Coe was also positive about the controversial introduction of a “repechage” which gives runners a second chance to advance to the semi-finals if they do not clinch automatic qualifying berths in distances ranging from 100m hurdles up to 1500m. Eight of the 26 runners in the men’s 400m repechage did not start earlier in the week, suggesting that they wanted to prioritise recovery for the relay events and did not think that they were likely to reach the final.
Coe thinks that the possibility now of four rounds, as it was when he ran in the 800m, could change the way that athletes train and mean that more people have the endurance base to attempt the 800m-1500m double.
“These are cursory observations, but the broadcasters have quite liked it, the athletes themselves have liked it because they’ve had another chance obviously of qualifying,” said Coe.
“The fans that I have spoken to have all said it’s pretty positive. They like the fact that you’ve got more stuff happening.”
With the United States dominating the track programme – and enjoying success in endurance as well as sprint events – Coe also highlighted the success of the collegiate system ahead of the Los Angeles Games in 2028 when the athletics events will start the Olympics rather than swimming.
“In the past, you talked about Carl (Lewis), you talked about Michael (Johnson), but they were very much magnesium flares in that generation – now you’re looking at a bandwidth of a performer,” he said.
