Wariner vs. Merritt, 2009 - and the X-Man

[Speedfirst]

One of the things that Jeremy brings to the table as much as any 400m runner in history is how easy and relax he runs this event, especially the final straight.

The key for LaShawn to beat Jeremy and he showed that last year, is to put pressure on him by leading at the 300m mark.

I still think LaShawn has form issues when he is behind Jeremy in the final straight, we'll have to see how this shows in their head to head competition.

So to me, I think the battle will be from 250 to 300m to be first going into the final straight. With LaShawn having the better foot speed he has a slight advantage, but again it's about staying relaxed and maintaining your form and not using wasted energy on that final straight as well and this is where Jeremy has that slight advantage.

[guruof track]

One of the things that Jeremy brings to the table as much as any 400m runner in history is how easy and relax he runs this event, especially the final straight.

The key for LaShawn to beat Jeremy and he showed that last year, is to put pressure on him by leading at the 300m mark.

I still think LaShawn has form issues when he is behind Jeremy in the final straight, we'll have to see how this shows in their head to head competition.

So to me, I think the battle will be from 250 to 300m to be first going into the final straight. With LaShawn having the better foot speed he has a slight advantage, but again it's about staying relaxed and maintaining your form and not using wasted energy on that final straight as well and this is where Jeremy has that slight advantage.

I understand what your saying, but if you look at the races Lashawn won last year.......he won 2 when he never had the lead until the last 50 meters (on he gained the won at the tape, never had the lead).

The improvement Lashawn made last year was staying relaxed and believing in his race module, obviouslsy along with getting faster. I suspect Lashawn will PR this year around 43.5ish (or lower).

Wariner will be tough to beat regardless, but my gut tells me Lashawn will be dominant this year.

[knite]

One of the things that Jeremy brings to the table as much as any 400m runner in history is how easy and relax he runs this event, especially the final straight.

The key for LaShawn to beat Jeremy and he showed that last year, is to put pressure on him by leading at the 300m mark.

I still think LaShawn has form issues when he is behind Jeremy in the final straight, we'll have to see how this shows in their head to head competition.

So to me, I think the battle will be from 250 to 300m to be first going into the final straight. With LaShawn having the better foot speed he has a slight advantage, but again it's about staying relaxed and maintaining your form and not using wasted energy on that final straight as well and this is where Jeremy has that slight advantage.

I understand what your saying, but if you look at the races Lashawn won last year.......he won 2 when he never had the lead until the last 50 meters (on he gained the won at the tape, never had the lead).

The improvement Lashawn made last year was staying relaxed and believing in his race module, obviouslsy along with getting faster. I suspect Lashawn will PR this year around 43.5ish (or lower).

Wariner will be tough to beat regardless, but my gut tells me Lashawn will be dominant this year.

I too think that Merritt will be something to beat as well, I mean, you can see the confidence with his performance and efforts on the track. Wariner will undoubtedly gain his confidence back by reuniting with Hart, which only bids well for the sport! I can't wait to see the to go at it, and best of luck to them both!

[Speedfirst]

One of the things that Jeremy brings to the table as much as any 400m runner in history is how easy and relax he runs this event, especially the final straight.

The key for LaShawn to beat Jeremy and he showed that last year, is to put pressure on him by leading at the 300m mark.

I still think LaShawn has form issues when he is behind Jeremy in the final straight, we'll have to see how this shows in their head to head competition.

So to me, I think the battle will be from 250 to 300m to be first going into the final straight. With LaShawn having the better foot speed he has a slight advantage, but again it's about staying relaxed and maintaining your form and not using wasted energy on that final straight as well and this is where Jeremy has that slight advantage.

I understand what your saying, but if you look at the races Lashawn won last year.......he won 2 when he never had the lead until the last 50 meters (on he gained the won at the tape, never had the lead).

The improvement Lashawn made last year was staying relaxed and believing in his race module, obviouslsy along with getting faster. I suspect Lashawn will PR this year around 43.5ish (or lower).

Wariner will be tough to beat regardless, but my gut tells me Lashawn will be dominant this year.

I'm not saying Jeremy is the favorite, as a matter of opinion, I pick LaShawn to be the favorite. But I ma have to go back and look at the races you're talking about because I know I saw LaShawn leading coming into the final straight on a couple of races. I also know LaShawn also showed when he lost, the form break down.

[Speedfirst]

guruof track......I'm not certain what happened to your post with youtube video's.. but actually that is almost exactly my point about defeating Jeremy. LaShawn was close enough coming off the curve where Jeremy couldn't stay relaxed. But again when you look at Jeremy's races when has a decent lead he stay's relaxed and LaShawn tightens up.

In the case of those 2 video's, they both ran somewhat tight at the end, feeling the pressure of each other.

[guruof track]

guruof track......I'm not certain what happened to your post with youtube video's.. but actually that is almost exactly my point about defeating Jeremy. LaShawn was close enough coming off the curve where Jeremy couldn't stay relaxed. But again when you look at Jeremy's races when has a decent lead he stay's relaxed and LaShawn tightens up.

In the case of those 2 video's, they both ran somewhat tight at the end, feeling the pressure of each other.

