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

[Gleason]

You're right about Felix in 2007. Nevertheless, however modest she was, she still made it known last year that she was attempting to emulate Fanny Blankers-Koen's record four golds from London 1948.

Felix didn't make the 100 team in 2008.

My point is this: Clement's USATF meet in the hurdles will likely produce the same finishers in Berlin (though the order of finish may change). Clement sat awake during the nights last year during the USA OT attempting to go through different scenarios for the final and how he'd run the race. Take that away from him this year, and he has only one shot at perfection (Berlin) without the requisite races to back it up.

Running 43-second 400m races won't make him a better technical hurdler. Practicing those techniques and applying them in real-life situations will.

How will you know until he tries?

[EPelle]

You're right about Felix in 2007. Nevertheless, however modest she was, she still made it known last year that she was attempting to emulate Fanny Blankers-Koen's record four golds from London 1948.

My point is this: Clement's USATF meet in the hurdles will likely produce the same finishers in Berlin (though the order of finish may change). Clement sat awake during the nights last year during the USA OT attempting to go through different scenarios for the final and how he'd run the race. Take that away from him this year, and he has only one shot at perfection (Berlin) without the requisite races to back it up.

Running 43-second 400m races won't make him a better technical hurdler. Practicing those techniques and applying them in real-life situations will.

[Gleason]

400 hurdles would be repeating pattern of 2005,2006,2007 & 2008.

2005, 2006 and 2007 were not with Kersee.

As for Johnson's world record:

4.Will you one day try to challenge the outdoor 400m world record? (Laugh) well well well…that record would stay where it is. I am not insane to say yes I will attempt to break the record because for me it’s not possible. I know people say; yes anything is possible, but not right now.

Ignore athlete's modesty. Felix didn't predict her three golds at Osaka.

When did an athlete predict a world record and then produce it? They don't want to stimulate their competiton!

[EPelle]

400 hurdles would be repeating pattern of 2005,2006,2007 & 2008.

2005, 2006 and 2007 were not with Kersee.

As for Johnson's world record:

4.Will you one day try to challenge the outdoor 400m world record? (Laugh) well well well…that record would stay where it is. I am not insane to say yes I will attempt to break the record because for me it’s not possible. I know people say; yes anything is possible, but not right now.

[Gleason]

It worked out grand for Taylor. Why run 400m hurdles at USATF? Rankings and competition, and a real, game-day opportunity to see if what you have practiced can be applied strategically.

400 hurdles would be repeating pattern of 2005,2006,2007 & 2008.

IF his flat 400 time improved by one second, he would be more able to run 13 strides for all 10 hurdles and to break 47. He broke MJ's indoor record. He might approach his outdoor record if he concentrated on 400 in 2009.

[EPelle]

It worked out grand for Taylor. Why run 400m hurdles at USATF? Rankings and competition, and a real, game-day opportunity to see if what you have practiced can be applied strategically.

[Gleason]

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.

His college coach was quoted by an attendee at a coaching clinic that Clement can hurdle with either leg in the 110s and the 400s at practices because he did that while competing for Fla. He can't do it in meets, so I suggest running 400s until he is in the low 43s. He'll never know until he tries it.

Why run 400 hurdles? He has the bye. Taylor ran 400 in 2007. How did that work out in 2008?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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.

[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.

[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).

[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!