Until the last few weeks the men’s 800m had been one of the weakest events in track & field in terms of performance level and progression. Surpassed only by the women’s 800m and obviously the lengthy drought in the men’s and women’s long jump.

Seb Coe, the current President of the world governing body for Track & Field, ran 800m in 1:41.73 on the day of my high school graduation on June 10, 1981.

Guys running on dirt tracks in the 1960’s were running 1:44 to 1:45 in semi-final rounds at championship meets.

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Now deep into the 21rst century, the last few weeks we’re finally back to seeing a bunch of guys running under 1:44, and last weekend finally several guys, instead of one or none, in the same race running faster than Seb Coe did more than 40 years ago.

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40 years later, these times should be the norm.

This deep of a field should be common place. Instead these are the times one might expect to see only in the final of a major championship. The fact that this meet was a standard pro meet on the annual tour is good to see.

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