Brussels DL m200 (non-DL): Blake 19.54

[gh]

start list

2 AIKINES-ARYEETEY Harry GBR
3 NEWMAN Calesio USA
4 MALCOLM Christian GBR
5 WEIR Warren JAM
6 LEMAITRE Christophe FRA
7 BLAKE Yohan JAM
8 PATTON Darvis USA
9 YOUNG Jason

I'm just disappointed that Blake didn't have the confidence to realize that he doesn't need to see anybody else—because he's so much better—and just head on out to lane 9 (can you say JJ Johnson?) and put up an earth-shattering time. I just don't think these guys get what they're giving away time wise with every lane they move in.

[user4]

Indeed, the 200 is a very strange event for this reason at the elite level. Having said that I dont think Blake with his much lower center of gravity, gives up nearly as much as the big guys, Bolt, Spearmon, LM. Not much at all to be gained for Blake from 7 to 9.

[Jasontonice]

Blake in lane 7... this is a world record waiting to happen. No matter how much I look at it there is almost no way to get around it, even if he don't have that killer last 40m he's still capable of running the turn much faster now especially with this track very forgiving bend. That should spark some fire for bolt, he's already looking forward to the end of this season and a break of almost non-stop partying.

[jamboy]

I predict a world record or something close to it today.

Blake will reign supreme in 19.07.

[Jasontonice]

I predict a world record or something close to it today.

Blake will reign supreme in 19.07.

And Bolt will be like WTF!? Okay now, no more slacking this means business, I'm taking it back!

[jamboy]

I predict a world record or something close to it today.

Blake will reign supreme in 19.07.

And Bolt will be like WTF!? Okay now, no more slacking this means business, I'm taking it back!

19.26 last year with a below than average curve and negligeble wind.

If the conditions are perfect today, expect a WR.

It is currently 75 degrees bright sunshine in Brussels. Weather is looking good.

[Marlow]

If the conditions are perfect today, expect a WR.

You remind me of those loser TV commentators (not that YOU are a loser!) who say, 'so-and-so FAILED to break the World Record today'. We should NOT expect a WR today; that is EXTREMELY unreasonable to expect! He could run spectacularly and post a 19.41! Oh, how disappointing!

IF . . . he breaks the WR, I want it to be stunningly jaw-dropping, not, 'ho-hum, he did just what we expected.'

[Jasontonice]

Extremely unlikely but would an 18.9x make go like

[EPelle]

Blake: 19,54

[Marlow]

See? 19.54 is AWESOME!!!!

[croflash]

Sure looked like Blake stepped on the inside lane though...

[marknhj]

See? 19.54 is AWESOME!!!!

He looked perilously close to the line to me (at work with a laptop). Or was I imaging that?

[j-a-m]

Possible PB for Jason Young in 2nd.

Edit: No, but good time with 19.92

[Tuariki]

I predict a world record or something close to it today.

Blake will reign supreme in 19.07.

Blake 19.07!!
for 195.65 meters.

[Tuariki]

Brussels simply confirms just how dominant Jamaica is at the moment of the USA - and of course every other country.

[gh]

Blake has still contested so few high-end 200s that the No. 10 mark on his all-time list is 20.33!

[110hedgeNYC]

great run by Blake. perhaps he pushed a little too hard on the turn to go faster. but, come on, 19.54 is fantastic.

one big question mark on the race: what is going on with Christophe Lemaitre??? he should be getting down into 19.60s - 70s territory. he's got the talent. he seems to be having a mediocre season by his standards.

still think he needs more work in the weight room - and possibly a new coach and environment. I believe it was a mistake to not have run the 100 in London.

[gh]

Indeed fantastic. Only 8 other runs ever faster.

[79.]

I predict a world record or something close to it today.

Blake will reign supreme in 19.07.

Blake 19.07!!
for 195.65 meters.

Bravo Tuariki pour votre sens de l'humour !!!

