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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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.

[Taliban]

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

I think JW needs to develop his power/acceleration game. He's capable of going sub-20 in the 200m, maybe sub 19.90. he's talented enough for this, but needs the right mix of power, max-speed work and more aggressive acceleration phase.

the more important point is that, IMO, it's essential that JW break the 20.00 barrier this year. this will bring him much close to breaking the WR in the 400 than anything else. JW needs a slightly better speed-reserve going through the 200 mark of the 400. a better speed-reserve leaves him more in the tank at the end, then he hits his sub 43.30, then maybe MJ's record.

otherwise, Merritt is looking more and more like the man. Merritt looks great so far this year; hopefully not getting too sharp too early (i.e. sacrificing base work for early season speed).

seems to me that JW should really taper down his training load for the USA Nationals, focus on getting very speed-sharp for the 200, and blast out some quality 200's in Eugene. If he runs up to potential he makes the final and mixes it up with the 200 guys (i.e. he's in the mix, say top 4-6).

from what I know and what I've seen with JW's (Hart's) training style, it's all paced sprinting. it's all speed endurance and pace training, which is most important for the 400, but the power and max speed elements need to be developed as well in order to achieve greater comfort and relaxation "at pace" (i.e. better speed-reserve).

people agree/not agree?

Disagree! 20.19 is a long way from 19.8x....... He will need to gain a few pounds before even thinking about a sub 20.

[Taliban]

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

I think JW needs to develop his power/acceleration game. He's capable of going sub-20 in the 200m, maybe sub 19.90. he's talented enough for this, but needs the right mix of power, max-speed work and more aggressive acceleration phase.

the more important point is that, IMO, it's essential that JW break the 20.00 barrier this year. this will bring him much close to breaking the WR in the 400 than anything else. JW needs a slightly better speed-reserve going through the 200 mark of the 400. a better speed-reserve leaves him more in the tank at the end, then he hits his sub 43.30, then maybe MJ's record.

otherwise, Merritt is looking more and more like the man. Merritt looks great so far this year; hopefully not getting too sharp too early (i.e. sacrificing base work for early season speed).

seems to me that JW should really taper down his training load for the USA Nationals, focus on getting very speed-sharp for the 200, and blast out some quality 200's in Eugene. If he runs up to potential he makes the final and mixes it up with the 200 guys (i.e. he's in the mix, say top 4-6).

from what I know and what I've seen with JW's (Hart's) training style, it's all paced sprinting. it's all speed endurance and pace training, which is most important for the 400, but the power and max speed elements need to be developed as well in order to achieve greater comfort and relaxation "at pace" (i.e. better speed-reserve).

people agree/not agree?

Disagree! 20.19 is a long way from 19.8x....... He will need to gain a few pounds before even thing about a sub 20.

[Gleason]

Gleason, thanks for your sharing your memories! Adds a nice touch to this thread.

My pleasure. I'm glad that you enjoyed it.

[Half Miler]

Gleason, thanks for your sharing your memories! Adds a nice touch to this thread.

[Gleason]

[quote="ExCoastRanger"
10.00/44.70(a very easy 44.7 might I add) and made the US Trials 200m finals while running on a broke ankle or some sorts...
Injures himself in 2006 right? Didn't he come back from that injury to post a 19.92 to end the yr?

The injury was in 2007. I agree with every other part of the above.

[Gleason]

Re: Are Sprinters really born and not made?

With all this disccusion about how running speed is "innate" let's remember Bill Towmey. When he started as a decathlete he was not what anyone would describe as quick but he somehow made himself into not just a great decathlete but a FAST, great decathlete. His 400 meter from Mexico City is still amazing. Surely we have learned something about speed developement in the last 40 years! I would really like to know how he did it.

In the first four months of 1962 Bill Toomey was in graduate school at Stanford.
He trained three days/week at nearby Foothill JC with the 1:51.0/48.5r teammate of mine.

The late Vern Wolfe was our coach. He could only spend two days/week with each athlete, so we were told to train with the guys in our event on the other days on our own. Toomey had been a sprinter/long jumper. He told me that he was helped by training with the half-miler to improve his endurance. Their main workout was 220s and 330s at 26 and 40 with long walking breaks.

We didn't have good quarter milers. Our mile relay was a hurdler, sprinter, miler and the aforementioned half miler. Toomey and our half miler did nothing special--just lots of hard work. The other guys trained with sprinters or distance runners. The elevation at Mexico may have been the most important factor in his sprint times of 10.4 and 45.6 and a long jump of 25' 9 3/4".

The Air Force had sent Russ Hodge to train with Vern for a couple of months. One day I ran with Russ for an hour in the hills. I had run a 4:36 mile, but was exhausted by Russ. He practiced high jumping while I drove home. He told me that he had run a 4:20 mile! Based on these experiences, I concluded that endurance was more important than speed for those two decathletes.

[RamGoat]

I write of JW for breaking that record this year he is not going to do it until he increases his ultimate speed ability. He has to be better than MJ in all of the phases to break the record right? and the Power and speed part is what he needs..

JW needs some more muscle.

[paulthefan]

Re: Are Sprinters really born and not made?

With all this disccusion about how running speed is "innate" let's remember Bill Towmey. When he started as a decathlete he was not what anyone would describe as quick but he somehow made himself into not just a great decathlete but a FAST, great decathlete. His 400 meter from Mexico City is still amazing. Surely we have learned something about speed developement in the last 40 years! I would really like to know how he did it.

he did it because he was the exact opposite of what you have made him out to be .. he was simply put a very very fast dude. Could have easily been a sub45 400m man in Mexico, which would have possibly gotten him into the final.