RE:RUN San Diego 2013May 3, 2013 by Mitch Kastoff
RE:RUN Women's 800m Preview: Martinez Drops Down, Where Will Cain Place?
RE:RUN Women's 800m Preview: Martinez Drops Down, Where Will Cain Place?
It’s the first event of the night and probably the most difficult one to predict, so we’ll preview it first. The RE:RUN women’s 800m has two Olympians, two stars on the rise, and one special high schooler dropping down in distance.
Looking at the start list, we’re kind of at a loss. Usually, you can take a quick glance at the entries and see at least one or two favorites. With Alysia Montano scratching out, the race is wide open. Half of the field are 1500m specialists while the other half are primarily half milers. So who do we think has the best shot at winning $5,000?
It’s not any of the half milers.
We’re going with Brenda Martinez in this one. She may have been a 800/1500m athlete last year, but after talking to her following her B.A.A. Road Mile win, it looks like it’ll only be the 1500m this year (we think that’s a smart choice, too).
Even though she’s concentrating on the metric mile this season, it hasn’t hurt her top-end speed. So far this season, Martinez has the fastest 800m mark with her 2:00.6 split on Team USA’s 4x800 at The Penn Relays. If strength = speed needed argument needed any more talking points, well, there you go.
She also has the fourth best overall personal best (1:59.14), so it’s not stretch of the imagination that can can take the win.
Plus, it looks like she may be due for a new one. When she ran that time in Brussels last summer, she took eighth a week earlier in the Zurich 1500m in 4:08.84.
She’s coming off a 4:04.86 world-leading time (now second fastest to Jenny Simpson) from Mt. SAC and the second fastest split of anyone in the 4x800 at Penn Relays. Again, don’t be surprised if she breaks 1:59.14.
But RE:RUN is a small consolation of what she could have won at The Drake Relays. Martinez opted to run on Team USA’s versus the World 4x800, where her relay ran the American record of 8:04.31. While having your name in the record book is fine and dandy, she could have passed up running the rarely run event for a chance to win a cool $25,000 in the Drake Relays 1500m. Country over cash, I suppose.
Could New Balance runners win both big cash prizes this spring (for those that don’t know, Simpson crushed the field en route to winning a giant check)?
We say yes and even west coast expert Mike Mather agrees. We doubt that the race will be won faster than 1:59, so it could easily play right into Martinez’ hands.
But what about everyone else? There’s $15,000 per event on the line, so it’s not like taking second is something to be ashamed of.
Actually, it might be easier to first narrow it down to who won’t take second.
Sarah Brown is a solid mile/3k runner, but we don’t see her vying for the win (which begs the question of why she’s not in the mile). Her personal best of 2:02.25 is from 2010, but she hasn’t run faster than 2:05.72 in the last three years.
Then there’s the birthday girl (May 3rd), Mary Cain. I mean, what more can I say about her? Up against the top U.S. 1500m runners in the Drake Relays, Cain ran without a care in the world and held her own to take sixth in a new high school record of 4:10.77.
Cain’s PR of 2:03.34 from Loucks Games last year is looking pretty fragile right now, but even if she runs 2:01, she won’t be in contention for the win. If this was a mile, it would be a different story. More importantly, can Mary Cain set up a trust fund to keep her prize money earnings?
The last one we can rule out if Britain’s Lynsey Sharp. The Olympian didn’t look too hot at Mt. SAC where she faded over the latter stages of the race to take sixth in the 800m
This hasn’t been the easiest week for Sharp. On Tuesday, news broke that Russian 800m champion Yelena Arzhakova had tested positive for a doping offense and would serve a two year ban. Last summer, Sharp took second behind Arzhakova at the European Championships in Helsinki.
To make matters worse, Sharp won the bronze medal at the 2011 European under-23 Championships in the 800m. First place? Arzhakova.
The gold medal small consolation prize, but nothing can replace standing on the podium and hearing “God Save the Queen.”
That leaves us Geena Gall, Treniere Moser, Chanelle Price, and Phoebe Wright.
If we’re basing this off who’s hot right now, we’ll say that Wright takes second and Moser takes third. Wright looked solid on the leadoff leg for Team USA (2:01.8) and is always a solid contender. Moser, who hasn’t broken 2:00 since 2007, had a breakthrough race at Payton Jordan and could be poised for something big after splitting 60.84 for her last lap.
If we’re basing this off who's the best competitor, then Gall is the one that everyone should worry about in the last 100m. She didn’t look incredible on her 800m leg at Penn Relays, but second at the Trials isn’t something to be taken lightly. She didn't look great in the B.A.A. Road Mile either, but the 800m is her bread and butter.
Speaking of the Trials, where has Molly Beckwith (fourth at the Trials) and Maggie Vessey (eighth) been all season? Neither have run a race, indoors or out.
If we’re going to combine the two theories, we’ll say that Wright stays hot to take second and Gall nips Moser to take third. Price will be back in fourth followed by Sharp, Cain, and Brown.
