'09 Athens GP w400m

[T&F_LA]

Of course considering that element is crucial. That's why that second place in Kingston didn't surprised me. She said the disease had affected her training and she even posted a note about that since March or April in her website.

[26mi235]

No, that wasn't me. I base my opinion in more than one result alone. Several results, facts ...

A sample size of two is not really a whole lot of facts, especially with the complication of observing an athlete with an unusual disease element that you know little about in its specific timing in SR's case. [earlier years when she was a junior competing at the end of a long season in her first real 'majors' does not really constitute an additional observation]

[T&F_LA]

Both the William's girls are running well, and Ohuruogu only beat each one marginally

Actually, Ohuruogu haven't beat any of the two this season.

You would have to look at Richards this season as being a different athlete to last season, she was a 49.8 girl last year, but not this year, and her tactics look better. It'll all be a question of rounds & nerves come the Berlin final, but it's Richards to lose

Totally agree with that.

[T&F_LA]

We need to wait till the Russian champs

When are the they?

Yes, we have to wait to them. Krivoshapka looks as a very good talent, but historically Russians haven't run the best at major champs. Despite many finalists and 4x400 medals, no Russian has ever won an individual medal of any color in WC.

As for Gushchina I don't really think she has a chance this season. She hasn't broke the 51s (while in 2008 her SB was 50.12 at this point of the year) and has placed badly.

In fact, what happened with the Russians this season? Only one (Litvinova) out of six that ran 50x last year has run that again in 2009. Firova, Kapachinskaya, Migunova, Gushchina, all them outclassed this season.

[Stephen]

Is it just me, but it start to look like W 400m Final in Berlin could be between the two Jamaicans..Williams and Williams, Christine O and Sanya Richards.

So much the same as any other year then :?

I'm not so sure Ohuruogu will be contesting for the top spot this year. Both the William's girls are running well, and Ohuruogu only beat each one marginally, Novelene's loss being the more bitter as she should have won in Osaka.
You would have to look at Richards this season as being a different athlete to last season, she was a 49.8 girl last year, but not this year, and her tactics look better. It'll all be a question of rounds & nerves come the Berlin final, but it's Richards to lose.
I'm not so sure Kriovshapka will get down to the sub 49.5 it may take to win, but she can dip under 50 for sure. We need to wait till the Russian champs before we can properly assess them though. Remember Zaitseva in 2006? A 49.4 at the nationals then went out far too hard in Gothenberg and faded to the bronze. Guschina has competed a lot this season already, but she nearly got bronze in Beijing and coould be the best Russian again if she holds back from the circuit more.

Edited to add: Looking over results, Zaitseva has competed this summer, with an 11.67 back in June and 23.64 in July.

[T&F_LA]

Remember, she lost this season in Jamaica and at that point people were writing her off and saying that she should change events and that it was over for her, blah, blah, blah.

That wasnt you was it? .

No, that wasn't me. I base my opinion in more than one result alone. Several results, facts (not, for instance, in what I think someone said without being sure about it). That's why, having multiple results confirming a trend (among other elements), I support the idea that SR will probably lose again

Feel free to check my postings. You won't find such a comment

[Flumpy]

Is it just me, but it start to look like W 400m Final in Berlin could be between the two Jamaicans..Williams and Williams, Christine O and Sanya Richards.

So much the same as any other year then :?

[jamaicantrackfan]

What has Felix been training for this season? I really haven't seen her doing much 200m or 100m, and you said she hasn't training for 400m. Has she lost her confidence? In the last race in Rome, you could still see she has that little limb that she had last year. We'll have to wait and see how things play out in Berlin, but judging by this, I hadn't seen any improvement on her form and technique from last season.

Agreed. She still has that limp from last year as if one foot is shorter than the other.

I haven't seen any improvement from last year. To be fair, VC was injured earlier in the season and seems to have suffered a cramp today. We just have to wait and see what form does both show up in in Berlin.

[TrackDaddy]

I dont believe her margin of victory this season are "larger than ever" as you claim, T&F.

Also I believe that back in 2006 she routinely won races by a full second or more.

Ok. Then it's the biggest margin for a global title season.

I'm not sure about that either but it's a better statement.

Remember, she lost this season in Jamaica and at that point people were writing her off and saying that she should change events and that it was over for her, blah, blah, blah.

That wasnt you was it?

What a difference a few months make.

[T&F_LA]

I dont believe her margin of victory this season are "larger than ever" as you claim, T&F.

Also I believe that back in 2006 she routinely won races by a full second or more.

Ok. Then it's the biggest margin for a global title season.

[TrackDaddy]

Sanya will win in Berlin...

Going...away.

Write that down.

Also, I dont believe her margin of victory this season are "larger than ever" as you claim, T&F.

For one thing...she's lost a 400m race this season.

Also I believe that back in 2006 she routinely won races by a full second or more.

[T&F_LA]

She tied up. But maybe you are right. She could lean or something... even dive as Neville, remember?

[3a]

...she looking to redeem herself this year.

She should be looking to redeem herself for the shambolic "here's the world title" run in Osaka. That was her title, and she just gave up as soon as she felt the slightest bit of pressure at 395. No lean, no nothing.

[T&F_LA]

And then there are the Russians...

I'm very curious about Krivoshapka. She won the Indoor European champ on March and have run two outdoor sub51's so far. I'm not saying that she has a chance to win, but with such a poor depth this year if any of the favourites screws it up and she doesn't, she could medal. Besides her 50.24 PB was run in a low-keyed race, so we haven't discovered her full potential yet. We'll see, she's still very unexpierenced

[ChuiTai]

With 3-4 meets remaining for most on the circuit, one could go away feeling less impressed with this year's participants. Injuries and the sort have left many with disappointment in performances to-date. One could conclude that Richards might win in Berlin with a time similar to that of Beijing.

I would suspect that weather might play an important role as well. Remember Helsinki?

And then there are the Russians...