Seb Coe wins AAA 1500m in 1989

Just a month before his 33rd birthday, and in his last competitive season, Coe ran the AAA 1500m, facing Steve Ovett for the first time on UK soil since 1972. It was a year after he'd been eliminated in the heats of the Olympic trials while suffering from bronchitis, even though his exclusion from the team were stated to be on the grounds that "the old lion was no longer good enough to defeat the cubs snapping at his heels", according to Tony Ward. Well here, another year older, he gave the so called rising talent a lesson in middle distance running and proved that while past his absolute best, he was still good enough to rank No.1 in the UK at both 800m & 1500m in 1989. Here we get a glimpse of a vintage Coe and of what "might have been" had he gone to Seoul in 2008. Unfortunately Ovett was now a shadow of his former self, and he was left as a supporting player this time. Coe's last lap here was 51.6, last 300m 38.3, final 200m 25.4. Enjoy!