The former world record was high 1:49s. He was just off it at the Texas State meet, but broke it when he ran 1:49.12 a few weeks ago. So, he's taken more than 2 seconds off the age 15 WR this season.
In fact, as far as I remember, in addition to being a class record by 2+ seconds, this would also be a sophomore class record, AND a junior class record.
Phenom doesn't even begin to describe this kid. Praying he stays healthy cause some serious records are going down if he does.
I figured a Kenyan would have ran 1:45-1:46 at 15. I hope Lutkenhaus qualifies for the OTs with this performance - I’m sure the pros could pull him to a 1:46.xx
Sure but the "15 year old" Kenyans might have been born in 2000 and ran it in 2017. Lets be real I got no problem with Kenya(lie) but the ages they have cant be trusted as correct. Getting the birthday just is not important for a family trying to get food on the table every day.
Would have been nice if the announcers knew who the runners were, instead of resorting to generic chatter and waiting for live results to know who was leading at the 400 and then the end. Having all the same uniforms didn’t make it easier for them. If they could all get the same haircuts and same shoes would that be even better? (No)
You're right that African athletes are not listed in these "international" records, but then there is no good age verification system there, and while Amos, doping, ran 1:41 again many years later, that was Kitum's high water mark, so he was surely considerably older at the time.
it's well known that kitum married the greatest women's miler ever and they decided to go all in on her career while he became the homemaker.
Side note, putting MF in between the names every time someone does something good is hands down the lamest thing about letsrun. I can't be the only one...
I had two thoughts while watching the race. The first, as always, is how terrible track and field announcers are. Even at the NBC level, they're meh. At a lower level, like this, they can't even figure out who is winning the race. I can't tell you how many races I've seen where it becomes clear that the guy in 1st won't win but the announcers can't figure that out.
The second, of course, is how astonishingly good this kid is. It's not just that he's running record-breaking times. It's how easy he makes it look, and how powerfully he finishes. Once again, as when he ran 1:49 earlier this season, my takeaway after watching the race is that "he can run faster."
I just changed the title. Everything after the - was added by men as I can't believe this isn't super hot.
I followed him during the HS track season in Texas and photographed him at the State Meet. His brothers are good athletes, dad is the AD at his high school and he's just an incredibly gifted 400/800 runner for his age. Compared to others on the track, he looks like a 15 year old teenager. It's unfortunate that one of the first things that comes up is he must be on something. I'm looking forward to following him in Texas for the 3 years.
The 800 is a tough event and it is really brutal to see what Brazier has gone through the past few years. It’s hard to imagine what potential this kid has but more than anything it’s fun to watch him race now. Here’s to hoping an American can threaten 1:41 some day soon!
You're right that African athletes are not listed in these "international" records, but then there is no good age verification system there, and while Amos, doping, ran 1:41 again many years later, that was Kitum's high water mark, so he was surely considerably older at the time.
it's well known that kitum married the greatest women's miler ever and they decided to go all in on her career while he became the homemaker.
Totally implausible. Kitum ran 1:42 in 2012 and Kipyegon had her first child six years later, winning her first Olympic medal only in 2016. He had another six years before the child, at the very least, to improve his time, during what would normally be the highpoint for an 800m runner, supposedly from age 18 to 24.