Melainie Walker contemplating 100m hurdles

[liz 21]

"Yes, I plan to do a couple 100m hurdle races on the circuit one or two times this year (to see) if I am prepared and competing at a level where I can be there," she said.

"I would have to think about what is more beneficial or which one (event) will bring more glory. We have to be realistic, so if I know that my best may get me eighth place (in the 100m hurdles) and knowing my level of performance (in the 400m hurdles) means I'm in contention of winning or getting a medal, I would have to decide at that point which it is that I want," said Walker.

Get the whole article at http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2013 ... orts1.html
wishing her all the best

[Marlow]

"I would have to think about what is more beneficial or which one (event) will bring more glory. We have to be realistic . . .

??!!

Does she really see herself consistently under 12.50?
She always has a shot to win in the 400H, but I see no way of her beating
12.35 Sally Pearson
12.37 Dawn Harper

[Jon]

Does she really see herself consistently under 12.50?
She always has a shot to win in the 400H, but I see no way of her beating
12.35 Sally Pearson
12.37 Dawn Harper

People would have probably said the same about Joanna Hayes. Before 2004 she was an 8.10/12.67/54.57 athlete, specialising in the 400H. Melaine Walker is an 8.05/12.75/52.42 athlete (her 100H best dates back to 2006 when she was a 54.87 400H'er). I'm not saying she's the next 12.3 athlete, but it wouldn't surprise me if she gets down to 12.5, which should put her in the hunt for medals. If she's lacking a bit of desire/motivation for the 400H, then a change could be just what she needs.

[Marlow]

Melaine Walker is an 8.05/12.75/52.42 athlete (her 100H best dates back to 2006 when she was a 54.87 400H'er). I'm not saying she's the next 12.3 athlete, but it wouldn't surprise me if she gets down to 12.5, which should put her in the hunt for medals.

At age 30, switching to an event that esteems pure speed over strength, I'm just not seeing it. If she runs sub-12.50 it will be an ultra-herculean achievement. Good luck to her.

[mump boy]

Who knew she started at 100h ? she's the worst hurdler i've ever seen

http://cdn1.siol.net/sn/img/08/233/6335 ... 21aexa.jpg

When you start out at the sprint hurdles i expect this

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/5 ... ll1992.jpg

[liz 21]

"Who knew she started at 100h ? she's the worst hurdler i've ever seen"

Like seriously she has a pb of 12.75...she's also very good at 100m and 200m. How many athletes has that resume'.

[Marlow]

When you start out at the sprint hurdles i expect this
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/5 ... ll1992.jpg

I see issues there. Here's your model:
https://iaafmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/medi ... 338e14.jpg

[Flumpy]

Has Sally Pearson taken up the 400m hurdles recently???

[Marlow]

Has Sally Pearson taken up the 400m hurdles recently???

No, she's he one with impeccable form.

[Jon]

Melaine Walker is an 8.05/12.75/52.42 athlete (her 100H best dates back to 2006 when she was a 54.87 400H'er). I'm not saying she's the next 12.3 athlete, but it wouldn't surprise me if she gets down to 12.5, which should put her in the hunt for medals.

At age 30, switching to an event that esteems pure speed over strength, I'm just not seeing it. If she runs sub-12.50 it will be an ultra-herculean achievement. Good luck to her.

Hayes wasn't far off 30 when she made the switch.

[mump boy]

I don't understand the reference to Sally Pearson !!

I was comparing 400m hurdlers. It's obvious easier to have great form over 100mh than on the home stretch of the 400mh but that is no excuse for Melaine's horrible form

[ATK]

Melaine Walker is an 8.05/12.75/52.42 athlete (her 100H best dates back to 2006 when she was a 54.87 400H'er). I'm not saying she's the next 12.3 athlete, but it wouldn't surprise me if she gets down to 12.5, which should put her in the hunt for medals.

At age 30, switching to an event that esteems pure speed over strength, I'm just not seeing it. If she runs sub-12.50 it will be an ultra-herculean achievement. Good luck to her.

Hayes wasn't far off 30 when she made the switch.

Pretty significant difference between 27 and 30. Especially considering when she was 30 is when she started going down hill...

[Flumpy]

Has Sally Pearson taken up the 400m hurdles recently???

No, she's he one with impeccable form.

Sally Gunnell started out as 100mh and it was this technique that she took with her the the 400h. She had flawless hurdling technique over the longer event which was probably due to her earlier career.

Sally Pearson doesn't do the 400h???

[eldanielfire]

Who knew she started at 100h ? she's the worst hurdler i've ever seen

http://cdn1.siol.net/sn/img/08/233/6335 ... 21aexa.jpg

When you start out at the sprint hurdles i expect this

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/5 ... ll1992.jpg

[Speedster]

Has Sally Pearson taken up the 400m hurdles recently???

No, she's he one with impeccable form.

Sally Gunnell started out as 100mh and it was this technique that she took with her the the 400h. She had flawless hurdling technique over the longer event which was probably due to her earlier career.

Sally Pearson doesn't do the 400h???

Sally ran it once in Australia, 60+ seconds I think and said she'd never run it again!

[DentyCracker]

As a teen up to under 17 level she had the beating of VCB. At 15 she ran 23.51 to be 5th at world juniors. Speed is speed. Her coach has trained a World championships 100h winner and medallist in the past. He should be able to hone her technique

[mal]

If you are going to finish in the pack, then I'd rather do it after 100 m than 400 m.

If you are managing your careeer and income, I am sure there a few extra things you can squeeze in, that you couldn't with the longer distances.

Maybe her goal is to improve her form and pick her races, while rebuilding some speed?

[Vault-emort]

Sally ran it once in Australia, 60+ seconds I think and said she'd never run it again!

Sal's 'long distance' PBs:
200H 26.96 (2009)
400H 62.98 (2007)
300m 38.34 (2009)
400m 53.86 (2011) & 52.5 relay split (2010)

[dtrainer]

Has anyone recognized that the picture rof Melaine's horrendous hurdling technique is most likely a result of her using an alternate lead leg while finishing race in a high state of fatigue. This is done by many 400ih in order to keep from chopping their strides and in most cases is not indicative to what their technique is used while competing in the shorter hurdle races. Ive coached a 50 sec male 400ih whos natural stride pattern had him at 14 steps and his non dominant lead leg was definitely not anything to write home about but in going from 15 to 14 steps in between he was able to pr by almost 2 seconds in a year. His technique the over the highs was very solid. We simply cannot base this young ladies 100mhh potential by looking at this picture.

[mump boy]

Has anyone recognized that the picture rof Melaine's horrendous hurdling technique is most likely a result of her using an alternate lead leg while finishing race in a high state of fatigue. This is done by many 400ih in order to keep from chopping their strides and in most cases is not indicative to what their technique is used while competing in the shorter hurdle races. Ive coached a 50 sec male 400ih whos natural stride pattern had him at 14 steps and his non dominant lead leg was definitely not anything to write home about but in going from 15 to 14 steps in between he was able to pr by almost 2 seconds in a year. His technique the over the highs was very solid. We simply cannot base this young ladies 100mhh potential by looking at this picture.

Of course we recognise that, my point wasn't that she couldn't hurdle over 100mh but that usually someone with a sprint hurdles background should have better technique over 400mh no matter which leg they are using

In the history of women's 400mh there have been very few who have been technically competent and many have been technically incompetent, mainly because the hight of the hurdles does nothing to encourage proficiency.