So after Stockholm, we were happy with how everything turned out. “So we evaluated the risk factor and we realized that it was nothing that’s really going to create anything major from this one race.” The foot didn’t trouble him on the track and as his European tour continued, “it was improving, but it definitely wasn’t improving at the rate that we’d like. I never ran Monaco and I heard so many good things about it. Pete and my strength coach thought I wasn’t going to run Monaco, but I was pretty stubborn. “Even getting to the plane, I was limping, it really didn’t look great. As soon as he had arrived in Europe, he had gotten a PRP (platelet-rich-plasma) shot in his foot to speed recovery from a case of plantar fasciitis. Turns out Brazier was dealing with a minor injury at the time. It definitely shows you’ve got to stay on the pedal and never let up.” I was comfortable, but not as comfortable as I’d like to be finishing that home stretch because I knew he was on me. I like that kind of mindset.”īrazier thinks back to the Monaco race last summer where he ran his world-leading 1:43.15, just barely holding off Bryce Hoppel.

What I’m kind of realizing with myself is I just have such a deep belief in myself that, if I’ve got me with me, then nobody can be against me. “Now I’m looking to have the confidence had. Says Brazier, “In my case, I don’t think I was an underdog, but I was still the young guy in the field and I still had to prove something. He became world champion at 22, the same age as his idol Muhammad Ali was when he ascended to the world heavyweight boxing title by knocking out favored Sonny Liston in a much ballyhooed fight in ’64. The 800 will remain his bread-and-butter event. I have potential and maybe I’ll start exploring it a little bit more.” That’s kind of my insurance once I get older. So, it’s a goal to do the 1500 one day, but that’ll be a last resort-type thing. “Given the training that we’d been doing, the mileage that I’m at, it felt like I had more potential in the race than it showed. Last season he ran it once, flying away from his competitors on the final lap for what looked like a very easy 3:35.85 PR. We’re trying to get to that.”Īnd yes, Brazier also mentioned the 1500, long a point of curiosity. “It’s a lot easier to try to talk into doing more speed stuff. Ever since we had Raevyn Rogers join the group, the prospect of “fast races and fast 400s” has increased. He adds, “We’re going to go the 400m route before we go up to the 15. He explains, “I ran that 46.91 three years ago now at an indoor meet at Texas A&M, so you know, I’m hoping there’s a little more room to grow.” But longtime watchers of the lanky Brazier have always known there was more under the hood - they saw him clock a 45.92 anchor on a 4×4 as a high schooler. Bold words for a man with a 46.91 PR in the 1-lapper.

Bryce hoppel age