Below are all of the yearly marks for all eight women in the RE:RUN San Diego 800m.
via tilastopaja.org.
Mary Cain - 2:03.34
Genna Gall - 1:59.24
Treniere Moser - 1:59.15
Chanelle Price - 2:00.15
Phoebe Wright - 1:58.22
Lynsey Sharp - 2:00.52
Brenda Martinez - 1:59.14
Sarah Brown - 2:02.25
Looking at the start list, we’re kind of at a loss. Usually, you can take a quick glance at the entries and see at least one or two favorites. With Alysia Montano scratching out, the race is wide open. Half of the field are 1500m specialists while the other half are primarily half milers. So who do we think has the best shot at winning $5,000?
It’s not any of the half milers.
We’re going with Brenda Martinez in this one. She may have been a 800/1500m athlete last year, but after talking to her following her B.A.A. Road Mile win, it looks like it’ll only be the 1500m this year (we think that’s a smart choice, too).
Even though she’s concentrating on the metric mile this season, it hasn’t hurt her top-end speed. So far this season, Martinez has the fastest 800m mark with her 2:00.6 split on Team USA’s 4x800 at The Penn Relays. If strength = speed needed argument needed any more talking points, well, there you go.
She also has the fourth best overall personal best (1:59.14), so it’s not stretch of the imagination that can can take the win.
Plus, it looks like she may be due for a new one. When she ran that time in Brussels last summer, she took eighth a week earlier in the Zurich 1500m in 4:08.84.
She’s coming off a 4:04.86 world-leading time (now second fastest to Jenny Simpson) from Mt. SAC and the second fastest split of anyone in the 4x800 at Penn Relays. Again, don’t be surprised if she breaks 1:59.14.
But RE:RUN is a small consolation of what she could have won at The Drake Relays. Martinez opted to run on Team USA’s versus the World 4x800, where her relay ran the American record of 8:04.31. While having your name in the record book is fine and dandy, she could have passed up running the rarely run event for a chance to win a cool $25,000 in the Drake Relays 1500m. Country over cash, I suppose.
Could New Balance runners win both big cash prizes this spring (for those that don’t know, Simpson crushed the field en route to winning a giant check)?
We say yes and even west coast expert Mike Mather agrees. We doubt that the race will be won faster than 1:59, so it could easily play right into Martinez’ hands.
But what about everyone else? There’s $15,000 per event on the line, so it’s not like taking second is something to be ashamed of.
Actually, it might be easier to first narrow it down to who won’t take second.
Sarah Brown is a solid mile/3k runner, but we don’t see her vying for the win (which begs the question of why she’s not in the mile). Her personal best of 2:02.25 is from 2010, but she hasn’t run faster than 2:05.72 in the last three years.
Then there’s the birthday girl (May 3rd), Mary Cain. I mean, what more can I say about her? Up against the top U.S. 1500m runners in the Drake Relays, Cain ran without a care in the world and held her own to take sixth in a new high school record of 4:10.77.
Cain’s PR of 2:03.34 from Loucks Games last year is looking pretty fragile right now, but even if she runs 2:01, she won’t be in contention for the win. If this was a mile, it would be a different story. More importantly, can Mary Cain set up a trust fund to keep her prize money earnings?
The last one we can rule out if Britain’s Lynsey Sharp. The Olympian didn’t look too hot at Mt. SAC where she faded over the latter stages of the race to take sixth in the 800m
This hasn’t been the easiest week for Sharp. On Tuesday, news broke that Russian 800m champion Yelena Arzhakova had tested positive for a doping offense and would serve a two year ban. Last summer, Sharp took second behind Arzhakova at the European Championships in Helsinki.
To make matters worse, Sharp won the bronze medal at the 2011 European under-23 Championships in the 800m. First place? Arzhakova.
The gold medal small consolation prize, but nothing can replace standing on the podium and hearing “God Save the Queen.”
Trying to be positive but at the same time its depressing how widespread doping still is in sport, how long it takes for people to get....
— Lynsey Sharp (@LynseySharp) April 30, 2013
That leaves us Geena Gall, Treniere Moser, Chanelle Price, and Phoebe Wright.
If we’re basing this off who’s hot right now, we’ll say that Wright takes second and Moser takes third. Wright looked solid on the leadoff leg for Team USA (2:01.8) and is always a solid contender. Moser, who hasn’t broken 2:00 since 2007, had a breakthrough race at Payton Jordan and could be poised for something big after splitting 60.84 for her last lap.
If we’re basing this off who's the best competitor, then Gall is the one that everyone should worry about in the last 100m. She didn’t look incredible on her 800m leg at Penn Relays, but second at the Trials isn’t something to be taken lightly. She didn't look great in the B.A.A. Road Mile either, but the 800m is her bread and butter.
