¶2012 OG: m1500–Taoufik Makhloufi (Algeria) 3:34.08

[j-a-m]

But his ability to peak for the big meet is remarkable. I look forward to seeing what he can do next year.

Yes; and he repeated last year's performance in that only two runners from other countries finished ahead of him. Only difference is that this time there was a teammate ahead of him as well. As long as Centro lets only two runners from other countries finish ahead of him, the U.S. will keep winning medals.

[liuxuan]

the feeling I got watching him accelerate down the back straight took me back to the same feeling I got watching the last lap of the Womens 3,000m at the 2001 World Indoor Championships - anyone agree?? it certainly looked impressive..........

[CKuykendall]

I no longer own the 1972 Olympics issue of T&FN, but I'll have to do some research, because I'm certain I read of that 1:46 finish of Vasela in the pages of that issue of T&FN!!! I remember being totally STUNNED by the report!!

The Munich Olympics issue of T&FN, September 1972, pages 22-23, says Vasala ran the last 400 in 53.4 and the last 800 in 1:49.0. The story on the race was written by Cordner Nelson. David Wallechinsky and Jaime Loucky, in The Complete Book of the Olympics, 1968 edition, page 105, perhaps drawing from the T&FN piece, also have 1:49.0.

[catson52]

A close look at the video of the Munich race shows that Vasala ran 1:49.0, give or take 0.1, from 700m to the finish.

[asindc]

Congrats to Leo for his silver medal! Well deserved. And a thumbs-up and job-well-done to Centro. I thought he ran a smart (though not perfect) race and should feel good about the way he ran, even though finishing 4th has to sting. I'm pleased to see US distance runners finally (Finally!!) running like they sincerely want to compete.

[Dutra5]

That's maybe a 1:48 pace for 800.
The only other time I remember someone running that pace was Pekka Vasela in 1972, when he burned the final 800 in 1:46!!!

Then you have a bad memory.

Please refresh my (ageing) memory!!
When else has anyone ever run 1:46 for the final 800 of a Championships 1500 race, no matter how slow the first 700??
I think I recall one or two in the 1:50 range....maybe even 1:49.5......but never anything near 1:46!!
That was phenomenal!!! (And Vasela's overall time was 3:36, so he hit his first 700 in 1:50!!)

I see others have chimed in but other than being incorrect regarding Vasala and not recalling faster, more recent runs for home it appears you're memory bank is not up to par.

[bruce3404]

A USA runner won the silver, right? Did USA file a protest?

A DQ of the winner would give the USA a bronze, too, but I don't see any protest filed by U.S. coaches.

I saw the race live and just watched the replay. No way was there a foul. Yeah, he shoved a bit and threw a forearm but that's an incidental part of racing. Had it occurred in the last 100 meters, they might have taken a closer look, but with a lap to go that's just part of what goes on in a tightly bunched pack.

[Dutra5]

There was no foul. There was some bumping and pushing but I thought Kiplagat was trying to block him in both instances and cut in too soon anyway.

[jeremyp]

I know I should be thrilled at Manzano's silver and Centro's 4th, and I guess I am, but I just felt bad seeing Kiprop trailing the field. As much as we all cheer for our own, whoever they are, no one wants to see that, I would think.

When you are as thrilled to see Manzano get silver as I am you fail to even see "that" ... This is the happiest day of my 1500m viewing career !!!

I missed the whole thing due to computer malfunction but got to stay up until near midnight to see it on NBC. I was stunned to see Manzano screaming down the stretch, those little legs a blur, and getting silver. This ranks with Rupp getting his silver for me! I do wonder if Leo left it too late and had he been nearer the front he might have challenged the Algerian more in the end. Still it's great. Too bad NBC did not see fit to interview him, or Pearson.

[aaronk]

To all those who corrected my mistake about Vasala's last 800 in Munich....thank you!!
It appears that his 1:49 (as noted above by someone) turned into a 1:46 in my mind.
That 1:49 was stupendous then. And yes, I do NOT remember anyone before then going sub-1:50, so unless my memory is TOTALLY shot ( ), his 1:49 WAS shocking enough that, as some people do.........I tended to embellish that over the years into a 1:46!!
Sorry, but thanks again for the corrections!!!

[Daisy]

Too bad NBC did not see fit to interview him, or Pearson.

Pearson gives a great interview too. Maybe they could not get her since she was being interviewed by TV networks from other countries?

