We sent charts down to their camp showing that race 18 has been prime for single periodized years and race 11 for double.
Yeah, I know. A question then - is this Asafa only pattern or the pattern that is applicable to any sprinter for single periodised year?
If this works only for Asafa, fine, but if race 18 is suggested to be the prime race for every sprinter for single periodised year how does this work with let’s say Bolt, Dix others?
It doesnt work with them. 9.83/19.63 vs. 9.69/19.30 for Bolt, clearly he isnt improving and neither is Dix, they are fine with the schedule they had, in fact great for them…we had lightning bolt’s olympics and Dix’s olympics which was generally good for him considering the season he had behind him. Both were in their peaks at olympics…just clear proof everyone is different.
Not only did he have less races, but less time training on the track, less time doing productive things in the weight room, and less time to recover, and valuable resources spent recovering from surgery. Who knows what he could have run on race 18 if he had a full, normal season.
just clear proof everyone is different.
That’s exactly what I think too.
All these factors go into the programming mix, but the issue is primarily one of managing the Time-Line. If all things are equal, then if coach Steve Francis is able to manipulate Asafa’s 18th race to coincide with his primary meet/race of the preparation/year history suggests they maximise their prospects of getting a peak performance. In other words, make the Olympic final Asafa’s 18th race of a single-periodised year.
Yes but wouldn’t the peak be higher given a full year of training? Total volumes would be higher, so adaptation would be higher, right?
no this is just an observed pattern with Asafa, based on when he runs PBs/WRs. It is specific to him but repeatable.
God that is so crazy. I wonder what Bolt is thinking right now. I wasn’t joking when I said I thought Asafa could break a WR a week or two outside of Beijing.
I would just like to add also, I guess Asafa dispells the myth (in this instance) that Jamaica produces faster sprinters because better youth/farm program. Or because it is a national sport. How many years has Asafa competed in track? Im just asking here, even I’m not sure. He was formely a soccer player (if you can believe) that just happened to go out for track one year. Does anyone have any more info on how Asafa eventually made it into track?
All I know that about 5 years ago Asafa ran 10.85s for his 100s and a year later, he started breaking 10 seconds…
Which comes to say, in Asafa’s conclusion, Nutrilite Double X works!!
Powel was in the exact same PHYSICAL shape in Beijing as he is now!!!
why is everyone dismissing the real problem with him…
and hes my fav sprinter so im not hating
I don’t know what to think. At least he makes it interesting though.
IAAF REPORT
Tuesday, 02 September 2008 Powell improves to 9.72, Bolt dashes 19.63 in Lausanne – IAAF World Athletics Tour
Asafa Powell winning at the Crystal Palace (Getty Images)
relnews Lausanne, Switzerland - Jamaican sprint stars Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and Shelly-Ann Fraser took the spotlight at Lausanne’s Athletissima, one of the final stops of the 2008 IAAF World Athletics Tour.
Nine days after the end of the Olympic Games in Bejing where they dominated the sprint scene, Powell improved his position as the second fastest man in history with 9.72, Bolt equalled the meeting record in the 200 metres storming to 19.63 and Fraser won a close women’s 100 metres in 11.02. Two more Jamaican wins were taken by 400 metres Hurdles Olympic champion Melaine Walker in 53.72 and Delloreen Ennis-London in the women’s 100 metres Hurdles in 12.60.
The other highlights of another super edition of the Athletissima were Andrei Silnov’s 2.35 in the men’s High Jump, Lashawn Merritt’s 43.98 in the men’s 400 metres and David Oliver’s win over Dayron Robles in the men’s 110 metres Hurdles.
Powell underscores his No. 2 all-time position
Without the pressure of big championships at stake Powell stormed to a fabulous 9.72 (the second fastest time in history and a new meeting record) to win the men’s 100 metres in his second post-Olympic race after his disappointing fifth place in Bejing. His superb peformance on the super-fast track of the Stade Olympique de La Pontaise followed up his impressive 9.87 in rainy conditions in Gateshead on Sunday.
Powell, Olympic champion with the Jamaican 4x100m relay, threatened Bolt’s 9.69 World record. The Jamaican improved his PB set last year in Rieti by two hundredths of a second when he set the previous World record.
Behind Powell two men broke the 10 seconds barrier. Olympic bronze medallist Walter Dix came close to his PB sprinting to 9.92 ahead of Powell’s training partner Nesta Carter who equalled his PB set in Stockolm earlier this year with 9.98.
“I felt very confident coming here today, I knew I had it in me. I just had to put it on the track. And that’s what I did.”
“I am happy, the track is fast and the crowd were wonderful,” Powell continued. “After all my problems this year, it’s great to set a new personal best.”
