Schmiddy wrote:
I like that:
Coe: 2 x 46.87 + 1:41.73= 3:14.60
Schmid: 2 x 44.92 + 1:44.83 = 3:13.75
but I have a feeling the difference would be even greater if Coe posted a 200 time..
Those pbs are hardly a fair reflection of a comparison over 400m.
Schmid was primarily a 400/400H guy and ran a lot more 1 lap races at peak of season. Coe ran a handful over entire career. Certainly anyone who could run a 45.6 relay leg after tripping on the handover and losing about 0.5 off his relay split as Coe did in 81, was capable of a lot faster than his actual pb. He'd still be a second slower than Schmid's best, but the gap between them over 1 lap would be less than Coe's advantage over 2.
Interestingly they both ran against each other on the last leg of the European Cup in 79. Schmid anchored Germany to victory with a 45.7 split, while Coe anchored GB to 6th with a 45.5 split!