[TN1965]

Too bad NBC did not see fit to interview him, or Pearson.

Yes, I wanted to hear him talk about his bizarre pre-race ritual in front of national TV.

[jeremyp]

Loved the medal ceremony. Leo got up on the podium and he was still shorter than the presenter.

[thedodge]

His 143.88 speed was just to much, wondering if that's the future of the mile good 800m men moving up.

[Dutra5]

Loved the medal ceremony. Leo got up on the podium and he was still shorter than the presenter.

Presenter being El G.

[errolM]

His 143.88 speed was just to much, wondering if that's the future of the mile good 800m men moving up.

Not exactly a new phenomenon, no?

[aaronk]

His 143.88 speed was just to much, wondering if that's the future of the mile good 800m men moving up.

Not exactly a new phenomenon, no?

In my lifetime, Peter Snell was the first to move up, first winning the 800 in Rome, then the 800 and 1500 in Tokyo.
But wasn't Seb Coe also first an 800 guy who then moved up to the mile?

After he breaks 1:40 in the next year or two, would love to see what Rudisha can do in a mile!!
The first sub-3:40??

[aaronk]

Loved the medal ceremony. Leo got up on the podium and he was still shorter than the presenter.

Presenter being El G.

Congrats on being the first person to mention El G!!!
He looked great, didn't he??
Too bad he retired!!
He could probably still whip these rookie's asses!!!

[errolM]

But wasn't Seb Coe also first an 800 guy who then moved up to the mile?

Coe was actually more of a XC runner at school and early Uni before settling on the 800. Ovett did a bit of 200 and 400 as well as before the 8.

Neither, of course, were as good as the legendary Kirk Dumpleton

[bitrot]

Will we see a protest in the 1500m? Makhloufi shoved through the leaders to take the pole on the bell lap.

I am sure the IAAF are itching to dq him and he should be

NBC showed a close-up of the pushing on the end-of-broadcast replay.
Blatant grabbing, pulling and elbowing to move between the leaders and into the front.

This was mild compared to the move Ovett made in the Moscow 800m final. Drugs are the only thing that will DQ an Olympic gold medal winner (.. I know about the 1908 Marathon)

[Alan Shank]

Will we see a protest in the 1500m? Makhloufi shoved through the leaders to take the pole on the bell lap.

I am sure the IAAF are itching to dq him and he should be

NBC showed a close-up of the pushing on the end-of-broadcast replay.
Blatant grabbing, pulling and elbowing to move between the leaders and into the front.

This was mild compared to the move Ovett made in the Moscow 800m final. Drugs are the only thing that will DQ an Olympic gold medal winner (.. I know about the 1908 Marathon)

Well, they DQ'd Natalia Rodriguez in Berlin, when she finished first in the 1500, and they did DQ'd Fomenko/Chizhenko (who finished 2nd or 3rd) in 2005 in Helsinki. OTOH, they didn't DQ Anita Weyerman in '97.
Cheers,
Alan Shank

[Dutra5]

But wasn't Seb Coe also first an 800 guy who then moved up to the mile?

In school Coe was more of a distance type...3000m etc. On the world stage he first showed up as an 800m runner.

[uakari]

i think makhloufi shouldda been DQ for his shenanigans in the 800m, coming up with a fake doctor's note. but i guess it's easier to scapegoat 8 asian female badminton players for "cheating."

[catson52]

To all those who corrected my mistake about Vasala's last 800 in Munich....thank you!!
It appears that his 1:49 (as noted above by someone) turned into a 1:46 in my mind.
That 1:49 was stupendous then. And yes, I do NOT remember anyone before then going sub-1:50, so unless my memory is TOTALLY shot ( ), his 1:49 WAS shocking enough that, as some people do.........I tended to embellish that over the years into a 1:46!!
Sorry, but thanks again for the corrections!!!

Just looked at the video of El G's 1500m WR of 1998. His time for the final 800m appears to be 1:49.5 give or take 0.5 s. Final time 3:26.0, so I think unbeatable final two laps in a fast race - the fastest of all time.

[EPelle]

If run evenly, that would make sense. His WR time averages 54,93/lap (1.49,87 for any 800m segment during the race).

[athleticshushmail]

I get that Kiprop was injured, but why didn't Kiplagat and Chepseba set a faster pace in the early stages? In all the other meets they look like superior runners than anyone else in the race (with the exception of Gebramedhin), how can just not having a pacemaker drop them to 7th and 11th?