Fantasy 600m

[John G]

I've always wondered why we don't see more outdoor 600s. I'd have thought the distance was perfect for an early season race for 400 specialists or a pre-Champs sharpener for the 800 guys. Pitting the big names over 400 and 800 against each other also has an attraction for meet promoters.

Anyway, I'd be interested in views on:

1) If the past greats at both 4 and 8 had run it ergularly, who woudl now be the WR holder, and
2) In a fantasy race, with no rabbit and a break from lanes at 120m, who would have won?

Some candidates:
Fiasconaro
Juantorena
Schmid
Billy Konchellah
Gray
Tellez
Mark Everett
Borzakowskiy
Rudisha

I'm assuming Reynolds and Johnson would have tied up horribly after 500m and Coe and Kipketer would have finished fast but would have had to go 'the long way round' having lost too much ground in the first 200.

I'd go for:
1) Rudisha in a time trial.
2) Juantorena in a race.

[4:24-miler]

Never mind.

[John G]

I think I just saw tumble weed blowing across my computer screen.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .



I'll get my coat.

[Rog]

I think I just saw tumble weed blowing across my computer screen.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .



I'll get my coat.

It's not that, it's just that you've summed up the situation pretty well already... it's hard to know who would be fastest, but Rudisha has a fast 400, which probably doesn't fully reflect his capability at the event, and you have to figure that as 800 record holder he could run a pretty fast 600. The biggest threat could be Michael Johnson, as I know he ran over 400 in training and he was very well conditioned. I think Johnny Gray ran 72 for a 600, but I would think these two could be quicker than that.

Who do you think would be the fastest female? With Kratochvilova's 47.99/1:53.28 ability, I'd say she would be hard to beat....

[John G]

Thanks, Rog!

Gray ran 72.8, which is pretty amazing. I think that if you used the IAAF scoring charts they'd suggest that the present WRs for 4 and 8 are equivalent to a 600 of around 71.5.

I agree Jarmila would have been untouchable!

[Peter Michaelson]

Gotta have a lane for Martin McGrady.
Butch Reynolds could surprise on the upside. With a 400 best second only to Michael Johnson, Butch had a 200 best of only about 20.4 or so. I would expect him to do well in a 600 meter race, since he had the world best at the 600 yards (1:06.87) on an oversized track.

[KDFINE]

Does McGrady have an outdoor 600 on record?

[John G]

Does McGrady have an outdoor 600 on record?

74.9, Melbourne 1970.

[bambam]

I think your choice of Juantorena is a good one.

[user4]

The 600 is a great race, should be added to the IAAF champs and the olympics...

Guys that would do well against any crop:

Arthur Wint, Mal Whitfield, Tom Courtney

[Rog]

Might be a good event for Ed Moses - you'd figure he would have a bit more stamina than your average one lap specialist....

[Per Andersen]

The 600 is a great race, should be added to the IAAF champs and the olympics...

Guys that would do well against any crop:

Arthur Wint, Mal Whitfield, Tom Courtney

No need to stop there.
John Woodruff and Rudolf Harbig were "made" for that distance.

[John G]

Amongst the current crop of 400 runners I suspect that perennial underachiever Martin Rooney would be well suited.

[Rog]

Amongst the current crop of 400 runners I suspect that perennial underachiever Martin Rooney would be well suited.

No, I would think he would just find a way to underachieve at 600 as well

[dj]

The 600 is a great race, should be added to the IAAF champs and the olympics...

Guys that would do well against any crop:

Arthur Wint, Mal Whitfield, Tom Courtney

No need to stop there.
John Woodruff and Rudolf Harbig were "made" for that distance.

Woodruff on an outdoor track only. And if we're going back in time, add Ben Eastman, Bevil Rudd and Ted Meredith, all of whom showed greatness in both the 400 and 800.

[user4]

The 600 is a great race, should be added to the IAAF champs and the olympics...

Guys that would do well against any crop:

Arthur Wint, Mal Whitfield, Tom Courtney

No need to stop there.
John Woodruff and Rudolf Harbig were "made" for that distance.

Woodruff on an outdoor track only. And if we're going back in time, add Ben Eastman, Bevil Rudd and Ted Meredith, all of whom showed greatness in both the 400 and 800.

Great point on Ben Eastman, would he be called Ben "The Beast" Eastman today ? Have to wonder what Bill Carr was capable of, though he does seem more of a pure 400m guy, his size was right for the indoor oval.

[dj]

The 600 is a great race, should be added to the IAAF champs and the olympics...

Guys that would do well against any crop:

Arthur Wint, Mal Whitfield, Tom Courtney

No need to stop there.
John Woodruff and Rudolf Harbig were "made" for that distance.

Woodruff on an outdoor track only. And if we're going back in time, add Ben Eastman, Bevil Rudd and Ted Meredith, all of whom showed greatness in both the 400 and 800.

Great point on Ben Eastman, would he be called Ben "The Beast" Eastman today ? Have to wonder what Bill Carr was capable of, though he does seem more of a pure 400m guy, his size was right for the indoor oval.

There's a lot more to the distance than size for an indoor oval. Carr was only 5-8, but he was stepping up in distance when he moved to the quarter in 1932.

[Grasshopper]

I'm surprised that no one has added Jeremy Wariner to the list, especially considering the number for people prognosticating his potential at 800m when he was at his peak.

[gh]

Gotta have a lane for Martin McGrady....

Only if running indoors. I'm pretty sure the largest part of his running genius was being built for tight board tracks.