Brussels 1500 for Women changed to a Mile

[Alan Shank]

I agree, it's very odd. I think this will be the first women's mile I've seen (live) since I started following T&F, haha. I remember the one in Rieti, 2008, but that was before the days of every mid-level to big meet being streamed online (for me at least).

The men have at least 3 a year though, right? Bowerman mile (Eugene), Dream mile (Oslo) and Emsley Carr mile (Birmingham). On the subject of men's miles, I also find it odd that they very rarely go after a fast time. 3:49.xx seems to be the standard winning time (equivalent of 3:32.xx 1500 I believe).

Perhaps the reason is that the women cannot break 4 minutes. Even though a zillion men have broken 4, there is still a mystique about it. TN even tells us every time a new US man breaks 4 -- double irrelevancy!

If this race is fast, I wonder how close to Slaney's AR Rowbury or Simpson can get? 4:16.71 (4th all-time and just 0.9 off WR at the time) is certainly no weak mark, in spite of the rarity of women's miles.

It looks like Chanelle Price (just ran 1:59.99 in Berlin) will have pacing duties (along with Cichocka, PRs of 54, 2:00.2 and 4:03) ... can she pace another world record? Perhaps she will be good luck for Hassan (or Kipyegon?)

The AR is equivalent to about 3:57.7, so Rowbury and Simpson are theoretically able to reach that, but it seems pretty unlikely. As far as Hassan going for Masterkova's WR, forget it. Masterkova was in awesome shape when she ran that. BTW, her 1500 PB is her en-route 1500 in that mile -- 3:56.77 -- and she finished in 15.79, which is sub-60 pace, so that last 109m was not exactly a "problem" for her. Of course, she was running a mile race, not running a 1500 and trying to finish a mile.

As an aside, I just watched the Beijing W 1500 again. Hassan was buried in the field when Dibaba moved up and took the lead. You can see her looking to the outside, like, "How the fuck am I going to get out of here and chase her?" She is over a full second behind Dibaba at 1100, and a tad more than that at 1200. She used everything she had passing Kipyegon and Seyaum, and ran out of gas, losing silver to Kipyegon. This is not to say Hassan could have beaten Dibaba, however.

This video, in Italian, is very good quality and shows the runners going past the finish line (except for the fucking bell -- and the clock stops for 1100, anyway), so I got a good split on Dibaba's 700 2:11.0, so her last 800 was 1:57.1, to the tenth. The last 400 was 59.40, electronically.
Cheers,
Alan Shank

[HasBeenNeverWas]

The AR is equivalent to about 3:57.7, so Rowbury and Simpson are theoretically able to reach that, but it seems pretty unlikely. As far as Hassan going for Masterkova's WR, forget it. Masterkova was in awesome shape when she ran that. BTW, her 1500 PB is her en-route 1500 in that mile -- 3:56.77 -- and she finished in 15.79, which is sub-60 pace, so that last 109m was not exactly a "problem" for her. Of course, she was running a mile race, not running a 1500 and trying to finish a mile.

Yeah, I doubt she has much chance at it, but with 3:56-low and 1:58 PRs she could get close. Granted Masterkova had a 1:55 PR, I believe.

Supposedly she is going for, anyways ...

Hassan could have ran 3:54 this year I think, in the perfect race, then likely faster for 800 as well, given how fast she finished in Bejing.

Given Dibaba's dominate win and her last 800 (which I've always read as 1:56.8, if I'm remembering right) it gets left out how great Hassan and Kipyegon both were over the last 2 laps as well. Hassan for sure let herself get way too far back, but I agree she wasn't beating Dibaba one way or another.

Dibaba could certainly get the mile record, too bad she is burned out or that heel injury is still bothering her, hence she isn't in the race today. Maybe it sounds crazy, but I think Dibaba could ultimately go 3:48. In Monaco they went out in 60/64, including about a 43/44 first 300, so really a bit too swift at the start. Then she had that crazy 60 sec third lap. Her last 200 she was tying up some I think ... 30.4 after the previous 200 being 29.5.

If she could get a rabbit going more like 60/62 or even 61/61, and have the rabbit last to 1K or even 1100 (good luck finding someone for that though, haha) and get to 1200 at 3:03-4 without having had to speed up so much the third lap, I think she could close fast (44-45) for 3:48. Who knows though ... the perfect race is a real rarity.

[betterthanb4]

Race about to get underway.

[betterthanb4]

That was a quick run! 4:16.71 AR, MR, WL for Kipyegon.

Hassan second with 4:18.20 NR! Takes the Diamond with 18pts.

[Zap]

Happy for Faith Kipyegon! Has been a solidly improving runner for many years, now she's finally a big timer.

[Tuariki]

Happy for Faith Kipyegon! Has been a solidly improving runner for many years, now she's finally a big timer.

I'm not happy. Cost me 40 bloody Fantasy points.

[gh]

and in the obscure-stats department, it's a new-millenium "world record"! :-)

[Zap]

and in the obscure-stats department, it's a new-millenium "world record"! :-)

Nice way to end a season!