2014 IAAF World Indoor Track and Field Championships

IAAF World Indoor Preview: Men's 800m

Mar 6, 2014 by FloTrack Staff

Rather than preview the Men's 800m at the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Track and Field Championships, we decided to just feature an email exchange between Mitch Kastoff and Chris Chavez.

TO: Chris Chavez
FROM: Mitch Kastoff
SUBJECT: The Defiant Dictator is still alive?!

Did you know a guy from Pakistan from Saddam Hussain is running the men's 800m?! I'm not even kidding this time. Check the start list.

In all seriousness, I think the writing is on the wall for the men's 800m final. The top three seeds? Ethiopia's Mohammed Aman (1:44.52), South Africa's Andre Oliver (1:44.99), and Poland's Adam Kszczot (1:45.19). The three fastest times in the world? You're looking at them. The exact order of the Sainsbury's Indoor Grand Prix 800m that happened earlier this winter? I hope I don't need to spell it out for you.

It's odd, because if you could have asked me this question last June, I'd say that the U.S. would have had a chance to get two on the podium. Now, I think Poland has that best shot.

Poland, Chris, Poland. They might have beaten us at volleyball this summer, but I'll be damned if they beat us in the half mile.

I have my reservations about our boys. Erik Sowinski has looked dangerous, but it's only been against other Americans. Nick Symmonds, whose career has been made on his kick, simply hasn't had it this winter. Are we getting ahead of ourselves when we consider their medal odds? What about just getting out of the prelims?

Cheers,

Mitch

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TO: Mitch Kastoff

FROM: Chris Chavez
SUBJECT: These colors don't run

If they had email during the Revolutionary War, you would be Benedict Arnold, you traitor.

We just filmed a Workout Wednesday with Erik Sowinski and you don't think he's going to medal at Worlds?!?!

He is in phenomenal form. Yes, it sounds cliche to say that he's motivated by representing the United States for the first time, but you can tell there's fire in Sowinski’s belly. He got a taste of international competition in Moscow earlier in the year by running 1:16 for 600 and then 1:46 in Dusseldorf. He may not beat Aman, but he can contend against some of those other guys.

As for Symmonds, he said he was sick at USAs and he didn't look so hot at Millrose, but that's all about a month ago. If he's on, who knows if we could see Symmonds leading into the final 200 a la Moscow 2013. Then again, Aman is still in the race.

PS: I LOL'ed at your Saddam Hussein joke. Try to Google search "Saddam Hussein track." Nothing will come up for a lot of pages. Still searching.

Warm regards,

Chris

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TO: Chris Chavez

FROM: Mitch Kastoff
SUBJECT: I like America more than you like Miley Cyrus, which is a lot

Stop. Stop right there. Don't you dare start with the un-American talk. Every time I walk into a room, Hulk Hogan's theme song blares over my portable speakers.

I'm just trying to keep it real with the American people. Kind of like Edward Snowden or Bradley Manning. Wait, are they un-American? Scratch that last sentence.

I refuse to get wrapped up in your Workout Wednesday hype, but I retract some what I said about Sowinski. Not because you're right or anything, but because he should be in the mix.

But consider the following: does 1:16 and 1:46 make him a contender?

How many guys that beat Sowinski in that Moscow 600m will be in Sopot? All four.

How many guys that beat Sowinski in that Dusseldorf 800m will be in Sopot? All three.

There are some that ran both, but you get my point.

I think the fact that we're putting "Erik Sowinski" and "medal" in the same sentence should be enough. Last year, he was that guy that was added late the Millrose Games 600m. Now, you're talking about him being on the podium.

'MURICA,

Mitch

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TO: Mitch Kastoff

FROM: Chris Chavez
SUBJECT: You're the worst and everyone knows it

I hate you.

1. Aman

2. Kszczot

3. Sowinski (SKI = Polish, feeding off the motherland)

You (spoiler alert):