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

[110hedgeNYC]

Half Miler -

perhaps you're right. though, based on my experience, there is a trade off with only doing speed pace and speed endurance based training. it is my understanding that that is THE system used by Hart for JW.

my point is that speed is not only an innate ability: it can be trained. power, also, can be trained. the acceleration phase of a 200, or 100, is also a trainable technique. you'd be surprised how many so-called sprint coaches out there don't truly know how to get this component right, mechanically speaking, nor do a lot of them know what type of specific training is involved in developing this kind of capacity.

my guess is that even back a couple years ago when JW ran 20.19, and they were making the 200 more of a priority, JW/Hart used a kind of "top down" speed endurance approach.

the problem with this approach is that long sprinters get stuck in a particular gear. when I watch JW I often think he's stuck in 3rd gear, when he needs to be able to hit 4th in order to be more comfortable, conserve energy, executing his 400 race plan in a more efficient 3rd gear.

there is not one road to speed endurance. speed reserve, or having a kind speed slack, equates to what people sometimes call "effective speed endurance".

I maintain that, let's say a John Smith power/technique approach to sprinting versus a strictly speed endurance/pacing approach, would get JW under 20.00 and under 43.30.

[Half Miler]

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

He's capable of going sub-20 in the 200m, maybe sub 19.90...people agree/not agree?

One thing I don't agree with anymore is the common assertion that Wariner has some magic reserve of speed that just hasn't been tapped. Raw speed is essentially innate. It's possible that Wariner has simply reached his limit.

3 years ago JW was running 20.19 and many of us (myself included) thought he could go significantly faster. But he was actually training more for the 200 that year than he has since.

Speed endurance is another thing entirely, of course. I see no reason why that can't continue to improve.

But I do agree that, for now, LM appears to be the man.

[proofs in the pudd'in]

I voted LM just because he looks the better man right now and JW's progression seems off to me - but I hope I am wrong and he does beter than a 43.8 this season because that is what he is going to have to do with LM in the game.

[110hedgeNYC]

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?

[texas_speed]

This thread title should be changed.

X is not in the league of Merritt or Wariner in 2009.

[110hedgeNYC]

the X Man needs a lot of technical work - and greater flexibility.

with more efficient sprint mechanics and greater relaxation, this guy goes 19.60's again and sub-44.00 in the 400.

his speed base in the 100 is plenty good enough.

[110hedgeNYC]

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?