Speaking of the Trials, where has Molly Beckwith (fourth at the Trials) and Maggie Vessey (eighth) been all season? Neither have run a race, indoors or out.
If we’re going to combine the two theories, we’ll say that Wright stays hot to take second and Gall nips Moser to take third. Price will be back in fourth followed by Sharp, Cain, and Brown.
Below are all of the yearly marks for all eight women in the RE:RUN San Diego 800m.
via tilastopaja.org.
Mary Cain - 2:03.34
| Distance | Time | Place | Meet | Date |
| Mile | 4:32.78i | 3 | New Balance | Jan 26 |
| 3000m | 9:02.10 OTi | 1 | Washington | Jan 12 |
| 2-Mile | 9:38.68i | 3 | BIG | Feb 2 |
| Mile | 4:28.25i | 2 | Millrose | Feb 16 |
| Mile | 5:05.68Ai | 1 | Nationals | Mar 3 |
| 1500m | 4:10.77 | 6 | Drake | Apr 26 |
Genna Gall - 1:59.24
| Distance | Time | Place | Meet | Date |
| 800m | 2:04.78i | 2 | Glasgow | Jan 26 |
| 800m | 2:03.33 OTi | 1 | Meyo | Feb 2 |
| Mile | 4:31.75 OTi | 1 | Husky | Feb 9 |
| Mile (road) | 5:06.10.0h | 6 | Boston | Apr 14 |
| 4x800 (split) | 2:02.7 | 3 | Penn | Apr 27 |
Treniere Moser - 1:59.15
| Distance | Time | Place | Meet | Date |
| 3000m | 9:03.54 OTi | 3 | Husky | Jan 12 |
| 800m | 2:05.19 OTi | 3 | Washington | Jan 26 |
| Mile | 4:39.40i | 2 | BIG | Feb 2 |
| 1500m | 4:14.05i | 5 | Birmingham | Feb 16 |
| 1500m | 4:12.09i | 4 | XL-Galan | Feb 21 |
| Mile | 5:06.55Ai | 2 | Nationals | Mar 3 |
| 1500m | 4:06.40 | 1 | Payton Jordan | Apr 28 |
Chanelle Price - 2:00.15
| Distance | Time | Place | Meet | Date |
| Mile | 4:47.33 OTi | 3 | Ky Inv | Jan 12 |
| 800m | 2:07.15i | 1 | VT Inv | Jan 18 |
| 800m | 2:04.12i | 3 | BIG | Feb 2 |
| 800m | 2:02.93Ai | 2 | Nationals | Mar 3 |
| 1500m | 4:20.29 | 2 | Raleigh | Mar 29 |
| 400m | 55.05 | 4 | Raleigh | Mar 29 |
| 800m | 2:02.81 | 1 | FL Relays | Apr 5 |
| 400m | 55.14 | 5 | Sea Ray | Apr 13 |
| 400m | 54.26 | 2 | Vandy Inv | Apr 20 |
Phoebe Wright - 1:58.22
| Distance | Time | Place | Meet | Date |
| Mile | 4:45.94 OTi | 2 | Ky Inv | Jan 12 |
| Mile (road) | 4:45.94 OTi | 3 | Hamilton | Jan 18 |
| 800m | 2:03.96i | 1 | BIG | Feb 2 |
| 4x800 (split) | 2:01.8 | 3 | Penn | Apr 27 |
Lynsey Sharp - 2:00.52
| Distance | Time | Place | Meet | Date |
| 800m | 2:05.23i | 4 | Glasgow | Jan 26 |
| 800m | 2:03.07i | 3 | Birmingham | Feb 16 |
| 800m | 2:02.63 | 6 | Mt. SAC | Apr 20 |
| 4x800 (split) | 2:02.8 | 4 | Penn | Apr 27 |
Brenda Martinez - 1:59.14
| Distance | Time | Place | Meet | Date |
| 2-Mile | 9:51.91i | 8 | BIG | Feb 2 |
| 5000m | 15:35.65 | 1 | Brown | Mar 9 |
| 1500m | 4:08.43 | 1 | Pasadena | Mar 23 |
| 5000m (road) | 15:44 | 5 | Carlsbad | Apr 7 |
| Mile (road) | 4:51.40h | 1 | Boston | Apr 14 |
| 1500m | 4:04.86 | 1 | Mt. SAC | Apr 19 |
| 4x800 (split) | 2:00.6 | 1 | Penn | Apr 27 |
Sarah Brown - 2:02.25
| Distance | Time | Place | Meet | Date |
| Mile (road) | 4:50.70 | 2 | Hamilton | Jan 18 |
| 10km | 35:14 | 1 | Hamilton | Jan 19 |
| Mile | 4:31.61i | 1 | NB Games | Jan 26 |
| Mile | 4:31.26i | 7 | Millrose | Feb 16 |
| Mile | 5:08.70Ai | 5 | Nationals | Mar 3 |
| 1500m | 4:11.31 | 7 | Drake | Apr 26 |