thletics 33 athletics
The last lap!
With Tim McGrath
The Ethics of Pacemakers in Championship Distance Races I’ve had a lot of people ask me parties involved. old footage of Coe or Ovett run what I think about how the In one way, what occurred was fast times in races that were real national 1500m final unfolded. probably of no great consequence contests, than it is watching El Presumably people ask me to the outcome; Riseley has Guerrouj following a rabbit like a this because I have a particular been the form miler all season safety car travelling at high speed interest in middle distance and more likely than not had for three quarters of the distance running, having dabbled in it everyone’s measure no matter before the race really begins. in the past, but also because what tactics were employed by Yet, our sport has an obsession the silver medalist in that race, the rest of the field. Nor is it the with time. It probably always Jeremy Roff, is a very close friend first time that athletes have paced has, but seems to have built up of mine. in championship distance races. momentum dramatically in the Without a doubt in my mind, Think Youcef Baba pacing for mid ‘50s as the quest to break the national 1500m final was Morrocan teammate Hicham El four minutes was pursued by paced to a schedule Roger Bannister and that was ideal for John Landy. Both The question isn’t whether it is happening... Jeff Riseley i.e. even achieved the mark, both The real question is, should it be happening? with the assistance of paced at the world championships pacemakers, but notably A-standard. Surprisingly, Riseley Guerrouj at the Sydney Olympics their championship results would himself stated after the race ‘he (which didn’t have the intended probably only make them a didn’t know anything about that’ results - a pacemaker is only footnote in the history of middle in regard to the pacemaking done as good as his ability to do the distance running rather than by Ireland’s David Campbell for job well). Also think of most being deserving of a whole the first 1100m of the race, prior Australian men’s 5000m or to him pulling out. I’m not sure if 10000m championships of late the response was out of naviety where a good field has been or if he was being economical assembled. with the truth, but simply put, The question isn’t whether it its a bit hard to believe that an is happening. It clearly is, and athlete with Campbell’s form (he often condoned either explicitly had only run 3:40.98 during the or by the acquiesence of event domestic season) would lead a organisers. The real question is, race at such a fast pace and then should it be happening? just pull out with a lap to go if There are some who question that wasn’t his intention prior to the utility of pacemakers to the race. Of course, that doesn’t middle distance and distance necessarily mean that Riseley was running in all meets, not just in on his plans, but considering championships. I do tend to both are managed by Nic Bideau, agree with them that it destroys 4 Is he in the race or not? David I’m willing to bet that there was much of the romance of a fast Campbell (right) pulls off the at least some level of collusion athlete on athlete race; it is track just after the bell in the national 1500m championship. between at least some of the much more enjoyable watching
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