'09 Zürich w400: Richards 48.94 WL

[gh]

(Sanya tries to stay undefeated)

400m Women

Sanders, Nicola GBR
Krivoshapka, Antonia RUS
Williams, Novlene JAM
Ohuruogu, Christine GBR
Felix, Allyson USA
Williams, Shericka JAM
Montsho, Amantle BOT
Richards, Sanya USA

[CookyMonzta]

Re: '09 Zürich w400

She'll have her hands full with Allyson. With the monkey off her back and the girls back on the Euro circuit, I'd say yet again that she won't play it as safe as she did in Berlin.

If Sanya thinks it's going to take something under 23.5 for the opening 200 to break Allyson and the others, she'll go for it. If she's aiming for a piece of that cash, or all of it, she'll play it safe again with 23.6-23.8. But a split that slow will play right into Allyson's hands, especially if Allyson thinks she can break Sanya's AR.

Allyson has nothing to lose. All Sanya has to lose is $1 million. The choice is going to be tougher on Sanya. If she thinks her job of winning a big one is done, and she can let loose, money or no money, she'll let it rip. But if she wants that money real bad, she's going to be just as cautious as she was in Berlin. Again, Allyson could very well take advantage of that, and Sanya will be in trouble if Allyson is ready for 48.xx.

Again, I say this will end in 48.3x, if both are prepared to go all-out.

[guruof track]

Allyson isn't going to beat Sanya and she damn sure not running sub 49.

That's foley talk.

[Speedfirst]

Allyson isn't going to beat Sanya and she damn sure not running sub 49.

That's foley talk.

Now..Now, that isn't beyond the realm of happening, the Allyson projection that is.

[Medal]

Allyson is a much better relay 400m runner then open runner. She barely split under 49 in berlin, so I dont why people even think she can run sub 49 in zurich's open. Sanya should win this race, even if she goes out cautiously, even with a 24.0 first 200.

And no the winner will not be in 48.3. Yea sanya is a great circuit runner, but lets not get crazy. I think its would be remarkable to see a 48.8x from sanya on Fri.

[Speedfirst]

It's a projection, Allyson was certainly on pace to run a mid 21 200m in Berlin. The 21.8 she ran leading into Berlin is an indicator that she is in sub 49 shape. If she were to go out in a low to mid 23 and come back 25, that's your mid to high 48 right there.

With respect to her open and relay times, certainly you have more feel for a race model in the open, than you do the relays. This is one reason why splits are faster, but also getting that running start helps as well and just the rush of running on a relay.

[TrackDaddy]

Did yall not notice the rest of the field?

Its loaded.

And everyone of them will be gunning for the 400m World Champ.

With respects to Allyson, Sanya has more than just her to worry about.

Shericka ran 49.3x, and AK49 who has run 49.2x both have faster prs than Felix as does the Big O.

That said, Sanya will probably let a very good time rip and take another step toward the Golden League jackpot which she's won two times before I believe.

[CookyMonzta]

Did yall not notice the rest of the field?

Its loaded.

And everyone of them will be gunning for the 400m World Champ.

With respects to Allyson, Sanya has more than just her to worry about.

Shericka ran 49.3x, and AK49 who has run 49.2x both have faster prs than Felix as does the Big O.

That said, Sanya will probably let a very good time rip and take another step toward the Golden League jackpot which she's won two times before I believe.

I doubt Sanya will have more than Allyson to worry about. For me, it's an either/or situation, and that narrows down to those who have broken either 22.00 or 49.00. Sanya has broken 49.00 twice and run exactly 49.00. Allyson has been under 22.00 at least a half-dozen times (including wind-aided). The rest have done neither.

If I'm not mistaken, among the rest, only Nicola has run under 49.0, on a relay, and she hasn't been in any shape to challenge her open PR of 49.65. And what are the 200 PRs of Antonina and Shericka? They're going to need big PRs (for Shericka, a NR) to even come close to Sanya this time. Allyson might lose to Sanya and either one of those two if she doesn't bring her A-game, but she ain't losing to Big O., Novlene, Amantle or Nicola.

[Alexm]

What's all this sh*te about Felix winning this race? Hardly! As Track Daddy says, there as other athletes with faster PRs and SB's than Felix, so they have on paper much better chances of challenging Richards. In no way has Felix shown she can challenge Richards in the individual this season.

[jjimbojames]

Strange as it might sound, given she's run enough races and has a PB of 49.70, but I don't think Allyson really knows how to run her best open 400m yet. I would love to see her on the inside of Sanya in the race, for Sanya to execute her Berlin strategy, and to see what the two can run.

Sanya's strategy of coasting to 200m in 24(?) and bringing it home as she has the superior speed of the field would surely also work for Allyson, no?

That said, I think any athlete would settle for a win over that field - there's plenty of talent on show

[DJ_Expanium]

Re: '09 Zürich w400

(Sanya tries to stay undefeated)

Undefeated since that Kingston Invitational.

Sanya Richards is the favorite for the race and there is no way that Felix is going to beat her along with Williams, Williams-Mills, AK49 and Ohuruogu. Felix has run 50.50 and and 1 sub-22 sec 200m this year, which is definitely not an indicator that she can go do an extreme sub 49 for this race. She may be faster in 200m, but she is not faster/stronger than Sanya for 400m.

[TrackDaddy]

I doubt Sanya will have more than Allyson to worry about. For me, it's an either/or situation, and that narrows down to those who have broken either 22.00 or 49.00. Sanya has broken 49.00 twice and run exactly 49.00. Allyson has been under 22.00 at least a half-dozen times (including wind-aided). The rest have done neither.

If I'm not mistaken, among the rest, only Nicola has run under 49.0, on a relay, and she hasn't been in any shape to challenge her open PR of 49.65. And what are the 200 PRs of Antonina and Shericka? They're going to need big PRs (for Shericka, a NR) to even come close to Sanya this time. Allyson might lose to Sanya and either one of those two if she doesn't bring her A-game, but she ain't losing to Big O., Novlene, Amantle or Nicola.

Don't forget that Novelene beat Sanya in her season opener and BOTH Novelen AND Shericka beat Allyson just last month.

Now I don't believe these women are better 400m runners than Sanya and Allyson just that it would be foolish for me to dismiss them.

They'll all be motivated to try and take money out of Sanya's pocket...believe that.

And anyone who's run 49.2x is dangerous in a one off race so AK49 has to be respected too as you said.

[SQUACKEE]

Well, we all know Sanya wont choke! We can now dispel that rumour. Just about my 2 favorite athletes. I always root for the underdog so, Go Fee!

My brain says- Sanya 48.7 Fee 48.9.

[jpaule]

Doesn't Allyson have several relay legs faster than Sanya's best?

[guruof track]

Doesn't Allyson have several relay legs faster than Sanya's best?

Yes, but Sanya has several open times faster than Allyson's best.

I will repeat again, Allyson is NOT going sub 49. If she runs 49.5 or better I will be wholly surprised.