time in years. I hope she keeps it up and can make one last frontrunner push through Paris, when she'll be just beyond her 33rd birthday. The women's steeplechase really benefits from Chepkoech pace up front, instead of scattergun tactics from race to race. Chepkoech is like the Ayana of steeplechase because she runs evenly with no kick. Her only chance is to blow it open and separate, then hold off the closers. It worked today although she was fading late. The gap closed to one second at finish.

[clementina]

I could swear that there were some other athletes and events in Nairobi. Wanyonyi in 1.43 and bits, and a rather speedy 1500m for men in 3.32.01 and several other excellent performances especially at high altitude. I must be incorrect. Only one event , a 200m for women, apparently. At least it proves that there is largely only interest in homegrown usa athletes here and a very few events .SCR was one athlete fans !! Same stuff sadly on AW, but at least the dread Letsrun mentioned some of the other events beside a 200m.
How I hate narrow nationalism in our great sport.!!

[ATK]

Also notable was Samukonga's 44.25, backing up his 43.91 in Botswana. Yes both altitude etc, but it shows that 43 was no fluke, and in general is in line with the progression he was already making last year running 44 mid-high throughout 2022

[jeremyp]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss6cSOaVKFA

Definitely has her game face on.

[scottmitchell74]

# 1 - She's an incredibly impressive looking athlete - looks the part: lean and mean.

# 2 - I really, really wish sprinters would celebrate after the line.

[gm]

I want to see science that proves celebrations have a significant effect on performance.

[1runner1]

I want to see science that proves celebrations have a significant effect on performance.

Maybe a celebration inside the final 10m wouldn't but this one sure did...off the gas with 40m to go! how could it not have cost her a couple of tenths? And she did not ease up just a little!

[Paced]

I mentioned in the mental health thread that Dressel ducking Popovici would have the track equivalent of Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce ducking Sha'carri Richardson.

Little did I realize it would play out that way within days.

Misinformation. Fraser-Pryce was entered in a completely different event to Richardson before withdrawing due to injury.

[ATK]

I want to see science that proves celebrations have a significant effect on performance.

Well I know for sure Ezikiel Kembo lost a bit when he was out in lane 8 dancing 30m from the finish line

[gm]

Well I know for sure Ezikiel Kembo lost a bit when he was out in lane 8 dancing 30m from the finish line

Let's restrict it to the histrionics people display when a sprinter happens to enjoy the last 10m of a race. Totally different in a distance event.

[ATK]

Let's restrict it to the histrionics people display when a sprinter happens to enjoy the last 10m of a race. Totally different in a distance event.

I know, was just a joke to highlight insane celebrations. But yes, back to serious business.