Bolt equals X-Man’s meeting record
In the city which hosts the Olympic Museum triple sprint Olympic champion and World record holder Bolt tied Xavier Carter’s meeting record set two years ago winning a superb 200 metres in his first post-Olympic race over this distance since his incredible 19.30 World record and Olympic title in Beijing’s Bird’s Nest which made the Jamaican the greatest hero of the Olympic Games.
Churandy Martina, who had originally won the Olympic silver behind Bolt but was later disqualified due to a lane violation, finished a distant runner-up in 20.24 ahead of America Wallace Spearmon, third in 20.54.
“I ran a good time,” said Bolt. “I didn’t run at my maximum at the end of my races because the season is finishing. It’s more important for me to win the races than to run a good time at the end of the season.”
Oliver over Robles
In the other much-awaited race of the evening the men’s 110 metres Hurdles Olympic champion Dayron Robles suffered his second defeat of the season to US Trials winner and Olympic bronze medallist David Oliver who had already beaten him in Berlin in June. Robles was in the lead until he hit the last hurdle and was edged by fast-finishing Oliver who won in 13.02. Robles clocked 13.17 for second place.
“I am really happy I won beating Robles,” said Oliver. “I was confident I could beat him running a good time. I knew I could do better thn in Bejing”.
“I took a good start but then I hit the hurdle,” said Robles. “My goal was to run faster. It happens. That’s life.”
Merritt sub-44 again
Olympic champion Lashawn Merritt ran an impressive 400 metres dipping under 44 seconds with 43.98. It was the third fastest time ever for Merritt who ran faster only in the Bejing final (43.75) and at last year’s World championships final in Osaka (43.96). Angelo Taylor, who won his second 400 metres hurdles Olympic title eight years his first success in Sydney, ran his fastest time this year finishing runner-up in 44.38.
“I am closing up my season here, so I really wanted to finish with a victory,” said Merritt. “The track is fast, the atmosphere was great.”
Silnov threatens 2.41m
Andrey Silnov, men’s High Jump Olympic champion, cleared 2.35m in the first attempt to continue his superb season on a winning way. Silnov managed to clear all heights in his first attempt apart from two mistakes at 2.32m. The young Russian, who jumped a world seasonal best of 2.38, failed three final attempts at 2.41. In a repetition of the Olympic podium Germaine Mason finished second with 2.32 prevailing on countback over Yaroslav Rybakov at 2.32. Brazilian Jesse De Lima improved his fresh national record set in Padua last Sunday by one cm to 2.32.
“My season was very satisfying,” said Silnov. “I didn’t lack much in order to jump over 2.41. The world record? Why not. But I don’t like to plan too much ahead in the future.”
Fraser takes close 100m
Fresh Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser from Jamaica confirmed to be the current fastest woman in the world by winning the women’s 100 metres in 11.03 against a top-class field which featured six olympic finalists from Bejing. Jamaican sprinters were again the dominant force of world sprint in Lausanne. Kerron Stewart, silver in Bejing, finished runner-up again to Fraser in 11.06. Marshevet Hooker was the first US sprinter in third place in 11.09 ahead of former World champion Lawryn Williams, fourth in 11.11.
“It was a close race and I am really happy I won it,” said Fraser. “I lost in Gateshead, so I was a bit nervous. No one expected me to be Olympic champion, so I am very satisfied.
Melaine Walker, Olympic champion with an Olympic record of 52.64, continued her very successful season by breaking again under 54 seconds with 53.72.
Jamal dips under 4 minutes
Lausanne-based Maryam Yussuf Jamal who runs for Bahrain aroused the enthusiasm of the very supportive Swiss crowd with her win in the women’s 1500 metres in a new seasonal best of 3:59.86 which made up for her fifth place in Bejing. Shannon Rowbury, the U.S champion, continued her successful season finishing second in 4:01.97. Olympic fourth placer Lisa Dobriskey from Great Britain performed well for third place in 4:05.18.
World champion and Olympic silver medallist Janeth Jepkosgei finally managed to win an 800 metres race which did not feature Pamela Jelimo. Jepkosgei clocked 1:58.15 defeating former 400 metres Hurdles World junior champion Yekaterina Kostetskaya (1:58.90) and Jamaican Kenia Sinclair (1:59.02).
Nineteen-year-old Asbel Kiprop, Olympic silver medallist in the 1500 metres, showed his potential in the 800 metres taking a narrow win in the closing stages in a new PB 1:44.71 over reigning World champion and Olympic bronze medallist Alfred Kirwa Yego (1:44.77).
