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**alfie** · 31-07-21, 14:35

Getting to this bit rather late (confess I am a bit shell shocked over the whole DAS withdrawal business) : with all the disappointing things that have happened the three women in the 800 really did shine. Reekie must have been really confident to run that first heat the way she did knowing only two were likely to feature off that pace : confidence justified ! Bell proved decisively her right to be there and didn't look at all overawed by running with (young) athletic royalty. And Keely H has the tactical brain of a veteran : she seems to know exactly when to move in a race. Timed that perfectly.

Almanza , Wilson , among the casualties.

Mu looks almost untouchable but I fancy there are other medals up for grabs...

**alfie** · 31-07-21, 14:39

Originally posted by philipo

Loving seeing other nations especially a pb by the aussie number 1. I am happy I picked De grasse even though 3rd

Excellent from Browning : a lot of excitement over him in this neck of the woods ! I honestly didn't think he would win a heat though I gave him a chance of progressing. Now the question is can he go further ? Will be tough , but...

Denny was terrific in the discus too. Kept breaking his PB through the rounds for a fine 4th place , inches off the bronze.

**jjimbojames** · 31-07-21, 15:21

X4x4 splits show the combined men’s times were quicker today, so right move but we had the slowest lead off - we could have a quicker team just bringing in Faulds and leaving Chalmers on lead off. Emily ran slower and Nicole was slower than Zoey. However, all three women were 50.6 or better and not many teams had that, despite their top women running. With Jodie (49.6 leg in Doha - surely quicker here), Laviai and Ama to consider, the W4x4 is in good shape to fight for a medal behind US and Jamaica. Leg order will be key - we need a reliable lead off.

Any word on Jessie - if the slip wasn’t serious and she’s in shape, may also be worth looking at?

**Christy93** · 31-07-21, 15:32

Standout relay splits...

Lead-off men:
Bonevacia (44.8)
Stewart (44.9)
Zalewski (45.1)
Baker, GB, (46.2)

Women:
Paulino (48.7!!)
Bol (49.7)
Kaczmarek (49.9)
Ellis (50.2)
Swiety Ersetic (50.4)
Yeargin & Diamond, GB, (50.6 & 50.3 - in addition to Clarks 50.3)

Anchor legs:
K Borlee (44.2)
Duszynski (44.3)
Norwood (44.4)
Chalmers, GB, (44.7)

Not half bad from the final 3 GB legs, tbh.

**paul** · 31-07-21, 15:58

I may be massively over-thinking my tactical master plan for gold in the w800 final...

Mu has a similar stride length to McColgan. McColgan's race was scuppered - with no fault on anyone's part - by being cramped by the two athletes running closest to her.
GB is bringing three athletes to the w800 party.

**RunUnlimited** · 31-07-21, 16:10

Originally posted by Jogger

One thing that just occurred to me, have we ever had three British women in an Olympic (or even global for that matter) 800m final? I'm just a bit curious now.

Never. The best that British women have managed was two finalists, ironically enough, achieved at the same venue back in the 1964 Olympics, where Ann Packer and Anne Smith both made the 800 m final... a final that, of course, Packer would then go on to win in a then-world record time of 2:01.1.

**LoveSprints1** · 31-07-21, 16:19

Originally posted by paul

I may be massively over-thinking my tactical master plan for gold in the w800 final...

Mu has a similar stride length to McColgan. McColgan's race was scuppered - with no fault on anyone's part - by being cramped by the two athletes running closest to her.
GB is bringing three athletes to the w800 party.

Love the master plan - the downfall of it is that they would need to get at least one or two of them in front of Mu, and this might be difficult as she is a front runner. Whatever happens it's going to be an exciting race with Keely and Jemma battling to get on the podium.

**RunUnlimited** · 31-07-21, 18:07

The "masterplan" would be for Keely to stick to Mu like a limpet mine from the moment the athletes break from their lanes.... And thus, my projection of a glorious battle between the two teenage giants of 800 m that I made earlier in the year, shall come to pass....

**Sovietvest** · 31-07-21, 19:23

Still over the moon about the W800. I must say that I disagree totally with the idea that Keely ran with maturity and timed it to perfection. She left it way too late, had to run 5m + further than everyone else, but is simply so, so, good that she got away with it. That is not how to run an 800.

I think whoever goes with Mu when she kicks with 300m to go will blow up and miss a medal. Goule has made that mistake in the past. I hope Jemma is't the one to do that this time a la Our Laura. Strongly fancy Rogers to make her customary late run and sneak a medal. Expecting Jemma 4th, Keely, 6th and Alex 7th.

**jjimbojames** · 31-07-21, 19:23

Mu in lane 3 - will have to exert a bit of energy to get to the front and past Goule in 5 if she wants to control the pace

**Sovietvest** · 31-07-21, 19:27

Originally posted by RunUnlimited

Exactly. Coe and Ovett were one of the most bitter rivalries in athletics history. And being from the same country and being the world's best middle distance runners of their era, it was always likely to be that way. SAFP and ETH are possibly the same way. Respectful of each other's abilities... and that's about it.

I am contractually obliged to step in whenever anyone maligns The Great Man. He did not hate, Coe - simply didn't know him. Was generous in defeat in Moscow (unlike the loathsome Lord).

SAFP left Francis' group after Rio because she felt Thompson was getting all the attention. They were training partners, and presumably on decent terms before then - SAFP greeted her really warmly at the end of the Rio 100m.

**Sovietvest** · 31-07-21, 19:39

Originally posted by DomBres

Dustin .. pathetic.

A waste of flight cost and everything else.

You're not an athlete, are you? He was clearly giving everything, just didn't have it in his legs.

**philipo** · 31-07-21, 20:13

Originally posted by jjimbojames

Mu in lane 3 - will have to exert a bit of energy to get to the front and past Goule in 5 if she wants to control the pace

i reckon that Mu will win because we have have not seen the best of her yet. So much speed at the end i somehow cannot see her last 100 m being inadequate; mind you miracles happen.Rogers has the experience and this race for the other medals will purely be who is in the right place at exactly the correct time.The sort of race which if it took place with the same finalists a week later would produce perhaps different silver and bronze.Is Wang to be discounted; i think not.

**Ursus** · 31-07-21, 20:14

Been out, only just caught up on the action.

Such a shame for Dina. But I think we had an inkling all was not well.

Our 100m men look off the pace

Great stuff in the w800. Bell looked like she was treading water a bit, while Hodgkinson looked both quick and astute. And to think we also have Muir in the ranks.

The Jamaican women have the 4x100 sewn up. Love a bit of frostiness!

Personal highlight the Swedish one two in the discus. Fantastic!

**philipo** · 31-07-21, 20:20

Originally posted by alfie

I thought that too... not exactly delighted for their teammate or the team sweep.

Fantastic run . Thompson-Herah looked the goods right from the first round. And I reckon that's the "real" WR now.

of course it is except some of the fans in the States.
Was not particularly impressed by their male sprinters; i should have had more confidence in de Grasse who has got my thrid place.

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