Kate Grace returns to 1500 and DOMINATES Istaf Berling meet. Grace FTW by 3+ seconds in 4:01.33!

The field was weak but Kate is not. We will see which event she focuses on in '22....

Forced Injection Insurrection wrote:

The field was weak but Kate is not. We will see which event she focuses on in '22....

The field wasn’t stellar, but Embaye is a 3:59 runner at her best and ran 4:21y for second in Brussels recently. Also interesting to see results for Klosterhalfen, Grovdal and Bell at 1500.

Certainly an impressive result for Grace, and the question of which event she should focus on next year is quite valid. On one hand, she’s been performing like a global 800 finalist on the DL circuit for the last 2 months+—on the other, the U.S. women’s 800 team will likely be very tough to make, relatively much tougher than the 1500 squad. There’s still somewhat of a void left by Houlihan’s bust and Simpson’s “aging out” that Grace could take advantage of. Purrier-St. Pierre, Norris and Grace would make a savvy 1500 team.

Kate Grace's 1:57.xx 800m is superior to a 4:01.xx 1500m. Not even close. The only reason Kate Grace would abandon her best event would be if she were declining as an 800m runner. No reason to play a game, who will or will not race 800m for U.S. An 800m runner races 800m. Don Paige could have played that game, 1984. Paige could have counted 800m men and counted 1500m men, 1984. Even though Paige was a decent 1500m man, Don Paige, 1984 had no choice but to lace 'em up and race 800m.

an 800m runner races 800m wrote:

Kate Grace's 1:57.xx 800m is superior to a 4:01.xx 1500m. Not even close. The only reason Kate Grace would abandon her best event would be if she were declining as an 800m runner. No reason to play a game, who will or will not race 800m for U.S. An 800m runner races 800m. Don Paige could have played that game, 1984. Paige could have counted 800m men and counted 1500m men, 1984. Even though Paige was a decent 1500m man, Don Paige, 1984 had no choice but to lace 'em up and race 800m.

Thanks, Don.

Clearly a good performance but no genuine medal contenders were in that field against her. Credit for being so close to her best at such a late stage in the season.

Even better!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wug5czfPmbk

John Wesley Harding wrote:

On one hand, she’s been performing like a global 800 finalist on the DL circuit for the last 2 months+—on the other, the U.S. women’s 800 team will likely be very tough to make, relatively much tougher than the 1500 squad. There’s still somewhat of a void left by Houlihan’s bust and Simpson’s “aging out” that Grace could take advantage of. Purrier-St. Pierre, Norris and Grace would make a savvy 1500 team.

She should try to make both. I believe the World Champs is accommodating doubles, so the WC Trials should as well. In the 1500, I would favor Purrier to beat her somewhat handily and then Norris has the slight edge. Osika, McGee, MacLean, Jones and Kate would be in that next group with Osika/Kate the favorites to emerge from it. The 1500 is less top-heavy but has incredible depth as I haven't even gotten to Hiltz, Sinclaire Johnson, and Schlachtenhalfen (sp) who I can see all being in 4:00-4:02 shape.

Now in the 800, Mu is pretty much a lock to win if she continues at this level. After that, Kate is right in the mix with Raevyn Rogers and Ajee Wilson. Four in doesn't make three podium spots as Rob Walker would say but the depth then falls off quite a bit. Yes Michaela Meyer is intriguing, there are some very good high-schoolers and Chanelle Price, Allie Wilson, Sabrina Southerland, Nia Akins et al all can run 1:58 and such. But that's different than the host of women who seem to be right there with Kate in the 1500.

I actually like Kate's chances about just as well in the 800 considering I think it's her better event.

Whoops, add McGee to the group behind Norris likely to make it did not mean to give her no credit for a great run at USAs this year.

Forced Injection Insurrection wrote:

The field was weak but Kate is not. We will see which event she focuses on in '22....

She was not. And some quite good runners in there, and some who could have a performance leap on the best of days. I was wowed by her final lap. They were all within striking distance. And then she crushed them. I would love to know that final 400 split. :-)

The 1500 allows Grace to run reasonably close to the pace and remain on the rail. In the 800 far too often than not she manages neither. She gets stuck outside because she won't commit to the front on the first lap, and others get the jump on her initiating the kick.

Internationally the 1500 is only strong when Kipyegon and Hassan are in the race. Otherwise the field is weaker than the 800. That's why the time comparison value chart doesn't fully apply. It's heck of a lot easier to run 1:58 and miss a team than to run 3:58 or 3:59 and miss.

If Kipyegon errs and switches to the 5000 then absolutely Grace should move up to 1500. But the only problem with that strategy is that I suspect some of the top 3000+ women will explore dropping to 1500 to avoid Niyonsaba. There are far more permutations of Niyonsaba's recent ascent than are obvious at first glance.

an 800m runner races 800m wrote:

Kate Grace's 1:57.xx 800m is superior to a 4:01.xx 1500m. Not even close. The only reason Kate Grace would abandon her best event would be if she were declining as an 800m runner. No reason to play a game, who will or will not race 800m for U.S. An 800m runner races 800m. Don Paige could have played that game, 1984. Paige could have counted 800m men and counted 1500m men, 1984. Even though Paige was a decent 1500m man, Don Paige, 1984 had no choice but to lace 'em up and race 800m.

False. Kate Grace might abandon the 800 and run the 1500 if she wants to make a US team.

She has zero shot at a medal globally in the 1500 so I'd stick in the 800 but if making US teams is her main goal, it's easier for her in the 1500.

THOUGHTSLEADER wrote:

Whoops, add McGee to the group behind Norris likely to make it did not mean to give her no credit for a great run at USAs this year.

I hate to be overtly negative, but you’ll likely not see Mcgee rise to the heights she was at this summer.

dickeys wrote:

THOUGHTSLEADER wrote:

Whoops, add McGee to the group behind Norris likely to make it did not mean to give her no credit for a great run at USAs this year.

I hate to be overtly negative, but you’ll likely not see Mcgee rise to the heights she was at this summer.

Why?

kate grace.

now vee dance.

kongrats. domikategrace,

Forced Injection Insurrection wrote:

The field was weak but Kate is not. We will see which event she focuses on in '22....

There's no doubt she will focus on the 800.

She has practically no chance of making an 800 team.

I hate to be overtly negative, but you’ll likely not see Mcgee rise to the heights she was at this summer.

Why?[/quote]

She's really inconsistent and caught one at the right time in Eugene.

The only question is where is she going to make money and keep those abs.