Matt Scherer–the best 800m rabbit in the business.
“Metronome,” you ask? That’s right, Matt Scherer keeps the beat for the best middle-distance runners on the planet.
He is a rabbit–a professional pace-setter for middle-distance events in track and field, usually the 800m. He is commonly understood to be “the best in the business–the best 800m rabbit around.” When meet directors, coaches, and athletes ask Scherer to do what he does best, you could set a clock to him.
For example, when he rabbitted World Record Holder David Rudisha through the first 400 meters at the adidas Grand Prix in New York, Scherer was asked to bring the Kenyan through the quarter in 49 seconds. Mr. Metronome split 49.09.
Snap a finger and that’s difference between 49.00 seconds and 49.09. That’s extremely precise considering: 1) He’s not wearing a watch, and 2) he has to make his way through a pack of several men moving more than 18 mph.
Yet, he’s more than just a pace-setter. In 2008, he established himself as the world’s 6th-fastest 600m runner in history with a 1:14.
How is he so precise? Does he want to abandon rabbitting to focus on racing again? How does his training differ from most athletes? Find out by checking out Monday’s show replay below. Also, listen to our recap of the Olympic events that have occurred thus far along with our “Local Athlete of the Week.”
