Andrew Ellerton of Michigan just won the 800 in a time of 1:47:48, but somehow he did it by "gritting his teeth and gutting it out" and by being "smart enough to get out of [trouble]," and by "being smart enough to go wide," according to the announcers.
ryan brown, a black dude, the defending national champfrom Washington and a "hard luck story" came in third... but for him it was "bad luck."
Ellerton was laughed at by the commentators when he allowed the rabbit and the rest of the pack to go to the front to begin the rac., but his closing speed, when he sucked up the whole field and went from last to first, wasn't praised at all. it was a move like Street Sense did in the Kentucky Derby, but instead of getting lawded for his talent, he was patted on the back for being a scrappy kid. bleh!
Ellerton, a senior, ran the fastest time of the year by a collegian this season, but he probably did that on guts and smarts, too. just imagine what his time would have been if he could run fast.