Sebastian Coe - 1979 Oslo 1 mile WR

[Bravo6Whiskey]

Amazing performance by Coe--strong, focused, determined. "What a fantastic run." Indeed.

[jmoleary]

Using a watch on this video is not a valid approach, I think. You are assuming that the speed of the video is real time. Remember this is adapted from tape. All it takes is for the tape speed to be slightly different during playback than it was during recording and it can create a gap. That's quite a common phenomena.

I think it's pretty safe to trust the officials there over a 32 year low-quality videotape. There was never any scandal about the time being wrong in this race.

[deano27671]

@jmoleary Yes, it seems inconceivable that there was anything wrong with the time keeping, but what is shown on the video is still very odd! He actually crosses the line with the on screen clock showing 3:47.9, it then continues moving (very rapidly!) to 3:48.9 after he has crossed the line!? The splits are strange too. The official 3/4 split for Coe was 2:53.4, meaning his last 440 was 55.5 (55.2 last 400m). His official 1500m time was 3:32.80, meaning he clocked 16.15 for the last 109m.

[deano27671]

That's 14.8 for the last 100. If we take that from 55.2, we get 40.4 for the 300m from the bell to 100m to go. That's averaging 13.45 for each 100m. He then slows to 14.8 for the last 100! He looks easy in the straight, not in any stress at all. Perhaps he slowed down a bit, knowing he'd won the race, but 14.8 seems v slow. Likewise behind him, Scott (3:34.6 at 1500 & 3:51.11 Mile) ran the last lap in 57.0 but the last 100 in 15.1. So he ran the first 300m of last lap in 41.9 (13.96 per 100m).

[rafael21196]

The real time of Coe in this race was 3:46:9, ( manual 3:46:6 ), because the electronic timekeeping is wrong in two seconds. It can be checked easily with a manual chronometer.

[deano27671]

@rafael21196 Yes, that's what I found on my copy of the race too!? I've contacted a few statisticians, but they can't explain the anomaly either. Also, as he crosses the line it shows 3:47.9 on the screen, but then ticks forward a whole second in the blink of an eye after he finishes. All very strange! It's possible that there is a second of the race somehow missing, so would be interesting to know if other people's copies of the race are same. But that still doesn't explain the extra sec at end

[5kdamian]

@rafael21196 I time it at 3:47 as well...

[carlfromhastings]

Does anyone know who the commentator was? Sounds like he knew his stuff.

[deano27671]

@carlfromhastings The main intro is by Adrian Metcalfe, who used to run 400m for Britain in the 60's. The other voice is that of Alan Pascoe, who was a 400 hurdler for Britain in the 70's.

[carlfromhastings]

@deano27671 Thanks very much for that, the first name certainly rings a bell. As for Alan Pascoe, I clearly remember trying to get his autograph at Crystal Palace as a kid, and having to run just to keep up with his lollopping stride!

[cayenneturbot]

I believe deano27671 is Seb's no.1 fan :)

[PeschkeXD]

why did the guy in the red who was leading run out?

[MyRetardProductions]

theres something called a rabbit where they set the pace to make every one go after him basically someone who specializes in a shorter event to get them chasing him

[PeschkeXD]

@MyRetardProductions oh yeah i forgot about them haha.. thanks

[wishiwasanotter]

he waves at the finish line (6:57) after blitzing the WR....then runs a victory lap!!!

[deano27671]

He was actually slowing down all along the homestraight. Could have run 3:47 had he pushed the last lap that day, and a good bit faster still had the pacing been faster and the opposition in closer contention.

[watchinginawe]

an absolute god of an athlete.

[markgregamy]

absolutely magical run.