Birmingham CWG Day 5 - (Saturday August 5th)

[jjimbojames]

I read it as this. I think there’s a danger if she doesn’t win that she will injure herself over-training, as she was so annoyed at herself yesterday.

As has been said, I think the key is to work on building more speed reserves, without losing her strength.

For all British middle / distance runners, some element of being able to mix up speeds in a race is key - we don’t have too many who have that in their armoury. Dustin, 2020 Rowden come to mind. I think Pattison might…we will see this evening!

[Occasional Hope]

She ought to win in Munich, but if she doesn't that could be problematic going forward. She needs to see herself as a winner going forward.

I was thinking of the psychological impact on her.

[jjimbojames]

Kimeli - SB of 12.46, ran 13.08, Krop - SB of 12.46, ran 13.08
Scott - this was his SB (13.20) but his PB of 12.57 is 11 seconds slower than the SB of the the two Kenyans…so his final time suggests his relative performance was probably about right. I think he could have run quicker with a better strategy but I doubt he gets higher than fourth on the day regardless.

[paul]

LOL. KH is attempting a feat that as far as I know has never been done. She has aimed for gold in all three - completely insane for even a Holmes-level toughie. If she gets silver in three it will be a monumental achievement. She is 2/3 of the way there already. The last is the easiest, except it is the hardest, because absolutely anyone would be exhausted at this point.
I think the current games are her first without either of the main coaches on the same continent as her. That is significant because...

...(Apologies if this has already been observed) Mary's run in the final reminded me a lot of Oliver Dustin's 1:43 run from last year. Both look like genius, but only work if everyone else is tiring. KH must surely still have that titanic battle with Mu in her legs - else she'd have been 1:56 and gone before Mary got there.

Either way, Hodgkinson, Mu, Moraa is taking me back to the in-heaven days of the middle-distance men in the 80s. No one has an automatic right to a gold. No one. Put yourself in the frame - that's all you can do.

[CAML]

Perhaps 'lost her spark' was the wrong phrase. I'd say she looks jaded, not so much physically but mentally, and needs a break from the whole circus.

[Sprintfan]

Whatever she does in the Euros she's a winner. She'll likely give her all and get a medal, but if she bomb's out I'd not be surprised. A bit disappointed for her but it'll be no big deal. We have no idea what the pressure is like for an athlete's to perform and excel in three major champs. In the space of 2-3 months If she bombs out it'll be part of the learning curve. She'll pick herself up, and regroup. Hopefully not train too hard and avoid any injury.

[Occasional Hope]

She ought to win in Munich, but if she doesn't that could be problematic going forward. She needs to see herself as a winner going forward.

[MysteryBrick]

Echoed. She is 20, for goodness' sake.

[Sprintfan]

Lost her spark??? and the evidence is? Just back up a bit. She shot to prominence last year June/July 21. Three Major Champs. Three silver medals. She's 20..
Get real. She has done bloody well. Lost her spark my ass!!!

[CAML]

KH has plateaued this year. It's been a mad couple of years, and the next two will be just as intense. As soon as Berlin is over, she should end her season and have a prolonged break. She's lost her spark, I hope she gives the next indoors a miss, and comes back next summer fitter, faster and reenergised.

[SprintRelayFan]

She did say she’s had stuff going on on track and off

[SprintRelayFan]

You beat what’s there and get round the track without clattering hurdles. I doubt in twenty years he will look back at his medal and care about the time

[Chafford1]

"She could have won by considerably more had she chosen" ... "toying with the field"

What a load of nonsense at this level. I can't believe these people are paid to commentate. The rest slit eachothers throats and Moraa judged it perfectly. It happens!

Moraa confirmed on her post race interview that she hadn't intended to run the first 300m so fast.

[Christy93]

I see Moraa's final 200 was 29.3 tonight. Good - But not super fast. Imo that confirms the idea that those who pushed on at 400 made a big tactical error. Moraa got it wrong and still ran the smartest race.

[marilyn1]

In 2021, Moraa's best times were 400m 52.62 and 800m 2.03.27, so, despite her talents, she was not indicating anything very special.
In 2020, Mu's best times were 400m 53.14 and 800m 2.04.08; by 2021 she was Olympic Champion and a top NCAA champion.
So one can see how dramatically things can change.