Read It in The News - World Championships

[Exile]

Geoff - I agree that it would be a big gamble for Andy. As well as the competitiveness aspect of 400h in the uk, there's the toll on his body that training for 400 might take. I do know he's a good 400m runner though and he could probably run 47 on the flat tomorrow if he paced himself properly. At a lower level, I've often found that athletes who move up from sprint to long hurdles can find an improvement over the 110s, or at least not much of a drop off. I wonder whether he could move up and still be in shape to at least qualify for the team over the short hurdles if it doesn't work out? That would reduce the gamble. Can anyone think of any athletes at the top level who could run A standards for both events in the same season?

[sidelined]

Dai Greene responded:

@andyturner110h nah mate, I like you, I don't want to feel sorry for you every time I beat you. Stick to what your good at

[Geoff]

Can anyone think of any athletes at the top level who could run A standards for both events in the same season?

Off the top of my head David Hemery, Alan Pascoe, John Ridgeon and Paul Gray of our British athletes spring to mind. Did Ridgeon go sub 49 in his first season? Not many of the current world ranked 400 hurdlers appear to have done much at 110h with 13.7/8 being about the best. Andre Phillips ran 13.25 before turning to the long hurdles.

Pretty difficult to do both at world level so imagine he's have to make his mind up one way or the other but possible to change direction mid-winter?

[Kermit]

Sally Gunnell!

I don't think Andy would do any harm in experimenting in the early part of the season as he already has the "A" standard for London, although I think he would be better served running more 100m and putting pressure on those thinking of a relay spot.

[Kermit]

Here is an interesting look at the false start rule - short but sweet!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/se ... tion-korea

[boysen]

From a marketing viewpoint a "guaranteed" final with all the big names running is a good selling point. As to timing how many Eurosport Track meets have been delayed for golf, tennis, footie, whatever over the years?

[3a]

Can anyone think of any athletes at the top level who could run A standards for both events in the same season?

Off the top of my head David Hemery, Alan Pascoe, John Ridgeon and Paul Gray of our British athletes spring to mind. Did Ridgeon go sub 49 in his first season? Not many of the current world ranked 400 hurdlers appear to have done much at 110h with 13.7/8 being about the best. Andre Phillips ran 13.25 before turning to the long hurdles.

Pretty difficult to do both at world level so imagine he's have to make his mind up one way or the other but possible to change direction mid-winter?

I can think of at least a dozen women.

Queen Harrison 12'6 and 54.5 last year

Joanna Hayes, 54.57 & 12.89 in the same season (1999), competed at Worlds in the 4h twice before concentrating on the 110m hurdles culminating in an Olympic title.

Lashinda Demus did 12'97 this year and her 52.4

Nickeisha Wilson 12'79 & 54'8 in 2009 (has a 53.8 best at 4h)

Tasha Danvers 12'96 & 54.02 in 2003

For the men, the only one who comes to mind is Clement who ran 13'7 and 48.5 in 2004 as a teenager.

[3a]

Allen Johnson had an excellent 400m pr and even ran the heat of the 4x4 in 1997. I always wondered why he never finished his career at 400m hurdles, since he had the speed and the technique.

[Kermit]

A major Biomechanics Research Project has been taking place during the IAAF World Championships, Daegu 2011 (27 Aug to 4 Sep) in Daegu Stadium.

http://daegu2011.iaaf.org/newslistdetail.aspx?id=62223

[paps83]

Women can get away with sprinting more or less normally inthe sprint hurdles while men don't enjoy such a luxury. That said, Devers struggled sometimes. The men's sprint hurdles are so close that running the event involves a severe modification on usual sprint technique in order to fit in 3 strides and as a result I think a male 400h /110h double at a high level is extremely unlikely.

For lower level guys it's fine because they can sprint normally without getting on top of the hurdles, but the guys running truly world class times are severely chopping their strides- watch a slowmo and see how low their heel recovery is. Such a running style would be inefficient over 400 metres and switching from one mode of sprinting to another would be extremely tough.

Given his relatively modest height, Andy might find it more manageable than many others though.