Abakumova takes spirited Javelin contest
Mariya Abakumova from Russia, Olympic silver medallist in Bejing, won the re-match of the Olympic Games in a women’s Javelin competition which featured the top three from Bejing. After two fouls and two throws below 60 metres in the first four attempts, Abakumova produced the winning release in the fifth attempt spearing 66.09 metres overhauling German veteran Steffi Nerius who led until the fourth round with 64.47 from the first round. The other German Christina Obergföll took third place with 63.79 metres. World and Olympic champion and European record holder Barbora Spotakova from Czech Republic had a below-par competition to her standards finishing fourth with 62.24.
Bahrain’s Youssef Saad Kamel, better known as an 800 metres specialist, showed that he could emerge as a world-class 1500 metres runner when he won in Lausanne setting a new 1500 metres PB in 3:32.83 holding off world seasonal leader Daniel Komen Kipchirchir (3:33.03) and Zürich winner Haron Keitany (3.33.62). Kamel, the son of former three-times world champion Billy Konchellah, came to Lausanne with a previous PB of 3:33.11 set last week in Zürich.
“I like more and more the 1500 metres,” Kamel said. “There is no big difference between the 800 and the 1500 metres, but now I prefer the 1500 metres.”
Jamaican Delloreen Ennis-London edged out fresh Olympic champion Dawn Harper in the women’s 100 metres hurdles, 12.60 to 12.63. Josephine Onya from Spain, winner in two Golden League legs in Berlin and Oslo this year, was third in 12.65. World indoor champion Lolo Jones finished a distant fourth in 12.86.
Jadel Gregorio set a new seasonal best of 17.30 in the third jump, which he backed up by a second best leap to 17.29 in the first round, to notch up the men’s Triple Jump win. Olympic bronze medallist Leevan Sands finished second with 17.13 ahead of Dmitrij Valukevic (17.07). Olympic and world champion Nelson Evora was well beaten in fourth place with 16.90.
Former heptathlete Naide Gomes from Portugal, reigning world indoor champion in Valencia, made up for the major setback of not getting through the qualifying round in Bejing with a win in the women’s long jump with 6.77. Gomes was second to World champion Tatyana Lebedeva’s 6.64 until the fifth round but clinched a last-round win leaping to 6.77.
Russian Evgeniy Lukanenko, Olympic silver medallist and 6.01 performer in 2008, needed just two first-time clearances at 5.60 and 5.75 to take the win in the men’s Pole Vault.
As in the tradition of the meeting the 100 metres B race was very fast. US sprinter Travis Padgett took a solid win crossing the finish-line in 10.07 beating french 10.06 sprinter Martial Mbandjock, second in 10.16.
Shericka Williams from Jamaica, Olympic silver medallist in Bejing won unopposed the women’s 400 metres in 50.47 defeating russians Tatyana Firova (50.71) and Yuliya Gushchina (50.85). Shericka’s namesake Novlene Williams from Jamaica ran faster in the 400 metres B-race taking the overall win in 50.33.
Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF
Word. Let’s make him run 4 rounds in Brussels on Friday ending with Bolt & Gay and see what happens.
I don’t think he was. I bet he felt a great deal better before the Lausanne meet than before the final in Beijing.
People often make a distinction between the physical and the mental, but that seems to reflect eagerness to explain things in a simple fashion rather than reality. I bet Asafa felt better in Gateshead and also felt he’s improving – athletes kind of sense these things. Feeling fresh and fast allows for better mental preparation than when feeling tired etc.
Then how do you explain his arguable ‘fastest anchor ever’ split in the 4x1?
Can he go 9.68?
How many days were there between the 100m final and the 4x1 final? Obviously he didn’t perform as well in the final as he could have, regardless of fatigue – I don’t think no one is questioning that. I do, however, think there’s a difference in running three heats + the final within the time frame of 48h than having at least a few days between bursts. The pressure is at its highest in the final, and it definitely doesn’t help if you start to feel fatigued right before – the chance of messing up grows much stronger as a result. We simply don’t know what the actual situation was.
How do you figure that? Did you see the surgical scar under his arm where the pec repair was done? His MRI showed a 50% tear.
Surely you don’t think all his planned speed work was completed and perfected during the period when he was operating with one arm. Do you know the exact date of the surgery and the duration of the rehab? It could not have been less than the three weeks from the Games till now.
The mental problem may be the inability to follow a plan to the end, resulting in injury (negatives on the bench this time, but who knows in the past). He showed he was ready for 9.82 right before Beijing and 9.72 now in the same conditions- and on the race number that he’s always performed on before- exactly where he should have been at the Games.
You could see he was beaten before the race but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to know it was all over for the Gold there
I’m pretty sure you have had less info than me and I don’t have enough to come to your conclusion.