Wallace Spearmon to move up to the 400?

[enpsalmx]

According to the IAAF web site, Spearmon is 50 years old, born in 1962. That's bad news for his 400m prospects, or any other distance.

http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/united-sta ... e-spearmon

They are confused with his father whom ran in the early 80's.

[Gabriella]

The USA has had a few lean years of late in this event, so maybe Spearmon can inject some life into this event from a US perspective. However, I do agree that this is generally a young mans event (Michael Johnson aside) and Wallace may find he is a wee bit too late in moving up.

On the subject of him being a great finisher in the 200m, don't be fooled into thinking there is a direct correlation between 200m finishing speed and the 400m. See Marita Koch, often closed at the end of a 200m by other 100/200 sprinters, such as Ottey and Ashford, despite being amazing at 400m. The events are run at different maximum speeds over different distances.

I remember seeing Wallace run in the 4x400 indoors in the UK and before his leg I was thinking "this is it, he's going to blast a wicked leg" and in fact he was mediocre. If he doesn't overcome his mental block as others have pointed out, he will have trouble in this event. But as the great Jarmila Kratochvilova said, "it hurts whether you run a 49 or a 51" so my advice to Wallace would be; dont be a pussy, just go for it

[Gleason]

He's been 'threatening' this for a while (esp. last Sept after the OG). It's not a ceding of the 200 to the Jams as much as it is a realization of the situation and that the coast is clearer at 400, where his speed endurance pays better dividends (to mix metaphors). If the training goes well, I easily see him Top 3 in the USA, since we seem to be in the doldrums lately. Low-44 for sure. Sub-44? That's a wholenuther zip code.

I agree. If he runs the 400 in Spring meets and does well, why not enter there at USATF with the 200 as a backup if he fails to make the 400 final? If he makes the 400 final, but fails to make the top three there, I assume that he'll be invited to many European meets for the balance of the 2013 season.