Why does Gerry Kiernan want ever runner to move up?

NickDrake

Why is this the case?

Every time we have a decent young Irish runner on the scene, Gerry states that "they should move up".

Why is the ALWAYS the case.

He stated it again tonight on RTE with young Mark English.

Why can't Mark be a future 800m runner, why does he HAVE TO move up the 1500m/3k??

If a runner was doing a marathon he would want them to move up to ultra running or something.

Is it knowledge or just someone with a chip on their shoulder?

TrackFan123

He is an eejit. Mark is a tremendous talent over 800m and has barely ran over 1500, he ran the distance at the U20 AAAs last year and didn't run well at all to be honest so I don't know where he is getting this from. It is clear to me Mark's main strength is his speed and kick, not his strength (though he is clearly a strong runner as well)

I really enjoy watching this lad race, as he makes it look so easy when he pulls away from the field. Everyone else is straining, technique going to bits and limbs are all over the place! But Mark looks as though he is still running the opening 200! Lets see what he can do over the next few years over 800 before saying he should move up. In older athletes who have plateu'd it may be the case to suggest moving up, but not for our most talented 800m runner for some time!

fiddy3

I'd say it's because he thinks, with some solid reasoning, that a medal would be easier to come by at a championship if a speedy runner moves up1. Most 1500 championship races these days are a slow 1st 800 then a 51/52 last lap, a former 800m runner would stand a better medal chance there than in the 800, like the way Kamel, an 800m runner primarily, won gold in berlin 500 off a slow pace but was only 3rd in the 800. Likewise, most 5k championship races run more like a 3k, so that is maybe the reasoning for 1500m runners moving up. Saying Gillick, who is in the very top tier of 400m runners, to move up to 800 is another story though, that's just retarded.

NickDrake

but he says the same thing for every good Irish runner.

Gilick, Hession, Chamney, Reale, Big red .

It is getting pretty tiresome at this stage.

What would he say if someone moved down??

TrackFan123

Big red dies a death in the 800! Wouldn't like to see him run 1500m seriously thats for sure

thirstywork2

Is he the Eamonn Dunphy of athletics?
Sometimes I see where he is coming from but Mark English is only young
and should keep trying to develop his speed and kick.

Big Red(love that nickname btw) should have moved backdown to 400m two years ago.
Hession never going to be a 400m runner !!!
Gillick I would have loved to see move up but when you are that good at 400m why would you risk it?
He trains Joe Sweeney now who recently ran 30k at 2.12 marathon pace so its only a matter of time before he moves up.

10 Toe Runner

I thought that was a strange comment about Mark English last night alright....but I was too entranced by Gerry's hair to think about it too long.

I'd love to give him a hair cut....but to be fair, I'd never be able to catch him!

wgtomblin

10 Toe Runner wrote: »

I thought that was a strange comment about Mark English last night alright....but I was too entranced by Gerry's hair to think about it too long.

I'd love to give him a hair cut....but to be fair, I'd never be able to catch him!

Good old Gerry. 'Business at the front..... Party at the back'.

To echo a previous poster, he could be regarded as the Dunphy of RTE Athletics punditry. A refreshing alternative to the fawning pundits spewing the usual bland platitudes over on the BBC.

shels4ever

I wouldnt be his biggest fan but to be fair he was a distance runner so would always rather see people running distance, it's a natural thing. For a bit of balance it would be nice to have some former sprinter/400m or 800m guy there.

wgtomblin

shels4ever wrote: »

For a bit of balance it would be nice to have some former sprinter/400m or 800m guy there.

Yep. They should have that "dilettante" James Nolan in beside Gerry for a bit of balance!

tommytrackman

could have sworn he said "eventually" he will move up and not "should" move up.

don't see anything wrong with it. he will move up... eventually

TrackFan123

How do you know? 800 looks perfect for him at the moment. I just don't see why he would even mention it. Someone like McBrearty who doesnt have as strong a kick as Mark might, but at the moment English looks unreal over the distance.

myflipflops

Probably a mix of two things:

I believe he has an idea that you need an abnormal amount of basic speed for the event you do e.g. he doesn't believe Gillick has the 200 speed for 400 but has the 400 speed for 800. Same thought with Chamney - not quick enough over 400 for a half miler but potentially has the speed if he moves up.

The other thing is that Kiernan likes to say controversial/funny things on TV.

TrackFan123 wrote: »

He is an eejit.!

Says some strange things ("just go like the clappers Bill") but actually a very astute judge of athletes. He is becoming (or already is) a great coach.

NickDrake

Stated today "Mullhare HAS no move up".

Again he says it. Does he have to say it about EVERY SINGLE Irish athlete. For god sake!

Pisco Sour

NickDrake wrote: »

Stated today "Mullhare HAS no move up".

Again he says it. Does he have to say it about EVERY SINGLE Irish athlete. For god sake!

Next he will be suggesting Derval moves up to 400m Hurdles :rolleyes:

Does anybody happen to have James Nolan's outburst at Jerry during the Athens Olympcs on video by any chance? One of the funniest things I've ever seen on live TV and would love to see it again.

myflipflops

NickDrake wrote: »

Stated today "Mullhare HAS no move up".

Again he says it. Does he have to say it about EVERY SINGLE Irish athlete. For god sake!

Did Dan get outkicked over the last lap? I don't have coverage.

If so, it's just him being consistant. Again, he believes people have to have X amount of speed to compete and if you are lacking that, you should move up to negate your relative lack of speed.

I heard that he once told an 800 guy capable of running 50 seconds for 400 that he has the speed to be a 10k runner.