Mike Marsh Casually Drops 19.73 (-0.2w) in Barca Semi

[TheAngeltoDemon]

This is like Asafa Powell's world record, i think the 9.76 he ran during a semi and let up. But this record was a stubborn one to be broken, i remember how big of a deal it was when Johnson broke it in 96 trials, i didn't know Marsh was this close to it. He could have easily ran a 19.6X had he went through the line. Crazy race.

[10yble]

@TheAngeltoDemon Asafa Powell's world record to be exact was 9.74.

[TheAngeltoDemon]

@10yble thanks, amazing time run so effortlessly.

[10yble]

@TheAngeltoDemon Really, I think if he had run to the end he could have gone even below the 9.70.

PS: I'm italian, if I do some mistake well tell me.

[TheAngeltoDemon]

@10yble Your english is better than my Italian, I understood what you wrote and I agree it would have been an amazing time.

[freddyfredfreddd]

If he dipped hes head at the line and didnt slow down he would have had a great time

[cantor0305]

i remember, he should break the old menea's record and became a legend... that a great lesson for the "badass attitude" of the sprinter of the 90's...

[conticlaudia78]

@cantor0305 hi mate. I remember as it was yesterday: He did not realised how fast he was running and said in an interview that had to save energy for the final due just hours later! Thank God he did not crush our Mennea's record :)))

[jackshit49]

The difference between Johnson and Marsh is that Johnson produced his best times in the actual final Marsh is lucky Johnson got food poisining and that Carl lewis wasent there as they both would have hammered his 20.01 time in the final

[jimmyg141]

@jackshit49 while it was a little lucky Johnson was sick, thats like saying its unlucky Marsh got a bad start in the final. Its all very subjective. Marsh was majestic through all the rounds, and remember pretty much everyone, including big time performers like Da Silva and Fredricks all ran their slowest in the final which I think is more indicative of the conditions than Marsh. I would have backed this version of Marsh regardless of whether Johnson or Lewis were there. Just made things easier.

[jackshit49]

@jimmyg141 Just going by facts mate Johnson won a gold in every world or olympic final he was in and produced his fastest times always in the final. Lewis also produced fast times no matter where he finished in the finals Marsh was a great athlete but history proves in most of his cases that he was faster in the semis instead of the main event. Lewis ran 19.99 at stuttgart 1 yr later finished 3rd and was thought passed it I recon he would have ran 19.8 if he were there and Johnson 19.7

[jimmyg141]

@jackshit49 valid points, and in no way am i questioning either Lewis or Johnson's ability to perform under pressure. And yes in most cases Marsh was like that. MOST cases, not ALL. the conditions didnt really allow any of them to run fast here. I think Marsh would have handled Lewis if he were there. Johnson however is a different story. A case could be made for either Johnson or Marsh in all fairness, as their race at the US trials was extremely close. You do put forth an educated argument.

[jackshit49]

@jimmyg141 A think would it be fair to say if Lewis and Johnson were there it would have been America 1,2 and 3 although Fredricks on his day could have beaten anyone of them but apart from Stuttgart 1993 and Atlanta 1996 he usually didnt run his best 200m in the major finals despite finishing 2nd regularly.

[Sdelosinfiernos]

Very Faster!!!!!!!!!

[sabueso32]

come one!!!! he slowed down just a little bit. he could've done 19,70 but not better than that. take a look at the final meters.

[xtremekid707]

at this time johnsons PB was 19.79 so marsh was clearly better than johnson at this time but in the long run johnson could smash marsh by almost half a second

[bossofalltime]

Johnson's 19.79 was run out of Lane 8. Also Johnson's 20.01 into -3.4, and 20.06 -3.1 in the 1991 World Championship are better runs than Marsh's 19.73 IMO

[xtremekid707]

they would be about equil or maybe marsh by a millasecond

[bossofalltime]

Gotta agree with you there. All around the same time if you estimate things out. ;-)

[sequiaonda78]

I doubt it... pal.

[rcaddict72]

@bossofalltime well you can convert. first off, lane 8 is the fastest lane for the 200m. so MJ had the advantage. for every 1m/s of wind, convert using 0.05s. a -3.4w is equal to a zero wind minus 0.17. so a 20.01 is about a 19.84. conclusion, marsh better.

[greenjersey171]

@rcaddict72 i don´t think lane 8 is the fastest one for the 200 m. it could be number 4 or 5. because when you leave the curve, you are using centrifugal force, which is very low in lane 8.

[dovespin1]

@greenjersey171 good guess but not true. centrifugal force is the outwardly felt force that is the opposite of the centripetal force the runner is using to stay in the lane on the curve. any force used by the runner leaving the curve is equal to the force he put into it, so there is no advantage. the real reason that lane 8 is not ideal is because you can't see your competition. lanes 1-3 also are not ideal because you must use extra energy to maintain your centripetal force.

[rcaddict72]

@dovespin1 rubbish. lane 8 has the largest radius therefore the least force AND it has the least amount of distance on the curve. it is the fastest lane without question. do i have to do the math for you?..

[dovespin1]

@rcaddict72 yes i agree, but its advantage is marginal compared to the disadvantage of not seeing your competition in lane 8. I speak from experience running in all lanes in competition. that's why top seeds are given 4-5, the best balance of seeing the competition and the radius of the curve not being too extreme. do the math for me, i'm curious to see your analysis.

[lordraven1980]

if he hadnt slowed down (and if he had dipped at the end) he would have run something like 19.65-19.67.

when your 'coasting' your not loosing as much speed as some people believe.

[PihaSandDunes]

Marsh gave away a good metre, maybe 1.5 metres when he slowed. Curious to think after coming so close to going in this race the world record stood for another 4 years until MJ broke it twice in '96.

Marsh wasn't particularly physically imposing but he was a beautful fluid stylist.

[phaethon1988]

that looks like that could have been a 19.65, or maybe a 19.62.......but dude slowed in the end, why mike, why?

[Wookie325]

Even though he was considered a dark horse throughout his career because of his inconsistency throughout the years and him being unsung, he was still the man that year, even if Michael Johnson was at his best then, he would have been tough to beat at this venue. Much respect Marsh.

[AB5309]

i think you mean michael johnson wasnt at his best

[Wookie325]

Michael Johnson wasn't at his best at this stage, but even if he was, he still would have had a hard time beating Mike Marsh.

[adryanerock]

He definately capable to break the world mark that time!

[Doromir]

I remember this race and how disappointed everyone was because he didn't break the old world record.