Maybe a lap. If lucky two.
Otherwise, straight to the team camp to chill and hang around other sprinters.
That's how sprinters usually approach things when they get to a track meet.
You don't see too much from them without a coach's instruction. Sprinters are usually in their own world. Many sprinters don't want to run past a 200m and if they do the 400m is the most you are going to get from them. (No offense to current or former sprinters, that's just my personal initial thought. I guess I'm still a little jilted from my high school and collegiate days and interaction with sprinters.)
Nationally, we've already seen it this year. Yep, 400m runners/sprinters stepping up to the 800m. One of the top sprinters in the nation and all-time Tyrese Cooper from Miami Norland (Fl) has run the sprints all of his high school career.
This season, he hinted at reps in the 800m and he delivered.
Well, we have our own national level and elite level 400m runner in Frisco Heritage senior Bailey Lear who will give it go at the 800m.
Lear has been on a tear this 2018 season. During the indoor season, Lear ran very fast PRs in both the 200m and the 400m. She ran 24.30 and 53.20 indoors that has her ranked nationally in both event. This season has been straight sprints for Lear including an open 200m last weekend at the DeSoto Nike Inv.
Well, tomorrow, like Coooper did a few weeks ago in Florida, Lear will get in an 800m race for the 2018 season.
Not that it's her favorite thing to do, much like Cooper, Lear has not been afraid to jump up to the 800m in the past. Given her success in the shoreter events, there really hasn't been much need to, but she hasn't shown that she will back away from it.
Lear has made the statement that she wants to break records this year and that is exactly what she has been doing since the first weekend of the indoor season. Lear's past success and familiarity with the distance means she could possibly be looking to do more than just get a over distance run in. If her desire to break records inclucedes something big in the 800m tomorrow, what could we see? Lear's D2R coach, Richard Thomas has said that he expects her to hit 2:10 this season. Could that be tomorrow?
Although Lear has a 2:18.61 PR in the 800m, that was three years ago and it doesn't look like she has had many since.
A couple of weeks ago in Cooper's first 800m in several years, he ran a quality 1:57.93. However, it didn't result in a win. Cooper took third in the race as he was beat by guys who are 800m runner and up.
Lear will be running at the Frisco Independence Knight Invitational. That area is loaded with quality 800m runners and elite distance runners. Schools like Frisco Independence, Frisco Liberty, Frisco Reedy, Frisco Wakeland, and Prosper are all some of Texas' top distance teams and will no doubt have runners that will challenge Lear.
But, wait -- What Bailey Lear is to the 800m, her own Frisco Heritage teammate Alyssa Duhart is to the 800m. In fact, she has a UIL 5A state championship from her freshman year. Duhart is a quality middle distance runner, in fact she has been one of Texas' best since she arrived at Frisco Heritage.
Duhart's ability has led her to PRs of 2:12.79 - 800m, 4:59.29 1600m, 11:44.06 - 3200m, and a 18:11.68 in 5K cross country.
Duhart is a contrast to Lear and her endurance and experience in the 800m could give her an upper hand in a race between the two.
This is a classic battle of endurance vs speed in a middle distance. Which discipline would win?
Going back to Tyrees Cooper's race. He has more speed than most people alive and that wasn't enough to get him the win . Runners with more endurance won out in that race.
But, hold up...wait a minute! Just last weekend, we saw Bailey Goggans, who was initially introduced to us as a 400m runner go 2:11.62 in the 800m.
One thing is for sure, this could be the type of race that could lead to a fast race for both -- sprinters and distance runners entered in the race.
Participate in the poll with a vote and a comment. Let us know who you think would in a race over a distance in the middle of strenghts of each discipline...sprinters and distance runners.