'09 Paris GL w800m - [Anna Willard 1:58.80]

[rudeboy]

I have to say she looked great down that final stretch. It looks like she can go faster.

[rasb]

Willard now No. 16 American ever, one slot ahead of Robin Campbell.

...and I hang on to my spot by a thread for a little bit longer!

Good one, Ruth ! I assume you are not hoping for the USA girls to run more slowly... :wink:

[3a]

stunning...has more beauty ever graced a track?..

Eh, a little perspective needed, perhaps?


But Anna Willard is most definitely in the wrong event, let's not get carried away though - hardly a stellar field.

Also, If Okoro ever learned to race she would have won that race comfortably and sub 1'58. Why does she insist on sprinting to the front and ten meters ahead at that?!

[3a]

She walloped some of the best 800m runners out there!

Willard and Barringer amaze me.

Actually, out of the 800m, 1500m, and 3000m s/c, isn't the steeplechase now their weakest event on paper? I know their times are due for significant revision once they get in a fast race, but Willard could medal in the 800m if she had qualified.

I'm not sure the field constituted "some of the best 800m runners out there" Beijing Final =

1 4 Pamela Jelimo KEN 1:54.87 (WJ)
2 7 Janeth Jepkosgei KEN 1:56.07 (SB)
3 8 Hasna Benhassi MAR 1:56.73 (SB)
4 6 Svetlana Klyuka RUS 1:56.94 .
5 2 Maria de Lurdes Mutola MOZ 1:57.68 (SB)
6 3 Kenia Sinclair JAM 1:58.24 (SB)
7 9 Yuliya Krevsun UKR 1:58.73

So She'd have finished 8th. BUT surely her potential lies within this distance. How can someone get their event of choice so wrong? :shock:

[rasb]

She walloped some of the best 800m runners out there!

Willard and Barringer amaze me.

Actually, out of the 800m, 1500m, and 3000m s/c, isn't the steeplechase now their weakest event on paper? I know their times are due for significant revision once they get in a fast race, but Willard could medal in the 800m if she had qualified.

I'm not sure the field constituted "some of the best 800m runners out there" Beijing Final =

1 4 Pamela Jelimo KEN 1:54.87 (WJ)
2 7 Janeth Jepkosgei KEN 1:56.07 (SB)
3 8 Hasna Benhassi MAR 1:56.73 (SB)
4 6 Svetlana Klyuka RUS 1:56.94 .
5 2 Maria de Lurdes Mutola MOZ 1:57.68 (SB)
6 3 Kenia Sinclair JAM 1:58.24 (SB)
7 9 Yuliya Krevsun UKR 1:58.73

So She'd have finished 8th. BUT surely her potential lies within this distance. How can someone get their event of choice so wrong? :shock:

What are you talking about? Ignore the hurdles and the water for a moment, and reflect on all the wonderful athletes, male and female, who were able to achieve very high level performances between the distances of 800 m. and 3000 m, and often longer as well... Other than the rare 400/800 metre beast, the training is not all that different. And athletes who are getting ready to run fast at 1500 or 3000 metres are fully capable of running very fast at 800 metres, with the proviso that they don't want to hammer the first lap too hard....

[lovetorun]

I can't wait to see how Willard and Barringer do against each other and a fast international field in the steeple...could this happen before Berlin?

[K.I.R.]

Other than the rare 400/800 metre beast, the training is not all that different. .

Wrong.

[3a]

[ the training is not all that different. .

Shows how much you know.

[tandfman]

No Vessey?

I saw a report that said she tweaked a hamstring warming up.

[Walt Murphy]

I can't wait to see how Willard and Barringer do against each other and a fast international field in the steeple...could this happen before Berlin?

probably not--I've heard that Willard will skip the steeple at the Worlds

[gh]

Willard now No. 16 American ever, one slot ahead of Robin Campbell.

...and I hang on to my spot by a thread for a little bit longer!

You'll always be No. 1 to me, Ruthie! :-)

[rasb]

[ the training is not all that different. .

Shows how much you know.

Well, having actually coached many good female athletes, who ran fast at 800, 1500, 3000 and the 5000 at World Cross Country Champs., I feel I know quite a bit about it. Of course, there are different seasonal emphases
in the training, but top 1500/3000 metre runners in the weeks leading up to a major goal or peak, can run very fast at 800 metres. That's just a fact, and not a theory for me. Been there, done that (or more accurately) coached that.

[dal4018]

Re: '09 Paris GL w800m - [Anna Willard 1:58.80]

Startlist

Hazel Clark USA
Elisa Cusma Piccione ITA
Élodie Guégan FRA
Lucia Klocová SVK
Marilyn Okoro GBR
Anna Rostkowska POL
Shannon Rowbury USA
Natalya Tsyganova RUS
Maggie Vessey USA
Anna Willard USA
Oksana Zbrozhek RUS

Too bad Jelimo wasn't in this race