2021 Outdoors

[LuckySpikes]

Just caught up with Saturday's Round 3 of the Hokuren Distance Challenge in Abashiri (JPN).

In the 3000 Nozomi Tanaka took 0.5s off her 2020 NR with 8:40.84 (2:47 last 1000).
After several months out with injury Sayaka Sato looked great with a 8:52.43 PB. Well under-distance for this 10,000/Marathon specialist (31:30 / 2:23 PBs), it bodes well for her having a fine Autumn on the roads.

In the 10,000 21yo Narumi Kobayashi ran a 46s PB, clocking 31:22.34 - a new Japanese Collegiate Record (15:45/15:37 splits). In 2nd place Ai Hosoda ran 31:39 (a 27s PB).

[alfie]

Yes that top 2 is a very tricky beast in the 800. Unlike the laned events there are factors almost outside an athlete's control that can bring about disaster. ( In 1960 and 1984 , as I recall , this was run over 4 rounds : tough too in its way ! But made "unlucky' elimination a lot less likely.) As Philipo says , "smarts" may be a prime asset here...

[Walsh7]

Great! Looking to forward it, and the Dutch contest as well! I better do my homework on the 20k and 50k walks!

[LuckySpikes]

Lucky
Are you intending to organise a prediction contest for the OG.?

Oh yes, definitely!

[Occasional Hope]

I can see a lot of potential medallists coming to grief in the heats/semis.

[philipo]

1.43.44 for Jesus Tonatiu Lopez last night at the American Track League, winning by 2.2s and breaking his own Mexican NR by 0.96s.

Frustrating not to have seen him in a Diamond League race yet but I guess it increases the intrigue about what he can do in Tokyo.

Impressive run again for the Mexican. The standard in the 800m will be formidable. The lack of pace makers and top two in each heat will favour the smart guys and gals and super fast finishers.

[philipo]

1.43.44 for Jesus Tonatiu Lopez last night at the American Track League, winning by 2.2s and breaking his own Mexican NR by 0.96s.

Frustrating not to have seen him in a Diamond League race yet but I guess it increases the intrigue about what he can do in Tokyo.

Lucky
Are you intending to organise a prediction contest for the OG.?

[philipo]

What a great 3some the Aussies have for the mens 1500m at Tokyo. . Let's hope it's a true run race unlike Rio.

[Aussiestatman]

Monaco races were amazing: anyone changing predictions about Olympic medalists?

[trickstat]

I remember it changing in football where the Aussies used to tend to dominate the Oceania group but then have a play-off against something like the 5th placed team in South America.

[Grassmarket]

Yeah, you’re right mate, looked it up. Confusing, because they are Asia for some sports, Oceania for others.

[trickstat]

What impressed me most is that, arguably, that race was a little too fast to be ideal for breaking the British record.

It's a little bit like, in my experience, an athlete aiming to break 2:00 for 800 for the first time has a better chance trying to hang in there with 1:57/58 runners, rather than trying to stay within 7 seconds of someone doing 1:52.

[trickstat]

I am 99.99% sure that Australia remains part of Oceania for athletics.

[Grassmarket]

Some remarkable times in those distance races. Some strange happenings in the steeplechases but didn't exactly derail the finishing times...Not sure Coburn would have caught Kiyeng even if she hadn't fallen but it would have been a great finish. Bird an excellent GB record - well done her. Must be a rather embarrassed timekeeper somewhere after the men's race !

Kipyegon , Cheryiot (can they really leave him out ?) stamping their authority , national records and PBs everywhere. Best Aussie prospect McSweyn an Oceania Record - and only fourth. But his countryman Edwards must feel even more conflicted , running a PB and finishing next to last .

Oz records are now Asian records, not Oceanian.

[LuckySpikes]

1.43.44 for Jesus Tonatiu Lopez last night at the American Track League, winning by 2.2s and breaking his own Mexican NR by 0.96s.

Frustrating not to have seen him in a Diamond League race yet but I guess it increases the intrigue about what he can do in Tokyo.