Who's the better tactician: Centrowitz or Lagat?

it may sound stupid wrote:

I know most of you will probably say Lagat, but it's not as obvious as you think. Lagat has always been good in fast or slow races, and knew when to kick. But if you look at Centrowitz race, you can tell he has full control the whole time and can always get to the right place at the right time.

Well, Centrowitz has a whopping two international championships races under his belt (both with excellent results), while Lagat has been killing it with medals upon medals for over a decade. I'm going to go with Lagat.

try to not base this off who has more experience

it may sound stupid wrote:

I know most of you will probably say Lagat, but it's not as obvious as you think. Lagat has always been good in fast or slow races, and knew when to kick. But if you look at Centrowitz race, you can tell he has full control the whole time and can always get to the right place at the right time.

I think it is as obvious as I think. Centrowitz may be as good as Lagat some day, but he is not now. Not even close. I don't care about appearances. Results are what matter.

This is a tough question. With Lagat, he is so good that tactics become less important and you will win some stuff anyway.

Centro bested Lagat at USATFs, so I'd say that he gets points for that!

it may sound stupid wrote:

try to not base this off who has more experience

How is a proven ability to be in the right place at the right time over and over again not relevant in a discussion of racing tactics?

Its a good thing you used the name "it may sound stupid", because yes the question is stupid. Lets ask this question again 10 years from now and there might be a discussion.

He didn't ask who was the better runner. Jesus. He asked who was the better tactician.

It is like asking, who has the better grasp of the strike zone Albert Pujols or Robinson Cano? It does not mean who is the better player (Based on career, it is obviously Pujols, but this season you'd have to say Cano).

What in the world is wrong with you guys?

I cant believe that wrote:

He didn't ask who was the better runner. Jesus. He asked who was the better tactician.

How hard is it to understand that they are the same thing in this case?

I think being "better" as something involves a degree of consistency. 2 races does not equal 10 years in terms of consistency at the moment.

Lagat has a 3:26 PR.

I know he is not that fast anymore, but when you are better than the others it is a bit easier to win.

Centrowitz has a 3:34 PR.

The slowest guy in his semi-final race but he won the race because he used the best tactics.

Lagat also as TEN Oly/WC medals, 5 for USA including 3 golds.

When somebody who is a runner (not Jesse Williams or Ashton Eaton) from Oregon who actually wins ANYTHING internationally maybe you can talk.

Right now, they all suck compared to Jenny.

Lagat ran the first 200m of his 5000m prelim in lane 5, when he could have cut in right away. Actually, make that lane 6, because he caught up to the front stagger and then went around them on the outside. If you missed this, dig up the video and re-watch.

Compare that to Centro who just executed the most successful inside pass I have ever seen in T&F. If you don't know what I am talking about, go back and watch his race with 400m to go.

So, Centro > Lagat.

Yes, I am basing my entire opinion off of one day of racing.

toro wrote:

Centrowitz has a 3:34 PR.

The slowest guy in his semi-final race but he won the race because he used the best tactics.

can you win a qualifying race? no one is even trying to be the first across the finish line. so is it really even a race?

scientific american wrote:

Compare that to Centro who just executed the most successful inside pass I have ever seen in T&F. If you don't know what I am talking about, go back and watch his race with 400m to go.

Complete luck on his part that he had room to pass . . . if that guy he been hugging the rail like a normal person, Centro would have been completely screwed. It certainly worked out for him though.

scientific american wrote:

Yes, I am basing my entire opinion off of one day of racing.

At least you're admitting it - something the rest of the people picking Centro on this thread need to do.

coach d wrote:

Lagat also as TEN Oly/WC medals, 5 for USA including 3 golds.

When somebody who is a runner (not Jesse Williams or Ashton Eaton) from Oregon who actually wins ANYTHING internationally maybe you can talk.

Right now, they all suck compared to Jenny.

Coach d, for years you've been talking on these boards about how Oregon athletes suck because they never win international medals, compared to athletes from places like California.

People pointed out that this is because most Oregon athletes are distance runners, and American distance runners have a much harder time winning international medals than sprinters or jumpers, and you acted like this didn't matter. It still proved (you said) nobody good ever came out of Oregon.

Now two Eugene-based athletes win WC medals, and you act like this proves your point, when in fact it just proves you have a lame personal grudge against athletes based in Oregon and especially in Eugene.

What are you going to say if Rupp or Centrowitz medals? Or next year, Wheating or Symmonds or Solinsky? Will you modify your measuring stick for success yet again, or will you find some other way of arguing that Oregon athletes are lagging behind the rest of American T&F?

no Fing way wrote:

scientific american wrote:

Compare that to Centro who just executed the most successful inside pass I have ever seen in T&F. If you don't know what I am talking about, go back and watch his race with 400m to go.

Complete luck on his part that he had room to pass . . . if that guy he been hugging the rail like a normal person, Centro would have been completely screwed. It certainly worked out for him though.

scientific american wrote:

Yes, I am basing my entire opinion off of one day of racing.

At least you're admitting it - something the rest of the people picking Centro on this thread need to do.

No one else is basing their opinions based off of one day of racing... dumbshit.

JUST WATCH A RANDOM LAGAT RACE, AND THEN A RANDOM CENTROWITZ RACE. THEN SEE WHO HAS BETTER TACTICS. WE ALL KNOW THAT LAGAT HAS MORE MEDALS AND EXPERIENCE. THIS IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

what does everyone here have to say now? 3rd in the WC isn't too bad, and he looked like a pro

noob wrote:

what does everyone here have to say now? 3rd in the WC isn't too bad, and he looked like a pro

I would say that centro is allowed to be part of the debate now. Nothing more.