Tokyo Olympics day 3 - Sunday 1 August

[drobbie]

well that was shite from rowden

[Christy93]

Possibly the first time I've ever seen Rowden run a tactically bad race. Big missed opportunity.

[Runny]

Rowden ran Like and idiot - who does he think he is to hold back like that at this level!

[Runny]

In fact I feel that if disrespects the opportunity given to Rowden. I hope someone from Team GB sits him down after the Olympics and explains this. This is the only way people will improve and not keep doing it. Others are also guilty of doing this. It’s not enough to leave it to coaches - there has to be some accountability to those that are funding him coming to the Olympics.

[Laps]

The guy has just run his second fastest race ever and a SB. He is ranked 24th in the world on times. What were you expecting? Sneaking up the inside and hoping a gap opened probably his best chance....only chance.

[LoveSprints1]

Wow great run from Bol.

[LuckySpikes]

That's it - Lopez is out. Tual & Ben are in the hot seats. Arop out as well.

Another Area Record for Peter Bol - 1:44.11.

[trickstat]

Rowden may not have got first 2 but he cost himself a first 4 placing which would be an FL chance.

[LoveSprints1]

Rowden ran Like and idiot - who does he think he is to hold back like that at this level!

He didn't hold back, he got boxed and had nowhere to go. By the time he pushed it was too late.

[Runny]

He did - he held back and got boxed - he needed to follow the American around the outside to get a clear run in.

[Occasional Hope]

Rowden only 5th and never really in it. Perhaps a bit overwhelmed by the competition?

[Christy93]

I'd say so. He'd get on the shoulder everytime on the circuit, seemed intimidated out of it and happy to sit off the back for too long, then had to stay inside and hope as he'd left it too late. Tactically very bad.

[trickstat]

I have no problem with Rowden holding back for the first 300 because it was very quick at the front but he needed to have put himself in a better position in the 400 after that.

[MysteryBrick]

Rowden wasn't overwhelmed, just ran a tactically shoddy race. He has the talent to win these events, but you can't do that from 7th and boxed with 100m to go.

[LuckySpikes]

A dreadful day for my Prediction contest - predicted winners Lopez and Ivanyuk out in short order.

[marra]

Geez, some of you guys are hard taskmasters. Rowden ran a SB and beat some more favoured athletes. Yes, it was possibly a missed opportunity but he's a relatively inexperienced athlete at championships still.

[Christy93]

Fair point on the SB, and I know he has had issues, but he's a much smarter athlete than he showed today. I don't think it's unfair to be honest about that - He has the talent and smarts to be in finals regularly.

[marra]

I agree that he'll be disappointed and it absolutely was a missed opportunity. Maybe Rowden didn't trust his kick enough given his issues and wanted to hold back until he was confident he could use it fully? It's definitely something he needs to learn from, but that's life.

But as someone else said, unless you are Rudisha, the 800 is such a dogfight. There's a bunch of people missing the final who, judging by our predictions, we all thought would be medalling ahead of Rowden!

[Laps]

Criticism of Rowden ignorant rubbish. The guy just ran his second best time ever. Hoping for a gap on the inside probably his only chance.

[trickstat]

Giles no juice in the straight.

[Runny]

At least he went for it.

[LoveSprints1]

And he looked back with just a few metres to go. not sure why. Hopefully an FL place

[trickstat]

I think he may have been wondering where people were as he was unaware of the Amos/Jewitt fall.

[LuckySpikes]

All three 800 semis were pretty messy for one reason or another. Unless there's a transcendent talent like Rudisha, never bet on the Men's 800 !

[Christy93]

Fair play to Giles, he did what he had to do there, just didn't have the legs. Can have no complaints. Rotich looks very classy, Tuka tactically brilliant as ever.

[Laps]

Giles front running predictably to defeat despite two of his rivals falling is apparently cleverer than Rowden trying to make the most of his ability and running a faster time. Giles meanwhile well off his best.

Weird