With the 1500m and mile race distances becoming more and more "sprint"-centric, runners with a strong base in the 800m and 1000m events seem to have a leg up on the competition (one of the sole remaining American exceptions to this rule is Bernard Lagat, an American-record holder in the 5000m who also maintains a killer 1500m edge).
Every year, race commentators postulate (like vultures, I think) about which 800m runners are past their half-mile prime and how good they might be in longer races. A runner like David Rudisha of Kenya, only two years removed from a world record of 1:41.01, is already being floated as somebody who might challenge the pesky 14-year old 1500m record set by Morocco's best ever, Hicham El-Guerrouj, of 3:26.00--as if it was as simple as running two back-to-back, even split world record 800m legs.
And yet here we are, asking a profoundly exciting question: just how good can Andrew Wheating get in the 1500m? With runners like Lagat the lone internationally proven American in that distance, Russell Brown, Matt Centrowitz and Jordan McNamara all comprise a green-but-maturing field of specialists in this distance. It is Wheating, however, who might be crashing their party.
At 6-foot-5, Wheating is a remarkable runner--a refreshing mixture of finesse and power. His personal best in the 800m is a respectable 1:44.62--super-human for 99.999% of the population, but well off the pace set by a world-leader like Rudisha or even fellow American Nick Symmonds. Yet his 1500m time is already comfortably fast even by American standards--3:30.90--and has many thinking he may be American's best chance to medal in this event in London.
Check out his latest race--at the Harry Jerome Classic in Canada--where he seems almost effortless in securing an Olympic Trials "A" Standard.
Watch more video of 2012 NTL - Harry Jerome International Track Classic on flotrack.org
Some elite runners continually surprise fans with their adaptation to change. Andrew Wheating was a terrific 800m runner--one of the best Americans so far in the twenty-first century. But as he tackles the 1500m and mile disciplines, America has reason to be excited as a half-mile standout could become our next greatest Golden Boy.
Best of luck to Andrew and all of our 1500m runners as they gear up for the Olympic Trials. You can watch the 1500m Olympic Trials Semi-Finals on Friday, June 29th starting at 7:25 Eastern and the Finals on Sunday, July 1st at 7:37 PM online or in-person at storied Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Every year, race commentators postulate (like vultures, I think) about which 800m runners are past their half-mile prime and how good they might be in longer races. A runner like David Rudisha of Kenya, only two years removed from a world record of 1:41.01, is already being floated as somebody who might challenge the pesky 14-year old 1500m record set by Morocco's best ever, Hicham El-Guerrouj, of 3:26.00--as if it was as simple as running two back-to-back, even split world record 800m legs.
And yet here we are, asking a profoundly exciting question: just how good can Andrew Wheating get in the 1500m? With runners like Lagat the lone internationally proven American in that distance, Russell Brown, Matt Centrowitz and Jordan McNamara all comprise a green-but-maturing field of specialists in this distance. It is Wheating, however, who might be crashing their party.
At 6-foot-5, Wheating is a remarkable runner--a refreshing mixture of finesse and power. His personal best in the 800m is a respectable 1:44.62--super-human for 99.999% of the population, but well off the pace set by a world-leader like Rudisha or even fellow American Nick Symmonds. Yet his 1500m time is already comfortably fast even by American standards--3:30.90--and has many thinking he may be American's best chance to medal in this event in London.
Check out his latest race--at the Harry Jerome Classic in Canada--where he seems almost effortless in securing an Olympic Trials "A" Standard.
Watch more video of 2012 NTL - Harry Jerome International Track Classic on flotrack.org
Some elite runners continually surprise fans with their adaptation to change. Andrew Wheating was a terrific 800m runner--one of the best Americans so far in the twenty-first century. But as he tackles the 1500m and mile disciplines, America has reason to be excited as a half-mile standout could become our next greatest Golden Boy.
Best of luck to Andrew and all of our 1500m runners as they gear up for the Olympic Trials. You can watch the 1500m Olympic Trials Semi-Finals on Friday, June 29th starting at 7:25 Eastern and the Finals on Sunday, July 1st at 7:37 PM online or in-person at storied Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
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