800 m races - third 200 m

[catson52]

I am sure this has been taken up (at least in part) on other threads. The importance of maintaining the tempo during the third 200 m of the race, was clearly seen by the WR runs of Coe and Kipketer. Also Cruz' sub 1:42 time. Now we find the young relatively inexperienced Kaki and Jelimo not afraid to take it out during this phase of the race. Would a somewhat slower first lap allow these runners to approach their respective WRs?

[deanouk]

I agree with your point, but in Oslo recently Kaki's 3rd 200m (26.4) maintained the pace of the previous 200m (26.4) but he was then able to raise it slightly on the last; 25.7. His 200m splits were 24.2, 26.4, 26.4 & 25.7.
Interestingly, he went through 400m (50.6) in exactly the same time that Coe did in his 79 WR in the same stadium, albeit on a slower track in those days. However, whereas Kaki maintained the existing pace at 26.4, Coe raised the tempo alone to 24.8! His 3rd 200m in Florence was also marginally faster than the 2nd (25.1 following a 25.3). Of Kipketer's 3 WR runs, it was only in the last one (1:41.11) that he upped the pace on the 3rd 200m (25.3, following 23.8 & 25.5). In the first 2 WR runs that season he actually slowed down on the 3rd 200m.
I would suggest that to approach the WR Kaki would need to go through 400m quicker than 50.6 rather than slower, and ran the 3rd 200m inside 25.5 to give himself any chance.

[Peter Michaelson]

Jim Ryun ran a fast 3rd 200 in the 1972 Olympic Trials. It did not work for him, as he finished 4th.

[Marlow]

Kaki's . . . splits were 24.2, 26.4, 26.4 & 25.7

I always find the 'middle 400 split' interesting. Kaki's was a 52.8.

In his 1:41.24 Kipketer went 23.0 - 51.5 - 26.7

In his 1:41.11 he went 23.8 - 50.8 - 26.5

At first blush it would seem that a honkin' middle 400, and then just hanging on, works.

[cladthin]

I've always felt like that's the crucial 200 much like the halfway mark of the 400. Though the times won't likely reflect the increased effort, I feel that one needs to try to accelerate as smoothly at that point as the conditions of the race permit(position of the athlete and what the other athletes are doing). So though the times may not reflect the effort, the effort should, likely, be consciously picked up at that point.

For many who lose contact with the leaders at this point, the race can easily be lost. Guys who can even kick well can only pull in but so many people unless they are in position to do so.