Hopefully they all peaked too early or are off-cycle by the time Paris comes. Hoppel is a smart racer and he might still sneak in the bronze, but I feel like the top guys are all mid-high 1:41s
Too bad our guys weren't in the race! That is what can happen when you get a super fast pacer (48.8) and field. Multiple guys had two second pr's. Elliott Crestan is now a low 1:42 guy. What? And we kind of see that Wanyonyi couldn't run much faster with a pacer and competition than he did on his own in Kenya. Sedjati had shown he had a ton left in the tank in 1:43ish races. Hard to believe he is running mid-1:41 now. Maybe it's not only the effect of fast pacing and a willing field, as well as doping, but also maybe the shoe companies have produced magic spikes that work for the 800m, because a ton of guys hammered this one.
Tual hadn't broken 1:44 before this year and he's 26. Can wavelights/pacing really account for THAT much of a jump? (Especially since he had them last year)
I will say I was reluctant to admit superspikes had an effect sub-1500m
Thought the glut of 1:43s and occasional 1:42 meant talent was the limiter
But considering the signs from the US high school ranks (not the best data, but here's a set to compare year-over-year) -- the sheer number of sub-1:50s is absolutely skyrocketing just like sub-4:05 miles and sub-8:50 two miles
Expecting the 1:41 club to expand some more this decade
Too bad our guys weren't in the race! That is what can happen when you get a super fast pacer (48.8) and field. Multiple guys had two second pr's. Elliott Crestan is now a low 1:42 guy. What? And we kind of see that Wanyonyi couldn't run much faster with a pacer and competition than he did on his own in Kenya. Sedjati had shown he had a ton left in the tank in 1:43ish races. Hard to believe he is running mid-1:41 now. Maybe it's not only the effect of fast pacing and a willing field, as well as doping, but also maybe the shoe companies have produced magic spikes that work for the 800m, because a ton of guys hammered this one.
8 of the 10 athletes in the race all set PBs. Wow!