[errolM]

I'm beginning to realise how ridiculously good 19.19
really is.

[ZELLGADISS]

errolM Bolt got 19.19 being very tired after 4 rounds 100m(1 very fast 9.89 and 1 super fast 9.58 )and after 3 rounds 200(semifinal more or less fast).
And he made it all it in few days and running alone(his rivals very far of course).

Blake is an incredible runner but Bolt is simply AMAZING

[Alan Shank]

Blake definitely tied up a bit last 50m.
I was so afraid that they were going to put Harry A-A in the lane next to Darvis Patton! >:-)
Cheers,
Alan Shank

[user4]

Brussels simply confirms just how dominant Jamaica is at the moment of the USA - and of course every other country.

And with a mere 3 million citizens. Just to consider the possibilities and for the record Haiti has almost 10 million.

[mal]

great run by Blake. perhaps he pushed a little too hard on the turn to go faster. but, come on, 19.54 is fantastic.

one big question mark on the race: what is going on with Christophe Lemaitre??? he should be getting down into 19.60s - 70s territory. he's got the talent. he seems to be having a mediocre season by his standards.

still think he needs more work in the weight room - and possibly a new coach and environment. I believe it was a mistake to not have run the 100 in London.

What are his standards?

Seems to me like he is right there at his current standards.

[Jasontonice]

Not saying that Blake will never improve on his 200m PR, but it seems that Blake 19.26 those "where the hell did this come from" races similarly to Micheal Johnson's 19.32. Last year made most of us forget how incredible 19.19 is, its no soft record that is now certain. Blake is now a solid 19.40 guy and still on the path of rapid improvement.

[18.99s]

great run by Blake. perhaps he pushed a little too hard on the turn to go faster. but, come on, 19.54 is fantastic.

Too aggressive on the turn. I thought he would have patterned the race similar to his 19.26 on the same track, with more pacing on the turn and then all-out on the straight.

[110hedgeNYC]

great run by Blake. perhaps he pushed a little too hard on the turn to go faster. but, come on, 19.54 is fantastic.

Too aggressive on the turn. I thought he would have patterned the race similar to his 19.26 on the same track, with more pacing on the turn and then all-out on the straight.[/quote

totally agree. seems he pushed too hard on the turn.

[110hedgeNYC]

great run by Blake. perhaps he pushed a little too hard on the turn to go faster. but, come on, 19.54 is fantastic.

one big question mark on the race: what is going on with Christophe Lemaitre??? he should be getting down into 19.60s - 70s territory. he's got the talent. he seems to be having a mediocre season by his standards.

still think he needs more work in the weight room - and possibly a new coach and environment. I believe it was a mistake to not have run the 100 in London.

What are his standards?

Seems to me like he is right there at his current standards.

Lemaitre stats:

100 - 9.92
200 - 19.80
2011 World Championships Bronze in 200; 4th in 100
Double European Champ over 100
2010 European Champ over 200 (did not run the 200 at this year's Euros)
2012 - he had a 19.91 this season coming into London Olys, which was run in cold/rainy conditions into a slight headwind just 2 weeks before Olys.

[zidan]

Still not completely sold on that 19.26, but i guess it is what it is. This 19.54 looks a lot faster than Dix's 19.53 last year, but there you go, i keep saying that Track and Field is a funny old sport.

[Per Andersen]

That 19.26 is a bit difficult to comprehend but he must have hit his sweet spot in that race given the shape he was in then. 10.12 through the "turn" and then the last 100 in 9.14, fastest ever!

The 19.54 this time, and in lane 7 (same as last year) could have been a result of one race too many. He simply ran out of steam. In top shape I doubt he would be that ragged in the last 50. He clearly knew himself there was no chance at that point.

Would be interesting to see the time for his first 100.

