'09 Brussels W800m

[James Fields]

Third version of women's 800m list increased field size to 12 runners -- bringing to mind earlier forum concerns about more runners than lanes. Three lanes (1, 5, 9) each have two runners for first turn.

Lane . Athlete and Nation (with 2009 Best)
. 1 . . Maggie Vessey, USA (1:57.84)
. 1 . . Anna Willard, USA (1:58.80)

. 2 . . Oksana Zbroshek, RUS (1:59.13)
. 3 . . Anna Rostkowska, POL (1:59.77)
. 4 . . Jemma Simpson, GBR (1:59.07)

. 5 . . Elisa Cusma, ITA (1:58.99)
. 5 . . Mayte Martinez, ESP (1:58.81)

. 6 . . Marilyn Okoro, GBR (1:59.56)
. 7 . . Yulia Krevsun, UKR (1:58.00)
. 8 . . Maria Savinova, RUS (1:57.90)

. 9 . . Janeth Jepkos, KEN (1:57.90)
. 9 . . Natalya Tsyganova, RUS (2:03.26) pace "rabbit"

Brussels "golden" status means more points, than most WAT meets, for earning a place in the World Athletics Final a week later in Greece. Willard, already assured of a WAF entry in 1500m, could earn a doubler role there with a high finish in Brussels 800m. Vessey is the current WAT leader -- both in both points scored and time for the distance in 2009.

[jeremyp]

Time for another Vessey golden run, after numerous hunker down in the back routines???

[gh]

ne Athlete Nation PB SB
1 VESSEY, Maggie USA 1:57.84 1:57.84
1 WILLARD, Anna USA 1:58.80 1:58.80
2 ZBROZHEK, Oksana RUS 1:58.06 1:59.13
3 ROSTKOWSKA, Anna POL 1:58.72 1:59.77
4 SIMPSON, Jemma GBR 1:59.07 1:59.07
5 CUSMA, Elisa ITA 1:58.63 1:58.99
5 MARTINEZ, Mayte ESP 1:57.62 1:58.81
6 OKORO, Marilyn GBR 1:58.45 1:59.56
7 KREVSUN, Yulia UKR 1:57.32 1:58.00
8 SAVINOVA, Maria RUS 1:57.90 1:57.90
9 JEPKOSGEI, Janeth KEN 1:56.04 1:57.90
9 TSYGANOVA, Natalya RUS 1:56.60 2:03.26

[James Fields]

2009 Brussels W800m

Athletes qualify for WAF by earning place-points in at least three WAT meets. The top meets (Golden League and Super Grand Prix) award more points than "plain" Grand Prix which score higher than Area Permit meets. If athletes score in more than five meets, he/she is credited with their best five points-earning meets.

For W800m World Athletics Final the IAAF plans eight runners -- the top seven point-earners plus one that IAAF can designate. Here are the top seven with their total WAT points before Brussels:

62 - Maggie Vessey, USA
55 - Jennifer Simpson, GBR
51 * Jennifer Meadows, GBR
49 - Marilyn Okoro, GBR
48 * Elisa Cusma Piccione, ITA
48 - Mayte Martínez, ESP
42 * Ekaterina Kostetskaya, RUS

Vessey has become the 2009 leader by winning 800m in three of her six WAT meets. Meadows and Piccione have each won twice. Simpson, Okoro, Martinez and Kostetskaya have each won only one of their reported WAT races. Most have earned place-points in their non-winning races.

Today's race is the last WAT scoring opportunity for all w800m runners. The remaining Grand Prix meet, Sunday at Rieti, does not include their event.

Note that three runners with an asterisk, next to their names on rank-order list above, are not on the Brussels start list. That presents an opportunity for Willard (30 points in 2 WAT 800m races) to move into a WAF qualifying position via today's high-scoring Golden League race.
------------
WAF = World Athletics Final, Sept 12-13 at Thessaloniki, GRE
WAT = World Athletics Tour, meets of past year in many nations

[Mighty Favog]

This is the kind of points-standings what-does-this-mean-in-the-bigger-picture stuff that we got used to in the old GP days, lost in the intervening years, and should get again in the Diamond League. I like it because it makes a cohesive "season" rather than just "a bunch of stuff that happens".

It appears that Vessey has clinched going to the WAF (should she, like the IMF, choose to accept it).

