Molly Ludlow runs 1:57.2 in practice!

[aaronk]

I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it on Periscope!
Jesse Squires tweeted the Periscope video, saying she'd run 1:57.2 in a PRACTICE run!!
Based on what I just saw, she DID!!

With one guy (Don't know who!) pacing her, she hit 27.7 for the first 200, then 29.3 for a 57.0 400.
No time was given at 600, but her final time was 1:57.2, so her laps were 57.0 and 60.2.

That's just 0.8 seconds from the American Record, and is faster than Alysia Montano, Ajee Wilson, and Brenda Martinez have ever run.

Afterwards, she didn't appear overly wiped out at all!
She didn't even bend over, no falling or dropping to the track, nothing---just walking around!

The guy paced her the entire way!
Squires said a video interview with Molly will be posted soon on Twitter.

Try this link for the race video.

periscope.tv/w/aJ38RjUONTYO

Sorry, doesn't work!
Go to Jesse Squires on Twitter for workable link.

[guru]

http://tinyurl.com/odyc9uo

[aaronk]

Watched it a 2nd time.
She DID bend over after finishing---for maybe 15 seconds.
Then she walked around.

VERY impressed!!
Anybody recognize the pacer?
Her husband??
He looked about 6 inches shorter than Molly!
But that could be an illusion!
LOL

ADD: One more way to see her time----it (unofficially) breaks her former PR by 1.48 seconds!!

[Atticus]

Oh man. If ONLY the WC race were a time trial, on your home track, paced by your buddy, under perfect conditions, with no rounds . . .

[Sasuke]

Oh man. If ONLY the WC race were a time trial, on your home track, paced by your buddy, under perfect conditions, with no rounds . . .

I agree on the rounds BUT women 800's often resulted in time trials in recent years. Alysia Montano usually paces the others and it's impossible for her to go out in a time slower than 57. Women 800's are never tactical. Sum is also one who goes out quite strong. I think 800 will be won in a time close to the one Ludlow just ran (maybe a bit under, 15.6 high). Barring Semenya, obviously. BTW, it seems Ludlow is in very good shape. I am glad she was selected after the withdrawal of Wilson.

[aaronk]

Oh man. If ONLY the WC race were a time trial, on your home track, paced by your buddy, under perfect conditions, with no rounds . . .

Nice touch of sarc!
BUT....how many women YOU know break their PR by 1.48 secs----whatever the conditions?

Compare to anyone else breaking their PR by 1.48 secs.
Shannon Rowbury runs 3:54..81 in PRACTICE??
Genzebe Dibaba runs 3:48.59 in PRACTICE??

Other equivalents might be....

Usain Bolt run 9.44 in PRACTICE!!
Mutaz Barshim HJ's 8-3.50 in PRACTICE!!
Jenn Suhr PV's 17-2 in PRACTICE!!

Mo Farah runs.....
No wait!
Farah doesn't run fast in a RACE!
He sure as heck wouldn't run fast in PRACTICE!!

LOL

[Atticus]

how many women YOU know break their PR . . . in PRACTICE!!

ALL my PRs (6 events) were set IN PRACTICE. The explanation is easy: you have as many tries as you wish; you can pick the perfect time and place; that's the day you feel your best; no pressure, etc., etc..

[player]

Rule number one: never trust a coach with a stopwatch. With the position of the camera and the quality of video, no way to get an accurate check, even allowing for the running start.

But I'm very glad Ludlow seems ready to take advantage of her opportunity.

[LopenUupunut]

Other equivalents might be....

Usain Bolt run 9.44 in PRACTICE!!
Mutaz Barshim HJ's 8-3.50 in PRACTICE!!
Jenn Suhr PV's 17-2 in PRACTICE!!

Over the years, quite a few athletes have indeed demolished WRs in practice, and never approached those marks in official meets.

[aaronk]

The overall tone of the above comments (other than mine!) seems to be a rather lukewarm, if not freezing cold take on Molly's run!

Given all the reasons offered, I'll still be putting Ludlow as the most likely American to medal (in the Women's 800, that is) in Beijing!
And I ain't talking bronze!

[booond]

Oh man. If ONLY the WC race were a time trial, on your home track, paced by your buddy, under perfect conditions, with no rounds . . .

This^^^^^^

[aaronk]

This^^^^^^

Well, T&FN thought it significant enough to place the video on its front page!!

[Atticus]

Well, T&FN thought it significant enough to place the video on its front page!!

I wouldn't exactly take that as a corroboration of its merit. There's LOTSA stuff that makes the news . . . most of it very interesting, but hardly indicative of an editorial endorsement of authenticity.

[booond]

I wouldn't exactly take that as a corroboration of its merit. There's LOTSA stuff that makes the news . . . most of it very interesting, but hardly indicative of an editorial endorsement of authenticity.

This^^^^^^

[player]

If coach had announced that Ludlow ran 1:56.2, would T&FN put that on the front page?

I think the answer is no. It's not a phenomenon unique to this instance. Practice claims have to be just plausible enough to gain credibility, although the fact that there really is no basis for determining what time Ludlow ran should govern regardless.