GL Bruxelles m1500m - Ali Belal Mansoor 3:35.94

[pela2]

Mohamed Moustaoui MAR
Juan van Deventer RSA
Nicholas Willis NZL
Arturo Casado ESP
Abdalaati Iguider MAR
Haron Keitany KEN
Juan Carlos Higuero ESP
Belal Mansoor Ali BRN
Asbel Kipruto Kiprop KEN
Alex Sang KEN
Philemon Kipkorir Kimutai KEN
Daniel Kipchirchir Komen KEN
Geoffrey Marrion BLR
Kamal Boulahfane ALG
Geoffrey Kipkoech Rono KEN
Nicholas Kemboi KEN
Carsten Schlangen GER

Start: 20:32 CET

A packed race.

[pela2]

Best in Brussels

3:26.12 Hicham El Guerrouj MAR 1 24.08.2001
3:26.34 Bernard Lagat KEN 2 24.08.2001
3:28.40 Hicham El Guerrouj MAR 1 05.09.2003
3:28.92 Hicham El Guerrouj MAR 1 22.08.1997
3:28.98 Mehdi Baala FRA 2 05.09.2003
3:29.05 Hicham El Guerrouj MAR 1 23.08.1996
3:29.18 Vénuste Niyongabo BDI 2 22.08.1997
3:29.19 Noah Ngeny KEN 1 03.09.1999
3:29.29 William Chirchir KEN 3 24.08.2001
3:29.67 Hicham El Guerrouj MAR 1 28.08.1998
3:29.95 Hicham El Guerrouj MAR 1 30.08.2002
3:30.15 Steve Cram GBR 1 05.09.1986
3:30.24 Timothy Kiptanui KEN 1 03.09.2004
3:30.33 Ivan Heshko UKR 2 03.09.2004
3:30.39 Bernard Lagat KEN 2 30.08.2002
3:30.46 Alex Kipchirchir KEN 3 03.09.2004
3:30.72 Paul Korir KEN 3 05.09.2003
3:30.73 Bernard Lagat KEN 4 03.09.2004
3:30.77 Laban Rotich KEN 3 22.08.1997
3:30.90 Rui Silva POR 5 03.09.2004
3:30.95 Steve Cram GBR 1 19.08.1988
3:30.99 Robert Rono KEN 3 30.08.2002

[EPelle]

Last Olympic-cycle winner: 3.30,24, Timothy Kiptanui

=========================================

[joeltetreault]

2008 has been an interesting year - no one has broken 3:31 this season. The last time that happened was way back in 1991. There are only a few more opportunities left with Brussels and Rieti being the best bets for it to happen. Here's the top 10 from this year (courtesy www.iaaf.org):

3:31.49 Daniel Kipchirchir Komen
3:31.57 Augustine Kiprono Choge
3:31.64 Asbel Kipruto Kiprop
3:31.88 Abdalaati Iguider
3:31.94 Shedrack Kibet Korir
3:31.98 Tarek Boukensa
3:32.00 Mehdi Baala FRA
3:32.06 Mohamed Moustaoui
3:32.06 Haron Keitany
3:32.10 Abdalaati Iguider

Below are the top times from the last 25 years:

1983 - 3:30.77 - Steve Ovett
1984 - 3:31.54 - Saïd Aouita
1985 - 3:29.46 - Saïd Aouita
1986 - 3:29.77 - Sebastian Coe
1987 - 3:30.69 - Saïd Aouita
1988 - 3:30.95 - Steve Cram
1989 - 3:30.55 - Abdi Bile
1990 - 3:32.60 - Noureddine Morceli
1991 - 3:31.00 - Noureddine Morceli
1992 - 3:28.86 - Noureddine Morceli
1993 - 3:29.20 - Noureddine Morceli
1994 - 3:30.61 - Noureddine Morceli
1995 - 3:27.37 - Noureddine Morcel
1996 - 3:29.05 - Hicham El Guerrouj
1997 - 3:28.91 - Hicham El Guerrouj
1998 - 3:26.00 - Hicham El Guerrouj
1999 - 3:27.65 - Hicham El Guerrouj
2000 - 3:27.21 - Hicham El Guerrouj
2001 - 3:26.12 - Hicham El Guerrouj
2002 - 3:26.89 - Hicham El Guerrouj
2003 - 3:28.40 - Hicham El Guerrouj
2004 - 3:27.40 - Bernard Lagat
2005 - 3:29.30 - Bernard Lagat
2006 - 3:29.02 - Daniel Kipchirchir Komen
2007 - 3:30.54 - Alan Webb
2008 - 3:31.49 - Daniel Kipchirchir Komen

[26mi235]

Maybe Lagat will get it again; if so, it will be the fourth time in five years that, at the end of the year an American will have run the fastest 1500 that year.

[EPelle]

The 1.40 first half just killed the sub-3.31 chances.

[26mi235]

The 1.40 first half just killed the sub-3.31 chances.

55-, 61+, 58+, and a finish over 55

[joeltetreault]

Iguider in second place is probably the most consistent of everyone over the GP circuit this year. His lowest placings this year are 6th in the Olympics and 6th in Zurich. Every time else he has been in the top 4.

Like the last few years, the men's 1500 will be a tough one to rank, with no one really being dominant...

[Alan Shank]

The 1.40 first half just killed the sub-3.31 chances.

Huh? 1:40 at what point? Is that 700 (two to go)?
43
1:40 (57)
2:36 (56)
54 = 3:30

Ramzi could do that, but guess he wasn't in the race.

What happened with the pacing? Somebody posted 55 - 61+. What kind of rabbiting is that?
Cheers,
Alan Shank

[EPelle]

Alan,

Look at this field, what they have done this year, and think about what time of the season it is. 1.40 at the 700m mark would have required a 1.50-1.51 finish to meet expectations. This bunch wasn:t going to do it.

I:m very aware of the splits. Used to run one or two at this distance back in the day.

[Alan Shank]

Alan,

Look at this field, what they have done this year, and think about what time of the season it is. 1.40 at the 700m mark would have required a 1.50-1.51 finish to meet expectations. This bunch wasn:t going to do it.

I:m very aware of the splits. Used to run one or two at this distance back in the day.

Yes, I just meant in general that 1:40 at 700 does not preclude a sub-3:31. Mostly, I just wanted to verify that "first half in 1:40" really meant 700m. I always take my splits, BTW, at the finish line in the 1500, not at the starting line, so I'm used to thinking in terms of 41, 1:36, 2:31, 3:26, or 48, 1:52, 2:56, 4:00.
Cheers,
Alan

[EPelle]

I should have stated "for this group at this stage in the season" when discussing 1.40 shooting the field in the foot to have been more clear.

Cheers.