Outdoor Track and Field on Flotrack 2013

Lessons From Doha with Rudisha and Kiprop and Thank You, Al Gore

May 14, 2013 by Mitch Kastoff

While we were getting used to all of this high school and collegiate action, the pros finally emerged from their high altitude cocoons to remind us that the World Champions are right around the corner.

We don’t want to put too much stake in May openers, but there may be a reason for Usain Bolt to worry, a reason for Tyson Gay to be confident, a reason for the rest of the world to be scared of Hagos Gebrhiwet, a reason for David Rudisha to keep being David Rudisha, and a thank you to Al Gore.

- Should Bolt Be Worried After the Cayman Invitational?
- What If I Told You That Hagos Gebrhiwet Ran 14:10 in 2011?
- Lessons From Doha with Rudisha and Kiprop and Thank You, Al Gore

Dawn Harper and David Rudisha and Look Like Themselves From Last Year

If anyone thought that winning Olympic gold would make someone less motivated the next season, well think again. Even if the bar is still the same height for Dawn Harper and David Rudisha, they still don’t like to lose.

Coming off a narrow loss to Queen Harrison at the Drake Relays 100mH, Dawn Harper returned to her winning form in Doha. The Olympic champion ran a technically sound race that gave her the world lead and gave us a new victory dance.

In the men’s 800m, Rudisha did something that was atypical of the greatest half-miler of all-time. We’re used to seeing daylight between Rudisha and the rest of the field with 100m to go, but there were plenty of competitors within earshot of the world record holder as they made the final turn towards the finish.

Still, Rudisha turned on the jets in the final 50 meters to silence any murmurs of doubt. Right when he came off the final turn, we remembered that he had just run 45.5hA in Nairobi a few weeks earlier. Speed kills, especially when you have the strength to match it.

Who would win right now at 400m, Bolt or Rudisha? Serious question.

His 400m personal best is 45.50 from ’10, but since his quarter-mile last week was run at altitude and hand-timed, we don’t think it’ll count. C’mon Nairobi, it’s 2013; get with the program.

This year, Rudisha is going to have a tough time topping a world record on the biggest stage in the most competitive race, ever. In a good piece from Capital FM Sports, Rudisha’s coach Brother Colm O’Connell summarizes the upcoming year nicely.

“The difference between being a good athlete and being a great athlete is somebody who can pull motivation out of nowhere...”

There are those who have defended their titles several times and Rudisha wants to join that group. Right now (and basically always), he’s the man to beat.

Asbel Kiprop Looks Like Himself From Last Year, Except for the Olympics

There was another impressive finishing kick that reminded us that motivation doesn’t have to come from title defenses. Sometimes, it can stem from abysmal failures.

It’s good to see Kiprop back on top as our last few images of him weren’t very positive. The last time we saw Kiprop was he was simply outclassed in Brussels where he finished fifth in 3:32.88. The time before that and easily the most memorable sight of his year, we watched him finish way back in 12th at the Olympic Games 1500m final.

We’ve sometimes been critical of Asbel Kiprop’s race tactics, but it seems that the 23-year old has perfected his timing. The defending 1500m world champion kicked with 200m left and then again with 50m to go to take down a very strong 1500m field with a 3:31.13 world lead.

We’ll see how Kiprop progresses as the season continues.

Tyson Gay Looks Like Himself From Three Years Ago

Even at almost 31-years old, Tyson Gay isn’t slowing down. The American record holder already made his season debut (non-relay), running 9.86 in Bolt’s backyard, but it’s this 200m that has me smiling.

Back in ’09, I had the pleasure of watching Gay put the New York crowd at the Reebok Grand Prix into a frenzy with his 19.58 win in the 200m. After that, I genuinely thought that he would place a larger emphasis on the 200m, but oddly enough, he did the exact opposite.

Injuries forced Gay to to primarily concentrate on the 100m and leave the 200m behind like he was some kind of amnesia patient.

“YOU WERE REALLY, REALLY GOOD AT THAT EVENT, REMEMBER?” I would have yelled from the stands the last two years.

Between 2010 and 2012, Gay only ran two 200m races. Thanks for completely dashing the hopes and dreams that my younger self had for you.

Tyson Gay and The Not-Often-Run 200m

2010	2011	2012
19.76 (Pre Classic)	N/A	20.21 (Birmingham)
19.72 (Monaco)

But then in Clermont, FL, Gay ran 19.79 and something and totally redeemed himself. While the mark isn’t blazing according to Gay’s standards, it makes his chances at getting an individual medal at World Champs pretty promising.

Last year, 19.79 would have made Gay the third-fastest 200m in the world behind Usain Bolt (19.32) and Yohan Blake (19.44).

The Diamond League Sponsor is Al-~~Gore~~ Jezeera

Just when we thought that track and field was finally getting an influx of money, Samsung decided that it did not want to renew its contract with the Diamond League. The three million pound deal (or 466873500 Japanese Yen) did not concern the IAAF and Diamond League as they assured the running world that the most prestigious and competitive racing circuit would continue, even without a sponsor.

A few days after the meet in Doha, it was announced that the news network Al-Jazeera was quite interested in putting their branding on the series.

However, the World Athletic Association and the IAAF have denied reports that the news station is front-lining the sponsorship charge. IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said, “at least three companies have interest in the Diamond League...”

If this deal goes through, there’s one man to thank: Al Gore. The former U.S vice-president recently sold his progressive media company (Current TV) to Al Jazeera in what he called a “principal obligation... to do business in a way that makes the world a better place.”

I don’t need to spell out the irony that an environmental activist just sold his company to another company that’s primarily funded by oil money. I don’t need to do that.

Full disclosure: I tried just as hard to get into Al Gore’s SXSW panel as I did Prince’s Secret Show.

If the deal goes through, then can we expect Al Jazeera to broadcast the Diamond League? I don’t have cable, but I know people that do and I know they have Al Jazeera.

I’ll leave this here as a placeholder, but thank you Al Gore. You’ve brought us amazing innovations like the internet, one of the most interesting PowerPoints I’ve ever watched, and now, the Diamond League (indirectly).

Thank you.