Steve Ovett,

Описание: Im my opinion, past his best, but still good enough to recapture the 1500m world record he'd lost earlier in the season to Sydney Marree's 3:31.24 in Cologne.
This run also came in the wake of a disappointing showing by Ovett (despite running the fastest last lap of anyone in the race at 51.9) in the inaugural World Championships in Helsinki. In that race he ran probably his poorest tactical race ever (reminiscent of Coe's 800 Moscow run) to come 4th, while Cram triumphed.
As consolation to himself, Ovett set about getting back his world record, firstly with a near miss on his beloved Koblenz track, before succeeding, much to everyone's surprise, in rather windy conditions in Rieti.
His splits here were: - 54.4, 1:37.5 (700m), 1:51.9 (57.5), 2:35.2 (1000m), 2:49.14 (57.2) and a final 300m of 41.63. His last 400m was 55.6, last 200m 28.0. Ignore the times that come up for 600 and 1200m, they were wrong!
Ovett then, rather foolishly IMO, ran a 1000m 2 days later in Norway, before then flying to London to face Cram at the Palace 3 days after that. Although the public got to see a great head to head in the Mile, I've always felt Ovett was too tired by that race and didn't give his best account against the rested and fresher younger Steve.
I'm always left with permanent speculation about Ovett's true potential not being achieved. If he was able to run 3:30.77 in less than ideal conditions, when past his best and after a serious leg injury, then he should have been able to run quite a bit faster earlier in his career.
Hope all Ovett fans out there enjoy this. It's not totally complete, but most of it's there.