Run-Down Forums

Conway · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 6:16 am Post subject:

That first round was ridiculous !!! I had deja vu sitting there thinking that when this is over we'll see one or more lying on the track !!! To their credit the top guys all looked very good ... None really looked pressed ... But ya gotta think that with THREE more round to go, that that will be far too much stress on the body if they try to keep up that pace of running ...

I'm glad that Mo didn't run the race, as I am almost certain he would have got hurt ... but did anyone notice that Colander did NOT run in the women's race ??? Not good ... More drug news ... And all there is is whispering ... This is becoming the shispering Trials !!! Not fun ...
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Conway
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Dan · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 8:13 am Post subject:

Has there ever been a first round anywhere near that overall level? That's faster than most semis...

Ever notice how most of the drug positives leaks are right around the time of the Trials? Torri is still competing in a meet a couple months after a positive that she claims to be fully cooperating with -- why leak it now if not for self-serving purposes? It's becoming increasingly clear that the health of the sport is not a top priority of those involved with testing.

Dan
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Conway · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 10:14 am Post subject:

What it seems like to me is gang warfare ... Insiders leaking information ... Mysterious coaches turning in syringes ... The sport is being killed from the inside by those seeking an edge over each other ... Everyone keeps talking about USADA ... USADA is NOT the enemy here ... USADA is more like Japan attacking Pearl Harbor ... What we have here is more like the Civil War - brother against brother ... The worst of infighting ... Its ridiculous ... But here I am gettin ready to head out and go watch some more ... But it is with a heavy heart ...

As for the 200 rounds, no there has never been anything like it in a first round ... Nor a second round ... And I'd have to seriously check on the semis ... I mean Marsh ran 19.73 in a semi but no one else did anything spectacular ... The other semi was won in 20.1x ... Same for MJ in '96 ... He had a windy 19.70 but the other semi was somewhere around 20.20 if I remember right ... Will have to check em out later ... Yesterday was absurd to say the least ... Just gives more credence to the "they're all doped up" argument .... I felt like screaming down to the track "flaunt it why don't you !!!" ...
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Conway
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Dan · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 1:34 pm Post subject:

I predict a big disappointment for Crawford in tomorrow's 200 final. I was watching his legs down the stretch of his semi win, and it looked like he was pressing into fatigue territory and suffering form breakdown. Then in the interview right after the race, he couldn't catch his breath. Me thinks he shot his wad too early...

Dan
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Micah Ward · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 2:18 pm Post subject:

Crawford did seem extremely winded during the interview. Worse than any I can remember seeing lately. I hope he does get it together for tomorrow.

Did you see the interview with Allen Johnson and his "hot baby toe"? He has got to be my favorite track and field athlete period. He just comes across as so relaxed and confident yet low key and just out having fun.
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Dan · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 2:37 pm Post subject:

AJ's an all around great guy and great athlete. If he weren't such a low profile character, he'd be a great face for the sport in these less than positive times.

Bernard Williams looks to be the favorite for the 200 final. Looks stronger than I ever remember him, and others are breaking down from pressing too hard early. Gatlin is another that looked just about tanked in the semi, although not nearly as bad as Crawford.

Also in the 200, I was watching Inger Miller and listening to the commentators say how great she was running and controlling the ace off the turn, and thinking to myself she ran a great first 50 but was losing it rapidly from that point and was already out of contention by 100. Some people just don't pay attention particularly well, but that should come as no surprise when Carol Lewis has the mic. Rolling Eyes

My Fantasy picks are looking good in the women's 400 for Athens...

Dan
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Conway · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 7:03 pm Post subject:

Hot day today ... On and off the track ... I think the deuce is going to be much different than anyone thought a year or even 3 or 4 months ago ... Folks ran too hard too early and it showed today ... Gatlin is tired and broken down ... So is Crawford - but he is so strong he is muscling his way through ... Patton doesn't have any uumph at all ... And Capel looks lost for some reason - have no idea why ... Although I think Crawford go in his head in the first round when he ran that 19.88 on him ... Bernard looks like the only one with any zip left ... Although Gay doesn't look too bad ... Lane draw has killed Capel (lane 1 for the final) ... Tough call but I see Williams, Crawford, and Patton maybe on that team ...

