Rieti 1986 - Sebastian Coe - m.1500 - 3'29"77

[marlin804]

Not sure if that would have caused Coe .5 seconds with Chesire doing what he did. Maybe .2 seconds at best as he didn't have to slow down. However, look at how strong he finished. If this was a mile, I think 14 seconds for him in the last 100 was easily doable!! That would have been 3:44 flat or so....pretty darn impressive!!

[deano27671]

@marlin804 Just quoting Coe in his book. I agree its not obvious he had to slow down at bell, but apparently Coe was all ready for a final surge when Chesire came past, got in front & then slowed, although hard to tell from the angle. Coe hesitated for a few strides before deciding to go past him on the bend, causing him to run slightly wide. Perhaps the slowing down& the running 1-2m extra is what he was alluding to. Certainly the uneven pace and lack of drafting would have slowed it a bit.

[koudasso10]

HROZNÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ HOVADO

[ollie705]

It's easy to say what could have been. Coe definitely had the potential during the early/mid 80s to run sub 3:29, and maybe sub 3:28. I also had the potential to run faster times as a teenager but for various reasons didn't. Here, 1:51 at 800m cost him a possible sub 3:29. Cheshire didn't hinder him that much IMO.

[deano27671]

@ollie705 Coe's 800 split was actually 1:51.9/1:52.0, as he was a few metres behind the first pacer, who went 1:51.05. I think his 800 split was bang on the money. What stopped him running faster still was the first lap he covered in 54.0! That's too fast. It was followed by a 58.0, which represents a 4.0 sec difference, v. uneconomic pacing. 2 laps of 56.0 would have given him a lot more left at the finish. Also, he got no drafting from 450 to 750m, which lost him about 0.75.

[deano27671]

In his book he said he was ready for a long drive as he approached the bell, when Chesire came in front of him & started slowing down almost immediately. Coe, realising Chesire wasn't going to drop out & worried that the pace was dropping, then run outside him on the curve, running an extra couple of metres. Coe believed that whole incident cost him 0.5 & the WR.

[deano27671]

I also believe it caused Coe to over-compensate and go too fast in the 1st 100m of that last lap, which was 13.6, & more like 13.4 with the extra distance run. That's 53.6 pace in a 55.2 last 400m. If he'd had 55.5, 1:52.0 & 2:34.0 with good drafting to that point, I think he'd have run 3:28.6 - 3:28.8 that day. If it had been at his peak in late 84 or 81, I think sub 3:28 was possible. Unfortunately there really wasn't anyone else around who could or would have given him the necessary pace.

[dunsford]

Just as interesting to ponder what he may have achieved in the 800m. Remember he lost 2 years in 82 and 83 when I suspect he would have gone under 1.41

[deano27671]

@dunsford Yes, I think with an interrupted 82 & 83 he'd still be the 800 and 1000 world record holder.

[marlin804]

Deano!! Yup....I agree with your assessment. I think under 3:27 would have been out of reach of Coe as El G and Legat have done. However, put Coe against them in an Olympic Final and thats a different story. His finishing kick and dominance in 80 & 84 are just breathtaking. In 84 he toyed with the field....it was a joke! His speed (Which all others we talk about lacked) would make it almost impossible to beat him in a tacticle race. Especially one with heats!!

[Philcher69]

@marlin804 I think his series of 7 races in 9 days in LA 84 are unrivalled in terms of quality. I also think it strange that no one has been capable of sub 3:29 in the last 6 years or so. I have to say that I think there were some very strange times produced in the late 90's and early '00's when EPO was rife. It wasn't just one race, it was in many.

[marlin804]

I personally think Coe in 81 could have run 3:28.5 if he had better pacing. Maybe slightly faster if Ovett was in the race with him. What many people fail to realize is that El Goerrouj, Legat, and the few others who have run under 3:29 did not have the speed of Coe. What a truly remarkable runner!!!

[deano27671]

@marlin804 I agree. I think somewhere in the region of 3:27.5 - 3:28.5. If he'd had someone capable of taking him to 1100m (as EL G had) in 2:33 (55.5, 1:51.0) and perhaps Ovett still with him with 200m to go, then I think he could have broken 3:28.

[lucavandi1]

In memory of Valter Merlo 7° in this run with 3'39"57....

ciao Valter

[deano27671]

@lucavandi1 I've not heard of Valter Merlo before. Was his career cut short? Did he die?

[newromantic888]

@Deano The wait was worth it Dean. They say things come to those who wait. They were right. You dont think the pace was a little to fast. 151 is flying then a 58 second 3rd lap coming home in 55/56. That suggests with stronger 3rd lap and/or a slightly more even pace Coe could have gone faster. Atleast 2 seconds or so I feel. Also why on the last turn was he running so wide. How are you anyway. Hope all is well.

[manonthemount]

interesting strategy by the leader with 400 to go. surge to the front, slow down, drop out

[snarby21]

@manonthemount looking for an 1100 PR ;)

[bodies42099]

seb coe = tank

[dubyabee5]

Sebastian Coe is a beast! Thanks for the upload!

[lucavandi1]

Il sesto di questa gara sarei io in 3'39"28....

Luca Vandi

[gpc31]

@lucavandi1: Bravo...E 'bello sentirsi da un corridore di classe mondiale. Please excuse my poor Italian.

[deano27671]

Great! I've been waiting to see the whole of this race for 25 years!

Many thanks!

[gpc31]

@deano27671: Thanks for the heads-up on letsrun! It feels great to finally see this race, kind of like a lost Rembrandt in the attic. Deano, you were right...what the #### was Cheshire doing/thinking? The disruption cost Coe half a second and the record. Still astonishing to see Coe's acceleration off that pace with 350 to go, like the Coe of old, not the old Coe at age 29/30.

pareyson71 -- I can't thank you enough for posting this. It's tremendous. Thank you again.

[deano27671]

@gpc31 He was actually in the best form he'd been in since LA 84. He'd won the European 800 about 10 days earlier, then ran a tactically inept 1500 to lose to Cram. He was angry with himself, feeling he should have won it, and his father told him to go and run the definitive 1500 in Rieti. I agree, but for Chesire slowing him down and forcing him wide, I think he'd have run 3:29.2 for a new WR. With that in mind, he should have run quite a bit faster at his peak in 81!