2021 Outdoors

[LuckySpikes]

OMG! Kiyeng thought that was the last lap! Madness in the Steeples tonight!

[LuckySpikes]

Oh no! Coburn having an Evan Jager moment!

[LuckySpikes]

Out of all the crazinessi n that race, Lizzie Bird breaks Barbara Parker's British Record with 9:22.80. Well done!

[philipo]

excellent performance by Bird

[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.

[RunUnlimited]

Both steeplechases had crazy last laps. I did feel sorry for the men in particular, as they evidently all made the same mistake when they heard the bell. Some good times in spite of that though.

Rojas had a huge foul, and had easily the best jump of the competition but still only came second due to the silly final 3 rules - that's a very good reason to ditch them in my opinion. What would happen if Rojas (or anyone else for that matter) set a world record and still came 3rd? It could happen and its crazy to think about.

A great meeting on the whole, with Monaco living up to expectations yet again. However, it doesn't feel right somehow to be Monaco without a world record (yes I know - its based off previous years) but still a very entertaining couple of hours nonetheless.

Kipyegon gave it her best shot, ok! She's only sorta superhuman!

[alfie]

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 .

Warholm just looks fantastic every time he races. And I agree that last three jump shoot out is a horrible way to decide an event. Rather farcical tonight in the TJ. Box office , I suppose...

Delighted for Muir and Reekie . And Giles consistency suggests GB have a decent hand in those middle distance events - but they haven't half got some tough opposition. Roll on Tokyo.

[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.

[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.

[trickstat]

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

[Grassmarket]

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

[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.

[Aussiestatman]

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

[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.

[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]

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.

[Occasional Hope]

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

[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...

[LuckySpikes]

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

Oh yes, definitely!

[Walsh7]

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

[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).

[LuckySpikes]

2.00 for Mariya Lasitskene in Joensuu (FIN). She had 3 attempts at 2.04.

[philipo]

Alex Wilson, Swiss sprinter,runs in the States the other day, a new European 100m record of 9.84 and a 19.89 in the 200m; much better than his 20.84 in Switzerland in June 21 . Why am I a sceptic.?
If he runs 9.8 anything and under 20 secs in Tokyo i will wonder at this sudden enormous improvement;on anything from 2019 or earlier this year.
Apropos of nothing at all i read that the official figures for drug testing , due to the virus pandemic, have been well down in 2020; about 50 per cent of normal amounts.Suspicious people like me wonder how many of the considerable pbs this year around the world have taken advantage of this fact.The normal amount of testing did not happen till early 2021.

[Occasional Hope]

I think there are reasons to be sceptical about this time not involving accusations of drug use.

[MysteryBrick]

Agreed Occasional Hope - looks like the similar freak conditions that saw the US Trials results.

[LuckySpikes]

There's only a very poor video of the 100 on YouTube and it looked like a VERY low-key meeting. Did they have a wind-guage? If so, was it working properly?!