Correct, fastest current 800m runner and threatening to go under 1.55 and damn right I don't want her to squander that doing something thousands of women can do. I want her to carry on doing her 800m event and show up in some DL races too.
Her stock is dropping because of her as well. Sorry but it’s obvious her entire focus on social media is about taking selfies or posing at some event. She is not vested in track anymore. Been there done that attitude
Whoever planted the idea in her head she could/should be a model should be shot. Now she is too busy dreaming to actually run some races.
If Mu can be a model so can probably just about any female track runner. It's all about narratives these days. Her background is highly marketable. The media and their image peddlers have convinced young people Lizzo is beautiful and healthy.
I've also heard Mu may not be racing but haven't been able to confirm with meet director.
Shocking... not
Mu may not be racing?!?!
LMFAO... though as a fan of track & field, I'd like nothing more than for one of its biggest (former?) stars to, you know, do her job... and RACE. And maybe, by RACING, she'd show some gratitude for the sport that has given these * other * opportunities in stand dancing and "modeling"
Training, not physiology. Mu could run 4 flat but it would require very different training that would cost her some 400 speed. Coe was a 46 400m man who ran 1:41/3:29. Brazier might have done the same but it would have taken a lot more strength work (meaning 800 repeats and up).
In her Millrose mile, Mu was on 4:05 pace still at 1325m. That was in Feb 22, indoors. She can run 4:05 for sure. Question is how much below.
Or she looked at Welteji's 1:57/3:56 and thinks 1:55/4:05 is reasonable.
Honestly going to lose my mind with how people don't understand basic physiology behind track events.
Short summary: holding up an 8:33 woman like Welteji and extrapolating 1500 times for a 400/800 runner is totally useless. Would be comparable to predicting Welteji running a 50.0.
Long summary:
The sprints overwhelmingly use anaerobic alactic (pure sprint power which lasts less than 15s) and anaerobic systems (going pure anaerobic last max 2min).
Events 1500 and over use a large majority aerobic energy.
The 800 is the cross over between these systems meaning you can approach at like a distance runner (eg Faith Kipyegon/Sifan Hassan who are 1:57 or better but also 14:30 or better 5k women), as 400-800 runners (eg Mu, Rogers), or as hybrids - low mileage but not sprint focused like Brazier, Giles, Wilson, or Bishop.
The further away you move from the energy system that underpins your success the worse you do. That's why despite Welteji, Muir, Hassan all being barely 1s off Mu's 800 PB, none of them have for a second considered doing the 400! That's because they approach it with training that is aerobically focused (they're all 8:33 or better in the 1500). I'd be surprised if any of them could break 54 from blocks.
Same idea, Rogers can do a 52.04, but hasn't broken 4:10. Mu 49s 400 but 4:16 1500m.
Hybrid athletes peak in the 800 but can run average to good in the 400/1500 but not world standard in either - eg Brazier (47/1:42/3:35), Arop (46/1:43/3:38), Wilson (53.6/1:55/4:05), Bishop (54/1:56/4:04).
It is staggering how many people in this conversation don't get that.
Yes all of that is true but I still think Mu could run 4:05, which is the time FastMcCabe submitted. It’s just not very good for a woman who’s run 1:55.04.
The closest male comparisons to Mu are Korir/Rudisha types, but the 800 is a bit more aerobic for women than it is for men (longer duration) and Mu has some background in youth 1500 competition, FWIW. More compelling, she tried to run low-4:20s for the mile at Millrose last year and failed, as I’d figured she would, but she still split 1400 in 3:50.56 and through 1200 she hit 3:15.59, which is 4:04.49 pace. To me that shows she was in 4:07 1500 shape last February.
If Maria Mutola ran PBs of 51.37 - 1:55.19 - 4:01.50 and Ana Fidelia Quirot ran 49.2h - 1:54.44 - 4:13.08, I don’t think it’s foolish to believe Mu could run 49 - 1:55 - 4:05.xx.
One small unrelated thing: Raevyn Rogers might ultimately be more of a 1500 runner than a 400 runner, or at least a true hybrid. Her 52.06 PB and 4:29.26 mile PB (equivalent to a 4:09 1500) both yield exactly 1124 points.
Whoever planted the idea in her head she could/should be a model should be shot. Now she is too busy dreaming to actually run some races.
If Mu can be a model so can probably just about any female track runner. It's all about narratives these days. Her background is highly marketable. The media and their image peddlers have convinced young people Lizzo is beautiful and healthy.
tall and skinny south sudanese women have been walking runways long before wokeness