Fastest final laps?

[lovetorun]

What are the fastest last laps ever run in the distance (1500m and above) races?

[Double R Bar]

Re: Fastest final laps?

I don't know, but two of my favorites come from Barcelona in 1992. In the 1,500, Fermin Cacho ran 50.3 for his last lap and Dieter Baumann ran 56.1 for his final lap in the 5,000.

Kenenisa Bekele ran 53.8 for his last lap in Beijing's 5,000.
Miruts Yifter ran 54.9 in his final lap at the Moscow 10,000 in 1980.

[Gabriella]

Re: Fastest final laps?

I can't remember the time exactly off-hand, but Liu Dong ran a super fast last 400m in Stuttgart 93 in the final. The first couple of laps were slow, but she hit the front hard with 600m to go and the last 400 was crazy.

[lovetorun]

Re: Fastest final laps?

I wonder if Henry Marsh has the fastest final lap of the steeplechase...also who knows the super fast last laps in the 1971 Euro Champs from Juha Vatainen of Finland...seems like his 10,000m final lap was faster than the 54.9 by Yifter.

[Daisy]

Re: Fastest final laps?

Alberto Cova aways seemed to have a very fast kick, and possibly last lap. Anyone got any actual splits for him?

[Double R Bar]

Re: Fastest final laps?

Cova's final lap in the Helsinki 10,000 (1983) was 53.9.

[deanouk]

Re: Fastest final laps?

I think Cacho's last 400m in Barcelona was 50.5. Morceli ran a last lap in 51.6 in the 91 Worlds, in a much faster (3:32.85) overall time than Cacho's. I think Gonzales has the fastest ever last lap in a "big" 1500m, when he ran a 50.0/50.1 last 400m in beating Cram at the 1987 European Cup, when the final time was a pretty pedestrian 3:45.5

[mcgato]

Re: Fastest final laps?

I can't remember the time exactly off-hand, but Liu Dong ran a super fast last 400m in Stuttgart 93 in the final. The first couple of laps were slow, but she hit the front hard with 600m to go and the last 400 was crazy.

According to the 2009 WC Stats Book that the IAAF put out for Berlin, it was 57.48. First two laps were 68.20 and 2:17.58. Then Liu ran 60.15 and 42.77 to win easily.

[LopenUupunut]

Re: Fastest final laps?

Seem to recall a 5K between Lagat and Bekele (Crystal Palace '06?) with a pretty good last lap...?

[mump boy]

Re: Fastest final laps?

Jose Luis Gonzalez ran sub 50 last lap to beat steve cram at the 87 european cup in prague.

[Gabriella]

Re: Fastest final laps?

Thanks mcgato. I thought her last lap was 56 something but that was probably from the commentators at the time. I remember it being a sudden, long run for home that destroyed the rest of the field.

[3]

Re: Fastest final laps?

Jose Luis Gonzalez ran sub 50 last lap to beat steve cram at the 87 european cup in prague.

No, he didn't. He passed 1100M in 2'45"4.
For a refresher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj8EJxCTQso

[Bruce Kritzler]

Re: Fastest final laps?

He passed 1100M in 2'45"4.

3:45.5 - 2:45.4 = 50.1 , pretty fast!

[79.]

Re: Fastest final laps?

My first thought is about Jim RYUN and Kenenisa BEKELE... :?:

[kuha]

Re: Fastest final laps?

At the time, everyone talked about Ryun's demolition job of Tummler and Norpoth in the US vs. West Germany meet in Dusseldorf in the summer of 1967. Dick Bank reported that with 400 to go, Tummler took off and Norpoth did everything he could to impede Ryun. Ryun went wide around Norpoth and chased after Tummler, catching him with 300 to go. At this point, Bank reported: "For a split second, they were even but then Jim accelerated like nothing I have ever seen. It made his 3:33.1 look like just another run. Suddenly the packed stadium developd lockjaw. They were stunned and speechless. I never expect to see anything quite like it again. Many times were offered for Jim over his last 400, 300, and 200, but I timed him and feel that 50.6, 36.4, and 24.8 seem reasonable. It was worth coming to Europe."

Now that, sportsfans, is the Good Old Days.