London DL 2018

[thedoorknobbroke]

You are correct, sir . . . that you will be criticized . . . 2018 is not a year on which to base career criticism.

right now I'll stick by my predictions

[reggaeirie1234]

When you see SAFP go sub 11 with 0.1 wind, it makes Elaine Thompson's decisions this year all the more baffling. Why not take an off year off to fix your achilles issue so you could be better for what will be three consecutive years of championships after this one?

Sponsor obligations?

[gh]

Very deep good times in the w100H, with Herman getting a best-ever mark for 9th place in 12.78

same for Atkins 22.89 in the 200

[Atticus]

right now I'll stick by my predictions

You are soytenly entitled, but the reports of their demise is greatly exaggerated . . .

[maggot]

Meet site with SB and PB listed along with results

https://london.diamondleague.com/lists-results-london/#baseFrame#__athSchedule#ScheduleInit#London2018_CURRENTEVENT_JSON

[Dee95]

Lyles and Norman are light years away from reaching their potential: next near both under 19.6 and Norman under 43.2///bookmark it!! Way too early m4x4 prediction: new WR for USA under 2:54...next year!!

I don't think we can say Bloomfield has had an easy time the last few years. His development has been hindered and I see a lot more scope.

[DentyCracker]

I don't think we can say Bloomfield has had an easy time the last few years. His development has been hindered and I see a lot more scope.

You are quite correct. More core strengthening is planned. This may be his last race unless he has qualified for the deuce final in the DL. Sub 43.5 and sub 19.7 possible. I actually think he is in sub ten shape right now if he nails a start. His 10.42 at age 16 was with a stand up start and no drive phase to speak about. He was thin as a rake then lol

[CookyMonzta]

Now here is some criticism for which I suspect I will be criticized: Shippers and V. Cunningham are yesterday's news!

For Schippers, her own countrywoman (Samuel) beating her in that race should set off major alarms. Asher-Smith smells blood in both events for the Euros. And by the way, Prandini has beaten Schippers at least once in both sprints this year.

For Vashti, 2.00 won't cut it, let alone 1.99. If she wants to steal one from Lasitskene, she needs to hit 2.03 before next summer; and if she wants to win Olympic gold, she'll need to tie or break Chaunté Lowe's AR (2.05). I don't think she'll get lucky again to get in a major competition where no one jumps 2.00, like she did in Eugene in the winter of 2016, like Beitia did in Rio.

[Gabriella2]

We know Schippers issue, and it's nothing to do with ability but all to do with coaching: her split from Bennema at the end of Feb 2017. She ran sub 22 four times in 2016 for goodness sake (21.86, 21.88, 21.93, 21.96 - as well as a 22.02) but as soon as she went to Reider she bulked up, changed her training and lost her speed endurance in the last 50m. In 2017 she still benefitted from that 2016-2017 winter training, and, let's face it, she still won gold and bronze in London, but 2018 is a completely new season and off 2017 winter training, and that has shown the lack of speed/strength. According to a friend at the IAAF, the Dutch Journos are saying she is starting to get defensive about that switch, and their are issues off the track. Her brother has managed her for the last couple of seasons too, but it sounds like he doesn't know what he is doing either.

The best thing for her now is to run poorly in Berlin, get a wake up call, and revert back to her old coach, who, after all, has done wonders with Visser's move from heptathlon to hurdles. The 'worry' is that she will still get silver in Berlin (I think DAS will get the 100, but Schippers did beat Mujinga in Monaco, who'd run 10.95 not that long ago) and just accept this season for what it is, and continue with Reider. But I do think there will be coaching changes before Tokyo.

On that women's 200m, it showed that the event has A LOT of very talented women with great ability; it's looking very competitive and healthy.

[Dee95]

For Schippers, her own countrywoman (Samuel) beating her in that race should set off major alarms. Asher-Smith smells blood in both events for the Euros. And by the way, Prandini has beaten Schippers at least once in both sprints this year.

For Vashti, 2.00 won't cut it, let alone 1.99. If she wants to steal one from Lasitskene, she needs to hit 2.03 before next summer; and if she wants to win Olympic gold, she'll need to tie or break Chaunté Lowe's AR (2.05). I don't think she'll get lucky again to get in a major competition where no one jumps 2.00, like she did in Eugene in the winter of 2016, like Beitia did in Rio.

A medal alone will be tough for Cunningham. 6 European women over 2m in the past 12 months. The event is on the up again.

[CookyMonzta]

Best race of the entire meet---Women's Mile---NOT shown on Canadian BC coverage!!
Ended after the Women's 200!!

As for my Centro critique---
his best race was his 3:30.40---when he set a record for best TENTH place mark!!

Give me a fast time AND a competitive race---and I'd praise Centro to the high heavens!!

I hate to say this, but Aaron might have a point here. They've all seen what happened in Rio, and some of them have seen videoclips of what happened in Barcelona 1992...

...And for that reason, I smell a repeat of what happened at the 1999 World Championships taking shape in Tokyo 2020. Someone who is fast enough, but wouldn't survive a punishing final-lap kick, will play the fall guy for his Alpha Dog, and dictate the kind of pace suitable for his teammate to win with. That is what Adil Kaouch did for Hicham el-Guerrouj, who ended up running 3:27.65 as Kaouch fell back (his job complete) and trotted home in 3:47.05.

If Centrowitz isn't ready to run with the big dogs in a very fast race and outkick them in the end, he might end up breaking the AR and still fail to get on the podium.

Mark my words: They will not run the first 800 at high-school-girls' pace in Tokyo. Nor will they run it at a pace you'd expect from the early-1970s.

On the other hand, if the pace turns out to be that slow yet again, it'll be easy pickings once again for Matt. They fall asleep in the front at their own peril; but this time, someone like Timothy Cheruiyot won't be fooled at any pace.

[CookyMonzta]

On that women's 200m, it showed that the event has A LOT of very talented women with great ability; it's looking very competitive and healthy.

Indeed. It's getting back to where it was in the mid-2000s, when Allyson Felix, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sanya Richards-Ross and Sherone Simpson were running fast times. It ain't quite on the level where Merlene Ottey, Gwen Torrence and Irina Privalova were 25 years ago.

[Gabriella2]

Also worth noting that, ironically, Samuels is coached by.....Schippers old coach, Bennema.

[crymeariver]

Indeed. It's getting back to where it was in the mid-2000s, when Allyson Felix, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sanya Richards-Ross and Sherone Simpson were running fast times. It ain't quite on the level where Merlene Ottey, Gwen Torrence and Irina Privalova were 25 years ago.

That's not quite right. SRR never really ran the 200m in the frequency (or effectiveness) of a Perec or VBH. Felix and VCB ran, in quite arguably, the softest era of modern 200m running. SS, despite her medals, was not a consistent 200m runner. Her career has interrupted by fitness/injury concerns. Would it surprise you to know she only ran sub-22.50 in 3 seasons? 2006, 2008 and 2012 (22.50 in Beijing '15).

It's not quite the level of 25 years ago, but with so many women threatening to run sub-22, but because there are just not as many 200m races during the season as there had been in the past, it may never be.

[18.99s]

The best thing for her now is to run poorly in Berlin, get a wake up call, and revert back to her old coach, who, after all, has done wonders with Visser's move from heptathlon to hurdles.

That's if her old coach would agree to take her back, which may not be the case.