But in 2007 those races Wariner won EVERY time. My point is Lashawn is a different runner.

[Speedfirst]

guruof track......I'm not certain what happened to your post with youtube video's.. but actually that is almost exactly my point about defeating Jeremy. LaShawn was close enough coming off the curve where Jeremy couldn't stay relaxed. But again when you look at Jeremy's races when has a decent lead he stay's relaxed and LaShawn tightens up.

In the case of those 2 video's, they both ran somewhat tight at the end, feeling the pressure of each other.

But in 2007 those races Wariner won EVERY time. My point is Lashawn is a different runner.

I obviously, nor am I disputing that Jeremy didn't win those races, but again look at the difference in the lead Jeremy had in those races. LaShawn is a different runner, he's faster for one, but he still needs to improve on staying relaxed and finishing. If Jeremy returns to his 2007 or before form, it's trouble for every 400m runner in the world, LaShawn included.

[110hedgeNYC]

great discussion going in the recent postings.

I agree with all that the JW/LM rivalry is going to be great this year, and for at least a few years to come. both of these guys are coming into the peak zones of their careers.

the poll shows that most people think that Merritt will have the better of JW this year, but with JW coming back to Hart, we'll probably see a very close battle. I would not be surprised to see both JW and LM go sub-43.50 this year. that would be awesome, and great for the sport.

as some others have concurred with my view, JW needs to improve his power/acceleration game (i.e. get some more muscle on him) just a little: just enough to get him under 20.00 in the 200m. JW has, Michael Johnson once said, a great "internal clock", has incredible speed endurance, amazing efficiency, etc. these qualities are more important than maximum speed or pure power in the 400m, of course. but, JW has to be able to hit one more gear - get his sub-20.00 and feel in control doing it - in order to have more speed reserve going through his 200 and 300 meter markers.

bottom line: JW has to hit the right pace splits at 200, 250, 300, etc., but he's got to feel more comfortable and like he's got more in the tank for the final straight.

this is not just a function of pure speed endurance and race model. it's also about efficient power and max speed.

i hope that Hart and JW see this weakness in his race, his only weakness, and drill down to some quality 200 meter work to give him the 2-3 tenths he needs. 2-3 tenths in the 200, done relaxed and with efficient sprinting mechanics, will give JW 4-5 tenths improvement at the 400.

result? maybe MJ's world record.

LM, on the other hand, has to keep fine tuning his race model and execute it almost perfectly. if he does that, he might get the WR.

should be a great few years ahead!

[EPelle]

Wariner's 200m is fine. Hart states that a good indication for a 200m guy focused on the 400m is twice the 200m time plus 3,5 seconds. If Wariner runs 19,90, that still leaves him within the range (43,40) he is already at (43,45). So it's got to be something else than improving that 200m and feeling comfortable at the split (21,0-21,3).

[Speedfirst]

I think something else is improving on his first 200m, you notice Jeremy makes his move at aound 220-250m, if he can be faster at the 200m and still decide to use his race model, his PR should improve.

P.S. I guess his race model would change slightly coming in a litle faster on that first 200m.

[Gleason]

It's too bad Clement isn't mixing it up with them in the open 400. Man that guy is fast.

Why? He has a bye, so he can run USAT&F 400. IF he makes the team 400 heats are at 11:05 while 400H final is at 20:05 about nine hours later. He ran harder doubles in college.

[EPelle]

Clement's making a go at trying to master the hurdles. He needs to run the hurdles in order to accomplish that feat.

[Gleason]

Clement's making a go at trying to master the hurdles. He needs to run the hurdles in order to accomplish that feat.

He's been running 400 hurdles for at least six years, but he can't change lead legs & he ran his PR with 13 strides. Based on his indoor 400 times he should run low 43s for outdoor 400. IF he runs one second faster for outdoor 400 than his current PR, he should be able to run 13 strides for 400 hurdles and have a sub 47 time IMHO.

His 45.47 at Stockholm on July 22 qualifies him for USAT&F 400, so that may be a good way for him to improve 400 speed then improve his 400 hurdles time. His PR of 47.24 in 2005 hasn't improved by his running 400 hurdles at USAT&F, so its time for a change.

What is the down side to running 400? Running 400 hurdles hasn't worked. Doing the same thing and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.

[Gleason]

ha ha. you're right, Texas Speed. It's true, X-man is not in the same league with Merritt and Wariner.

X-man seems to have the potential, but it's not clear he's got the right mentality, ability to execute technically and with race strategies - and/or whether he's in the right kind of coaching/training situation.

who is his coach, anyway?

Brooks Johnson.

[EPelle]

What is the down side to running 400? Running 400 hurdles hasn't worked. Doing the same thing and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.

Clement openly stated that he wants to master the hurdles; he's attempting to overcome his deficiencies in the event. He now has a willingness to learn how to hurdle properly (gain proper hurdling technique). He hasn't run 400m hurdles, rather he's run 400m and jumped haphazardly over barriers as they've approached. He's making an effort to change that.

There's no reason his name shouldn't be tied in together with the best 400m guys, however, because he can run well in the event. He'll run the open 400m in the GL meets this summer.