Michael Rimmers 800m Bizare Win

seanmacc

800m indoors in Birmingham yesterday. Look at the finish.

He deserved the win but was very lucky.

Clearlier

He didn't deserve the win. I cannot believe that he was not disqualified.

notsofast

I'd be a bit disappointed with the judges if I was KAki alright. Rimmer's explanation afterwards was that he was running faster and ran into the back of him. Eh, could have gone around?

ecoli

Have to agree bad positioning on Rimmers part. I think given his recent injuries history he probably didn't expect to have to fitness to pass the guys in the kick.

IMO should have been a DQ

Itziger

I saw that live on the box; can't believe he kept the race.

davegrohl48

His first hand movement I wouldn't be happy with. Also in athletics it's tough cheese if you are in a bad position. If you want to overtake you have to move out a lane, you can't come up between runners if there is no room. I agree, no way he should have kept that race.

dna_leri

I wonder if that was a call for the home team?

He barged through a gap that did not exist, clipped Kaki's heel, then helped him on his way with his hand. In soccer it would have been a penalty.

ThisRegard

Presumably the guy in the yellow that pulled out half way through the race was a pace maker ? What's the point of having one in such a short race like this ?

YFlyer

To draft the others.

ThisRegard

I don't get you, to allow the others to draft him ? I understand what a pacemaker does, but why the need for one in a 800 metre race ? Ok, this brings up a whole argument of why the need for a pacemaker in any race at all but as I tend not to watch the shorter track events so I'm not familiar if there's one in most 800 metre races.

YFlyer

The pacemaker can make it easier for the other athletes to run a faster time.

ecoli

ThisRegard wrote: »

I don't get you, to allow the others to draft him ? I understand what a pacemaker does, but why the need for one in a 800 metre race ? Ok, this brings up a whole argument of why the need for a pacemaker in any race at all but as I tend not to watch the shorter track events so I'm not familiar if there's one in most 800 metre races.

These days the majority of 800m races are paced. Rudisha actually trains with one of the the lads who was pacer for many of his races especially on the diamond league. This is why many people consider Rudisha's Solo WR to be such an achievement in the Olympics because following a rabbit means that you expend less energy both physically and mentally worrying about splits because the onus is on the pace maker

The pacer at the weekend Matt Scherer has established himself in the US and European circuit last year as on of the top pace makers

ThisRegard

YFlyer wrote: »

The pacemaker can make it easier for the other athletes to run a faster time.

ecoli makes the point I was getting at. I'd be more impressed with a fast time without a pacemaker than I would with one.

ecoli wrote: »

This is why many people consider Rudisha's Solo WR to be such an achievement in the Olympics because following a rabbit means that you expend less energy both physically and mentally worrying about splits because the onus is on the pace maker

So for what reason have they gone with the majority being paced ?

YFlyer

Totally agree. I'm more impressed with fast time from an athlete without a pacemaker as well.

ecoli

ThisRegard wrote: »

ecoli makes the point I was getting at. I'd be more impressed with a fast time without a pacemaker than I would with one.




So for what reason have they gone with the majority being paced ?

Most of the time it is the race organisers choice rather than the athlete for the simple fact that GP races are all about times. The RDs can publicize record attempts as opposed to tactical sit and kick races.