[Tuariki]

great run by Blake. perhaps he pushed a little too hard on the turn to go faster. but, come on, 19.54 is fantastic.

one big question mark on the race: what is going on with Christophe Lemaitre??? he should be getting down into 19.60s - 70s territory. he's got the talent. he seems to be having a mediocre season by his standards.

still think he needs more work in the weight room - and possibly a new coach and environment. I believe it was a mistake to not have run the 100 in London.

What are his standards?

Seems to me like he is right there at his current standards.

Lemaitre stats:

100 - 9.92
200 - 19.80
2011 World Championships Bronze in 200; 4th in 100
Double European Champ over 100
2010 European Champ over 200 (did not run the 200 at this year's Euros)
2012 - he had a 19.91 this season coming into London Olys, which was run in cold/rainy conditions into a slight headwind just 2 weeks before Olys.

Lemaitre should go live and train in Jamaica for a while. Look what going to Portland did for Farah.

[toyracer]

The 19.54 this time, and in lane 7 (same as last year) could have been a result of one race too many. He simply ran out of steam. In top shape I doubt he would be that ragged in the last 50. He clearly knew himself there was no chance at that point.

I think he simply tried to hard to run a good curve. He wasn't relaxed before the race started and it showed during the race itself. He lost sight of how he runs a fast 200m. Lactic acid doesn't care about intentions.

[Jasontonice]

great run by Blake. perhaps he pushed a little too hard on the turn to go faster. but, come on, 19.54 is fantastic.

one big question mark on the race: what is going on with Christophe Lemaitre??? he should be getting down into 19.60s - 70s territory. he's got the talent. he seems to be having a mediocre season by his standards.

still think he needs more work in the weight room - and possibly a new coach and environment. I believe it was a mistake to not have run the 100 in London.

What are his standards?

Seems to me like he is right there at his current standards.

Lemaitre stats:

100 - 9.92
200 - 19.80
2011 World Championships Bronze in 200; 4th in 100
Double European Champ over 100
2010 European Champ over 200 (did not run the 200 at this year's Euros)
2012 - he had a 19.91 this season coming into London Olys, which was run in cold/rainy conditions into a slight headwind just 2 weeks before Olys.

Lemaitre should go live and train in Jamaica for a while. Look what going to Portland did for Farah.

I doubt he will, last year he trained in florida for 2 weeks and found the training to difficult to handle, he says he won't ever do that again. The reason he's regressing has to do with his mentality, he's not willing to step out of his comfort zone. What a way to waste such great potential.

[k3ck3c]

I am afraid his coach is not "good enough". Apart from having the luck of finding a gifted guy named Lemaitre, how many champions has he helped to grow ?

None I am afraid.

Lemaitre needs a complete change in his behavior. For example, stop eating junk food.
And yes, train hard. Does he know the motto of the kenyan runners "train hard, win easy" ?
His start is as bad as 2 years ago. He has not improved at all this year, which is strange for a young /fast improving athlete.

Yes he definitely needs to get out of his comfort zone.

[doctor sprint]

Brussels simply confirms just how dominant Jamaica is at the moment of the USA - and of course every other country.

And with a mere 3 million citizens. Just to consider the possibilities and for the record Haiti has almost 10 million.

The Reason why Haiti have no sprinters, it's because they are part of Francophonie generally the francos's counrties don't care about sprint .....un less one of their athlete leave the country and trains somewhere else...for ex: Bruny Surin a sub-10 guy born in Haiti but grown up in canada ....or Africans like Gary Kikaya from R.D Congo with is 44.10 in 400m he is the fastest non American-Caribbean ever and his talents exploded because he was in America!!!! or recently Muriel Ahoure from Ivory Coast she discovered her sprint talented thanks to Americain college!!!

( don't tell that a Caribbean country with 10 mil black people have no one with sub-10 potential or a great countries like RD CONGO or IVORY COAST have no people that can run faster than Kikaya or Ahoure )

The point is that Francophonie Countries with bantu people doesn't wanna step up to develop a valid the track&field program !!!!

( Bantu people= is black people from west coast to south africa just read the africain story)