For Which Are We More Desperate?

[skiboo]

As a group of fans, do we clamor more for an American mile (1500) superstar, or a Caucasoid sub 10 second 100 meter guy? What would generate more hairs standing on end - a US 1500 runner going 3:27.43, or a Caucasoid going 9.82? Both are worth 1282 points according to the IAAF scoring tables linked below:

http://www.iaaf.org/mm/Document/Competi ... 08_742.pdf

for what it is worth, I cannot understand how the fastest Caucasoid 400 sprinter lags a "mere" 0.27 behind the best Black male, while Usain Bolt is a whopping 0.31 better, over only 100 meters, ahead of the best White male, that being Marian Woronin (POLAND) at 10.00.

[Marlow]

Re: For Which Are We More Desperate?

a Caucasoid sub 10 second 100 meter guy?

There are already MANY Caucasoid sprinters sub-10. You'll have to specify what percentage of ancestral sub-Saharan tribal origins. 20? 30? 40? 50? 60?

[gh]

Given that Woronin's second-best time in '84 was 10.15 and his best in any other season was 10.20, and that the wind was a convenient 2.0 on his
"10-flat" allow me to suggest that Pedro Gomeszcz of Mexico City was running the wind gauge.

(Or maybe that the start was iffy; Woronin certainly never confirmed himself as that fast under hard scrutiny.)

[joeltetreault]

Re: For Which Are We More Desperate?

Heck, with the way the event has been moving backwards over the last four years, I'd be happy with anyone going sub 3:30 in the 1500 at this point.

[scoe]

Pedro Gomez the Mexican wind gauge operator now works full time at Loughborough in British sprint events, specialising in 2.0m following wind performances.
UKA are hoping his wind gauge control is up to last years standard during the summer.

[Dave]

Re: For Which Are We More Desperate?

As a group of fans, do we clamor more for an American mile (1500) superstar, or a Caucasoid sub 10 second 100 meter guy? What would generate more hairs standing on end - a US 1500 runner going 3:27.43, or a Caucasoid going 9.82? Both are worth 1282 points according to the IAAF scoring tables linked below:

http://www.iaaf.org/mm/Document/Competi ... 08_742.pdf

for what it is worth, I cannot understand how the fastest Caucasoid 400 sprinter lags a "mere" 0.27 behind the best Black male, while Usain Bolt is a whopping 0.31 better, over only 100 meters, ahead of the best White male, that being Marian Woronin (POLAND) at 10.00.

I am happy with the number of fast 100's of any shade lately, I want to see Allan Webb in the hunt this year. I would love to see hime run another 1:43.X and a 3:2X and another 3:46.

[AthleticsInBritain]

I'm really not sure which would be more exciting but I bet if you had a 'caucasoid' run 7:23:38 (3k), 7:55.87 (3k S/C), 12:40.67 (5k), or 26:25.85 (10k) there are some who would break down and weep ...

[Powell]

Given that Woronin's second-best time in '84 was 10.15 and his best in any other season was 10.20

He ran 10.14 in 1985 and 10.11 in 1986, and has 3 other seasons under 10.20. Yes, the 10.00 was an outlier, but not by as much as you're making it sound. And if you saw the manner of his victory at the 1985 European Cup, you'd have to agree he was capable of running as fast.

[nevetsllim]

I'm really not sure which would be more exciting but I bet if you had a 'caucasoid' run 7:23:38 (3k), 7:55.87 (3k S/C), 12:40.67 (5k), or 26:25.85 (10k) there are some who would break down and weep ...

Yes, Brenda in the BBC commentary box no doubt. I was rewatching some of the coverage from the 2007 World Cross and some of Brenda's comments were ridiculous. :roll:

[gh]

Given that Woronin's second-best time in '84 was 10.15 and his best in any other season was 10.20

He ran 10.14 in 1985 and 10.11 in 1986, and has 3 other seasons under 10.20. Yes, the 10.00 was an outlier, but not by as much as you're making it sound. And if you saw the manner of his victory at the 1985 European Cup, you'd have to agree he was capable of running as fast.

Interesting.... his progression on Tilastopaja (which I used as a reference) is missing lots of years I now notice, including 1985, 86, 87.

[sprintblox]

Re: For Which Are We More Desperate?

for what it is worth, I cannot understand how the fastest Caucasoid 400 sprinter lags a "mere" 0.27 behind the best Black male, while Usain Bolt is a whopping 0.31 better, over only 100 meters, ahead of the best White male, that being Marian Woronin (POLAND) at 10.00.

Before talking about white sprinters vs. black sprinters, what about white guys vs. themselves? Woronin's 10.00 was in 1984 ... why haven't other white guys improved on that in 24 years?

Much has been said about no white guys making the Olympic 100m final since 1984 ... but if they only ran the 10.07 that Borzov ran in 1972, they would have made every single 100m final except Beijing.

[skiboo]

Re: For Which Are We More Desperate?

Before talking about white sprinters vs. black sprinters, what about white guys vs. themselves? Woronin's 10.00 was in 1984 ... why haven't other white guys improved on that in 24 years?

Soccer may have something to do with it. Just a guess. The whole scenario is indeed mystifying. If JW can run 43.45, then, theoretically at least, there HAS to be a pale sprinter who COULD run/have run well under 10. One suspects there is by now a possibly insurmountable psychological obstacle facing white sprinters.

[Marlow]

Re: For Which Are We More Desperate?

One suspects there is by now a possibly insurmountable psychological obstacle facing white sprinters.

They are deselected by themselves AND coaches for sprinting. I am totally guilty of taking the fastest pale sprinters and making them into 400+ guys or hurdlers or jumpers (esp. PV if they have any aptitude)

[mump boy]

i'm not desperate for either :? i couldn't care less

why is every discussion on this type of subject about when a white person will achieve something. why no talk of the first black man to throw javelin 90m or hammer over 80m. Apart from lawrence johnson there has never been a truly world class pole vaulter or a discus thrower since Anthony washington but i never see a post lamenting the fact.

this type of thread is so boring it's bordering on offensive

[Powell]

Given that Woronin's second-best time in '84 was 10.15 and his best in any other season was 10.20

He ran 10.14 in 1985 and 10.11 in 1986, and has 3 other seasons under 10.20. Yes, the 10.00 was an outlier, but not by as much as you're making it sound. And if you saw the manner of his victory at the 1985 European Cup, you'd have to agree he was capable of running as fast.

Interesting.... his progression on Tilastopaja (which I used as a reference) is missing lots of years I now notice, including 1985, 86, 87.

Tilastopaja doesn't pretend to be a complete reference for years prior to around 1997. They basically only have PBs of top athletes and results of major championships for that period.

BTW, Woronin also ran a 6.51 (European record) indoors in 1987. And outdoors, I distinctly remember that in one race on the circuit in 1985 (or was it 1986?) he beat both Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson.