Sydney vs. Bol: 14-Step Pattern.

Mad respect to hurdlers. I can't imagine needing to count, limit, or even think about my footsteps while running a 400.

I just watched that race for the first time. She didn't use 14 all the way around, at least not in the final.

It was the same stride pattern as 2022. She switched to 15 steps on 8 and remained there.

It did look more controlled than 2022, when she went out much faster than ever and comparatively struggled late. This race indicates she's considerably stronger physically and dropping more time given the intensity of an Olympic final.

Here is the video. I'll link it just prior to hurdle 7. Sydney uses her right lead. She has used 14 steps beginning with hurdle 2, which means she is alternating leads every time. It is intentional to visit hurdle 7 with her stronger right lead. She wants to remain on that right lead for the remainder. Notice she uses her right lead to finish. It is always 15 steps. Odd number of steps mean you remain with the same lead. Even number of steps is the alternate lead:

No, she didn't. You can't count.

She said she did. I counted it. Going back and looking at whether she's alternating feet.

No, she never said she did 14 steps for the whole race. You're making that up.

It's exactly reversed. Sydney switched to 14 steps in 2021 because she knew she had to go out fast to keep up with Dalilah Muhammad. Sydney was being left behind and had too much to do down the stretch using 15 against Dalilah.

The strategy worked so well Sydney took the early stride pattern to a completely different level in 2022. She emphasized early speed and reached hurdle 8 in 35.0, which was a full second faster than the Tokyo Olympic final when Bol was dead even with her at that point. Bol was stunned because she was still using the Tokyo pacing, in fact slightly slower.

Coming out of 2021 Bol and her coach Meuwly were concerned about Bol's closing stretch, since she had been left behind by Sydney and Dalilah in Tokyo. Not much improved in 2022 so they decided to switch to 14 in 2023. I read Dutch online papers all the time. Bol matter of factly said the switch to 14 was designed to enable her to go out at the same speed but in easier fashion, so she would have more left coming home.

And it worked. Bol was faster down the stretch in almost every race in 2023 and especially in London during her 51.45. That finish was nearly as good as Sydney at her best.

However, the elephant in the room is that Bol simply is not comfortable taking it out at breakneck pace. She never has been, dating to her junior days at 400 flat. The rest of the world is catching up to Bol just like others are closing on Kipyegon. Last year in the world final it was an amazing early pace. Faster than Tokyo. Only Bol survived it. But each year there will be more women taking it out fast and coming home without collapsing. Evolving event.

Bol's coach Laurent Meuwly understands the predicament, the Sydney will take it out extremely fast at a pace Bol cannot match. It wouldn't shock me if Bol is in 3rd to 5th place after several hurdles. He is just hoping for something crazy and unlikely to happen down the stretch:

Translated from the link below:

"Laurent Meuwly, coach of Bol and several other Dutch athletes, is also looking forward to the hurdles final in Paris. "I think Sydney will open very quickly in Paris", Meuwly estimates the competition of his pupil.

"The goal for Femke will be to stay as close to Sydney as possible until the final straight. It will be very interesting, because Femke has not faced anyone faster for two years."

nos.nl

Bol bewondert nieuw wereldrecord McLaughlin-Levrone: 'Inspireert mij ook'

"Natuurlijk kijk ik daar met bewondering naar", zegt Femke Bol over het wereldrecord van haar Amerikaanse concurrente Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

Link:nos.nl/artikel/2527401-bol-bewondert-n...

Yes, I am indeed an idiot. She led with her right on hurdles 7-10.

I have reported your post.

Regarding the OP's premise yes it's absolutely better for Bol if Sydney does something stupid like carrying 14 steps further in the Paris final. She's not going to lose minus a mistake. Taking 14 through 7 and 15 for the remainder will almost certainly provide a time that Bol cannot match.

But if Sydney mid race starts sensing demons who aren't there, and decides after 7 to stay with 14, then I'd say hurdle 8 is the most likely spot for a falter. That hurdle is around the bend. Sydney would be straining to maintain 14 and she's using her weaker left lead at an angle coming around the turn.

It's best case scenario for the Bol camp

When do you start the count of steps. Looks to me like Sydney was doing 13 steps.

You count every step EXCEPT for the "step" over the hurdle. That's why if she uses the same lead leg, it's an even number of steps and not an odd number.

Try watching the race on YouTube in .25x speed.

You can also watch this video where a hurdle coach breaks down Sydney's 2022 world record, and counts her steps for each hurdle.

A few LRCers have mentioned that the Paris track has some extra pop in it. Judging by last weekend's times, I believe them.

Could this added bounce screw up a hurdler's step count? Or is it much more subtle than that?

Sydney used 14 strides from hurdles 2-5 and then 15 strides through hurdle 10. You can see that she used her right lead leg from hurdle 5 onwards. Her usual pattern (in past years) was 14 strides through hurdle 7 then 15 the rest of the way. She actually messed up her stride pattern in this race and even spoke about this in her post-race interviews. It was due to this mistake that she was shocked she still got the WR but it shows that she is in good fitness and will likely drop her time more in a few weeks.

Last weekend's Paris DL meet was not held at the stadium that will be used for the Olympics.

Maybe some track geeks on here have some intel on the new purple track at the Olympic stadium.