Run-Down Forums

Paul · Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2002 4:49 pm Post subject:

There are going to be some tough events for T&FN to sort out at the end of the year. Besides the men's 100m (I suppose TM has a lock on it because of the record and Dwain's 5th at the WC), I have been thinking of the Triple Jump. Just when I thought there would be a major changing of the guard with Olsson replacing Edwards, he loses to him and Davis at WC. I guess Edwards is going to be too old by 2004. Sad

When was the last time USA lost a 4x400m relay?? I was stunned, but some of you will probably clue me in why I shouldn't be surprised.

Paul

Dan · Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2002 5:03 pm Post subject:

Seems to be loading better now...

I don't see Radcliffe in the results, what did she run?

Dan

Paul · Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2002 5:17 pm Post subject:

10K Road Race in London's Richmond Park in 30:38, new EU Record!!

http://www.iaaf.org/news/Kind=2/newsId=19726.html

Which gives more fuel to the arguement that the real news this year has been on the Road!!

Distance_Guru · Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2002 5:39 pm Post subject:

She is fast, really, really fast... Nowadays if she's got any catchy slogans that she wants to display, she had better put them on the back of her singlet, because that's all her compotition see's of her anymore. She just better put it in big letters since they're usually a pretty good ways behind her.
_________________
Time is the fire in which we burn

Dan · Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2002 6:13 pm Post subject:

Ah, that's why I missed it...

A lot of the events had a heck of a lot of parity this year (read: few true stars and not enough competitive opportunites for many to stand out from the crowd), so ranking could be tough.

Do people want to start up another year-end Athlete of the Year thread?

http://run-down.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=551

Dan

Distance_Guru · Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2002 6:32 pm Post subject:

Did anyone actually watch the Sports Reporters this moring? One of the guys actually did his parting shot on track and field. Unfortunatly it was about how poorly marketed our sport is. He talked about how people know Bob Hayes was the fastest man on the planet but when you say Tim Montgomery they respond with .... Tim who? I'd love to go off about how this guy doesn't know about track since it isn't his sport and that tracks on the rise and he'll be eating his words. But in reality he's right, our sport is about as well marketed as Dorthy Lynch salad dressing (if you've never heard of it that's my point, but most people that actually get to try it like the stuff).

We should have a ton of air time on sportscenter talking up the world cup and reviewing Timmys career instead we get a 15 second spot and an insult from the guy sitting next to Tony Kornhieser! I don't have any answers but goodness someone out there needs to hire a better PR guy for our sport.
_________________
Time is the fire in which we burn

Dan · Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2002 6:51 pm Post subject:

That reminds me a bit of the occasional newscast where the journalist is covering a story about how media sensationalism drove a person to do something crazy, all the while reporting on it as if it in no way reflects on them...

Dan

Conway · Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2002 7:52 am Post subject:

Well what do we expect ??? Respect ??? Would be nice of course ... But until we do a better job of marketing we are third string - behind gymnastics, swimming, golf, and other lesser sports Neutral

Here is an example ... I talked ohw long ago now about the changing of the sprinting guard ... Read this ..

http://www.sportsserver.com/track_field/story/545997p-4311473c.html

And Im'm inclined ot believe the only reason they wrote about it is that it is a slow news day and someone reads this site Thumbs Up

Conway

Conway · Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2002 7:53 am Post subject:

And of course we should discuss athlete of the year Thumbs Up

... After all this site is becoming the authority ...

Conway

Dan · Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2002 8:05 am Post subject:

That would be pretty cool if those articles were being written by people reading these forums. Smile

Gotta love short-term memory reporting...

Conway · Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2002 10:28 am Post subject:

Unfortunately sport is mostly short term memory !!!!

Athlete of the year ... Probably easier this year than last ... Let's throw out some names:

Men -- Hicham ElG, Felix Sanchez

Women -- Paula Radcliff, Ana Guevara, Marion Jones

My favorites -- Felix Sanchez, Ana Guevara

Sanchez was undefeated in the 400h ... Ran several sub 48.00 races .. PR of around 47.35 ... And dominated an event with a high level of competition .. In addition he dabbled in the open 400 with some convincing victories there as well ..

Guevara is probably not most peoples favortie as I am sure most would say Radcliff ... But ... She was several time under 50.00 (which has reverted apparently to the standard barrier of the event) .. PR of 49.15 ... Competing at a level previously seen by Eastern Bloc countries in the 80's ... Dominated her competition ... Ran all of the available majors and won them all ...

OK ... There is your start ...

Conway

Dan · Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2002 10:56 am Post subject:

I would have to agree with ElG and Guevara. Sanchez is probably just as deserving as Guevara, but I think ElG beats out Sanchez on the clock and considering the level of competition he regularly faced. Radcliffe had a spectacular year, but too much of it was off the track and her on-track performances were a bit too spotty for AOY consideration.

Dan

Conway · Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2002 11:23 am Post subject:

Hmmm ... ElG v Sanchez ... I think they are about equal on the clock ... ElG was at 3:29 - 3:30 as much as he did have the 2 3:26s ... Sanchez was mid to low 47 several times which no one other than Moses was really able to do with any sort of consistency !!! I gave the edge to Sanchez becasue of level of competition ... ElG has none ... As much as we would like to think that Lagat is his competition, he isn't ... No one is at his level ... Sanchez on the other hand had the likes of Diagana and Carter breathing down his neck constantlly ... Much tougher to go undefeated being Sanchez than being ElG !!! And Sanchez showed the ability to go in a different event (and the hurdles and open are VERY different) and be a major player .... AND he did do the double a couple of times with good results ... I just think Sanchez showed more ... And to ElG's credit he has set the bar higher for himself ... But that is no different than Greene running 9.89 and leading the world coming in to Tim's record race, and be accused of "falling off" !!! Heavy lies the head that wears the crown !!!

Conway

Dan · Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2002 12:03 pm Post subject:

Sanchez had to work harder for many of his wins, but that doesn't necessarily make the performances superior. Lagat is, I believe, the #2 man ever in the 1500m, and only a very small handful have ever broken 3:30, which ElG continues to do consistently. I don't know my IH history all that well, so I cannot similarly compare Sanchez's average times to those of the all-time lists...

Dan

Conway · Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2002 2:59 pm Post subject:

Well like I said, Sanchez had a season comparable only to Moses ... His competition consisted of 4 men with PR's UNDER 47.60 !!!

Lagat while #2 all time has only run in that range one time ... Has never beaten ElG ... And doesn't show the ability to do so ... I like ElG and he has dominated onw for about 5 or 6 years .. But he has no peers ... And the event is stagnating ...

Sanchez dominated in a highly competiive event ... My thought anyway ...

Conway

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