[gh]

I'd accept anything the International Monetary Fund offered :-)

[jpaule]

Maggie Maggie :cry: Maggie :!: :?: :!: :?:

You are the true Drama Queen.

Will today be for your fans or :cry: :cry: :cry:

We, your fans, are waiting on pins and needles to find out!!

[IanS_Liv]

jpaule, I think it was :cry: :cry: :cry:

Although to cheer you up Willard takes it, Simpson 2nd (to cheer me up) with Tsyganova, who led to 750m or so in 3rd!

[toyracer]

Lane Athlete Nation PB SB
1 VESSEY, Maggie USA 1:57.84 1:57.84
1 WILLARD, Anna USA 1:58.80 1:58.80
2 ZBROZHEK, Oksana RUS 1:58.06 1:59.13
3 ROSTKOWSKA, Anna POL 1:58.72 1:59.77
4 SIMPSON, Jemma GBR 1:59.07 1:59.07
5 CUSMA, Elisa ITA 1:58.63 1:58.99
5 MARTINEZ, Mayte ESP 1:57.62 1:58.81
6 OKORO, Marilyn GBR 1:58.45 1:59.56
7 KREVSUN, Yulia UKR 1:57.32 1:58.00
8 SAVINOVA, Maria RUS 1:57.90 1:57.90
9 JEPKOSGEI, Janeth KEN 1:56.04 1:57.90
9 TSYGANOVA, Natalya RUS 1:56.60 2:03.26

[gh]

Rank Athlete Nat Result
1 WILLARD, Anna
USA
1:59.14
2 SIMPSON, Jemma
GBR
1:59.40
3 SAVINOVA, Maria
RUS
1:59.49
4 CUSMA, Elisa
ITA
1:59.75
5 MARTINEZ, Mayte
ESP
1:59.78
6 ROSTKOWSKA, Anna
POL
2:00.08
7 ZBROZHEK, Oksana
RUS
2:00.65
8 OKORO, Marilyn
GBR
2:01.68
9 VESSEY, Maggie
USA
2:01.88
10 KREVSUN, Yulia
UKR
2:02.95
TSYGANOVA, Natalya
RUS
DNF

Intermediate times:
400m 188 Tsyganova, Natalya (RUS) 58.55
600m 186 Savinova, Maria (RUS) 1:28.87
Start List PDF

[Mighty Favog]

Re: 2009 Brussels W800m

For W800m World Athletics Final the IAAF plans eight runners -- the top seven point-earners plus one that IAAF can designate. Here are the top seven with their total WAT points before Brussels:

62 - Maggie Vessey, USA
55 - Jennifer Simpson, GBR
51 * Jennifer Meadows, GBR
49 - Marilyn Okoro, GBR
48 * Elisa Cusma Piccione, ITA
48 - Mayte Martínez, ESP
42 * Ekaterina Kostetskaya, RUS

New standings, so far as I can tell...

1. Jemma Simpson GBR 55 + 16 = 71
2. Maggie Vessey USA 62 + 0 = 62
3. Elisa Cusma Piccione ITA 48 + 12 = 60
4. Mayte Martínez ESP 48 + 10 = 58
5. Mariya Savinova RUS 4 38 + 14 = 52
6. Jennifer Meadows GBR 51
6. Marilyn Okoro GBR 49 + 2 = 51
----------------------------------
8. Anna Willard USA 30 + 20 = 50

[gh]

At this point it's going to be interesting to see if Vessey can actaully run herself out of a spot in the World Rankings.

[James Fields]

Mighty Favog wrote:

New standings, so far as I can tell...
1. Jemma Simpson GBR 55 + 16 = 71
2. Maggie Vessey USA 62 + 0 = 62
3. Elisa Cusma Piccione ITA 48 + 12 = 60
4. Mayte Martínez ESP 48 + 10 = 58
5. Mariya Savinova RUS 4 38 + 14 = 52
6. Jennifer Meadows GBR 51
6. Marilyn Okoro GBR 49 + 2 = 51
----------------------------------
8. Anna Willard USA 30 + 20 = 50

[i]If Vessey had run a bit faster and displaced some Brussels rivals that might have helped Willard. But IAAF could select Willard, who tends to win her few 800m races. She's also in the WAF 1500m and may not wish to double -- although all placers in WAF 800 and 1500 earn $.

[jpaule]

Maggie, when Flotrack comes to you for an interview just say "no comment".

[26mi235]

Did she (MV) trip badly on the backstraight?