Luciano Susanj 1974

[Gebrucilassie]

I was looking at the video from the 1974 800 meter race in Rome (I believe) where Luciano Susanj ran 1:44.07 and was shocked by his excelleration i the last 200 meters and the distance he put on the field. Does anyone know where I might find splits for the race? I can't get an accurate idea from the video, but it appears to. have been in the 25 second range.

It was alos interesting to see a very young Steve Ovett kick to 2nd place well back of Susanj

[trevorp]

Thanks for posting and prompting me to seek it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU9Gqhoqno4

I enjoyed that: it was an astonishing turn of speed, wasn't it?

[portsea57]

Well, Deanouk going to give you all the facts and figures on that race.
Ovett, of course, was very impressed by Susanj, even though he says he was trapped when Susanj went and that otherwise he, Ovett, would have made more of a race of it;
indeed Steve went on to use that break from 200m in a number of his famous races.

[deanouk]

I'd say it's somewhere between 25.8 and 26.0.
This is what I wrote on another (shortened) version of the same race on Youtube.

"Although it looks fast, it's due to the rest of the field slowing dramatically. It's probably about 26.0. I had a look at Foster's 5000m win at the same meet on same track & he covered the part of the track from the 200m line to the join on the inside between grass & synthetic in 2.6 secs. In this race Susanj is seen at this point in 1:20.3. I'd say he was moving faster than Foster & covered it in c.2.3. That means he'd have hit 200m to go in 1:18.0, giving him about 26.0 for last 200."

On further delving I then wrote:-

"Just read an account of the race from Athletics Weekly, which had Fiasconaro going through 600m in 77.6, with Susanj 5th about 5m behind. That's about 0.6-0.7 in time. So his 600m time would have been about 1:18.2/1:18.3, and a final 200m of 25.8/25.9."

Hope that helps.
Cheers.

[catson52]

Certainly looked like a great run and must be one of the biggest margins of victory in a Championship 800/880 race. I looked again at the Montreal (76) 800 final and concentrated on where Susanj was in it. Juantorena's fantastic front running did everyone in, the only beneficiary being Van Damme, who held back somewhat. Singh could have placed one or two spots higher, if he had not made a wild dash to the front at 350-400 m.

[Gebrucilassie]

I'd say it's somewhere between 25.8 and 26.0.
This is what I wrote on another (shortened) version of the same race on Youtube.

"Although it looks fast, it's due to the rest of the field slowing dramatically. It's probably about 26.0. I had a look at Foster's 5000m win at the same meet on same track & he covered the part of the track from the 200m line to the join on the inside between grass & synthetic in 2.6 secs. In this race Susanj is seen at this point in 1:20.3. I'd say he was moving faster than Foster & covered it in c.2.3. That means he'd have hit 200m to go in 1:18.0, giving him about 26.0 for last 200."

On further delving I then wrote:-

"Just read an account of the race from Athletics Weekly, which had Fiasconaro going through 600m in 77.6, with Susanj 5th about 5m behind. That's about 0.6-0.7 in time. So his 600m time would have been about 1:18.2/1:18.3, and a final 200m of 25.8/25.9."

Hope that helps.
Cheers.

Thank you Deanouk! That race must have been considered un-worldly for the time it is run! Based off the video, he would at the very least still be competative in many races today 38 years later!
I had heard of Susanj but didn't really know much about him. I tried looking for a bio on the iaaf website but was unsuccessful finding any. Besides results for Montreal I have not found any. Can you shed some light on his career?

[Jacksf]

WOW - I've never seen anything like that before! Very impressive.
Here is some information about him and his career. Seems he sort of gave up the sport after this race....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luciano_Sušanj

[tandfman]

Seems he sort of gave up the sport after this race....

He's currently the President of the Croation t&f federation.

[Gebrucilassie]

I have to admit I should have thought of wikipedia but I didn't. I just wish I could interest the young guys I work with to check out these great runners from the past!

[deanouk]

This is a short summary of what happened to Susanj's career, courtesy of a friend's comment on Youtube: -

"Luciano Sušanj was a Croation/Yugoslavian 400m runner who stepped up to 800m in the early 70's,taking his one lap speed into the longer distance with astonishing results...this was one of the greatest 800 finishes ever (WR holder Fiasconaro was in the final).After this he sadly didn't have time to train properly (he was in the army) and instead of giving Juantorena a run for his money in the 76 Olympics 800 final he only came in 6th.He retired afterwards and I think later became a Croatian MP."

This is about the extent of my knowledge on him.

[oldtimer2]

Thanks for this info on Susanj and prompting me to watch this race. What a talent. Too bad he didn't continue.