And did anyone outside of her mother think Hennagan had a chance at anything other than the relay pool ??? Talk about gasping in the stands !!!
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Conway
Speed Thrills

Dan · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 7:23 pm Post subject:

Looks like we're pretty much in agreement. I see the final going something like this:

1) Williams - 20.01
2) Patton - 20.07
3) Gay - 20.11
4) Crawford - 20.13 (stumbling across the line)
5) JJ Johnson - 20.23
6) Gatlin - 20.39
7) Capel - 20.45
8) Grimes - 20.49

How's that for detailed predictions?

My dad called right when the women's 400m final was lining up, so my attention was somewhat diverted watching the TV on mute. I was trying to figure out who it was tearing it up on the outside, because my picks for lanes (3-4-6; Richards, Trotter, and Henderson -- my Fantasy squad) were all accounted for. I had no idea Hennagen had that kind of time in her. Big breakthrough for Richards as well. Her improvements this week make that decision to go pro look pretty savvy.

Dan
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Conway · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 5:11 am Post subject:

Pretty detailed prediction is right ... I could go with that ... Or some variation on the theme ... I think it is that wide open right now ... I just think that Crawford, Gatlin, and tyson wasted a whole lot of energy too early ... I think their legs will be heavier today ... And the heat saps energy from you too ... Especially this dry heat we have here - takes a lot of minerals out of you ... I still have visions of someone going down ...

As for the women's 400, I (and many others) expected Sanya to go sub 50 ... She's had that look for a while now ... But Hennagan ??? Sorry but I thought her fortunate to be in the final and with a relay shot ... Now she could end up being the anchor ... Although I think that in Athens Trotter and Richards will both outperform her ... I was most unhappy with Henderson ... Poor race tactics got to her ... She is no Trotter so she needed to keep contact and failed to do so ... Dumb race ....

I think the 1500 is going to be a burner today as well .... I see something around 3:34.5 to 3:35.5 as being the winning time ... A bit more competitive this time around I think ...
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Conway
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Dan · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 7:59 am Post subject:

I've seen several 3:34 - 3:35 predictions for Webb and Stember.

Henderson, for all her talent, doesn't seem a particularly race savvy athlete. She also doesn't look particularly powerful or assertive... Perhaps she's as good a baseline as any of what a talented athlete can do clean and fairly untapped?

Paul · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 10:05 am Post subject:

With Wade out, do you think AJ will run a fast relaxed race, maybe sub 13??
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Dan · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 10:12 am Post subject:

I expect more along the lines of 13.07. I assume his friction burnt toe will be ok.

Dan
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Dan · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 8:22 pm Post subject:

Well, I didn't quite call that men's 200... Neutral

Both 1500's and both high hurdles were fantastic races! Extremely impressive move by Webb. Looked like he ran an all out 100 on the backstretch. On the women's side, I'm not sure I've seen that much jockeying for position in the last 10-20m. Felix looked really good in her 200, moving up from Angela Williams-like quickness to looking like a real sprinter.

Dan
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Conway · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 9:15 pm Post subject:

Hot but outstanding last day ... I agree, the hurdles were EXCITING ... Shocker that Johnson took third ... But that's ok ... Rod Milburn took third in the Trials in '72 and then won the Games in a WR ... So perhaps it will be an omen for Johnson ...

I gotta tell ya that Crawford just doesn't look human ... He's just running on pure power right now and he looks like a bull ... I'll leave it at that ...

Was nice to see Bernard make the team ... Although I thought it would be Capel instead ... But John's head just wasn't in it ... And even his coach is baffled as to why ...

Webb was awesome ... He had the stadium rocking when he made that move ... It was as if he decided that he was tired of the US Trials being a wait and kick race and he was going ot show em how to run the damned race !!!! I think he can medal in Athens ... He looks good ... And I think he has more in the tank ...

Outstanding meet ... But not sure we're sending a clean team to Athens even after everything that has happened so far ...
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Conway
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Dan · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 9:30 pm Post subject:

AJ was getting slow starts throughout the rounds, and it was made important in the final by Ross really getting out hard and putting him in a hole he never seemed ready to recover from.

If Crawford ever learns how to lift his feet and tuck on the recovery, he'll be scary efficient at the end of races and closing like Gatlin did...

Dan
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