Moses has to beat Moscrop first
Athletics Weekly, the British track magazine, interviewed some prominent ex-hurdlers on the comeback of Edwin Moses, aiming for a 50.5 Olympic Trials qualifying time in the 400-meter hurdles. Some eye-openers. Some folks consider Moses a slam-dunk to run 50-point.
Said 1968 Olympic champ David Hemery: “I would like to see what he could run for a flat 400. If he could run 50 seconds flat for the 400 at the moment, I think with training he could run 50-point for the 400-meter hurdles. . . . The danger at 48 is his speed of recovery from each session and the speed of recovery from injury.”
Former European champ Alan Pascoe: ” I think given even Edwin Moses’ huge, huge ability . . . it is a big call. The 400m hurdles is a very demanding event which requires massive physical requirements. . . . (But) if he puts everything together physically and mentally he can run 49 seconds — in reality though it may be 51 seconds.”
Distance star Nick Rose: “If he does one race, I’d be surprised. He has to get through a hard winter’s training first. There is certainly no way he could get back to running sub-50 and making the Olympic Trials. . . . At his age, you are prone to injuries and your hamstrings sing a different tune. The mind will allow you to do certain things, but the body doesn’t always respond.”
Then Athletics Weekly queried noted statistician Ian Hodge: “I feel that he would have to have been training for all of this year and then through this winter to be ready to run the event without it being a personal embarrassment. We are talking about a superman here, but I would be astonished if he could run 52 seconds.”
In the same September 17 issue, AW also features British M45 hurdle champ Howard Moscrop, who is targeting the world age-group record of 55.18 by Germany’s Guido Mueller in 1986.
Moscrop sayeth of Moses:
“He’s got the stride, which is very useful, but I cannot see him maintaining that stride over 10 hurdles. The big question is whether his body can get back in the same state. I know I’m starting to creak a bit, for example. But I’m sure he will have access to the best possible medical treatment, with regular massages and that kind of thing.”
But Moscrop, who ran 400H in 55.89 this year, doubts Moses will enter masters competitions — which would rob us of an interesting rematch. Moscrop says he raced Moses at the 1979 British AAA meet.
“I was in the same race, but way behind him,” Moscrop says.
Athletics Weekly concludes its Moscrop report:
“Now with Father Time having evened the playing field a little, a race between Howard Moscrop and Ed Moses might be rather closer than it was in 1979. Perhaps meeting organizers Fast Track will be tempted to try and arrange a head-to-head at the start of next summer?”
2 Responses
I guess he will do great things, but after a few years. I’ve read that he is in good condition but building up the specific strenth will need more than one winter. I think.
Having Moses come back to track at all, is what it is about! Someone of his caliber, has created such a buzz about the possibilities, that surely other names from the past, might take note. This can only help the Masters Program(s) in the US! If he is fit right now, then something astounding can happen next year. He might need several races to accomplish a real fast time, but by competing against the youngsters he will run well. With that said, I predict a 52.? An impressive feat!!
Go Edwin!
ty
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