thoughtsfailure wrote:
It doesn't matter what he can run in a rabbit race. He is one of the best kickers in the field and that's more important.
The final will be a rabbited race. It’s just that the rabbit will finish and probably win.
Centro is a great kicker and at Doha that was eliminated by just pounding the entire race. He ran 3:32 but that was only good enough for eighth.
Fast heat, semi and super fast final has away of taking away great kicks. Ask Centro.
THOUGHTSLEADER wrote:
Cole made subtle little surges to protect his spot and outfox everyone there.
Agreed!
He basically sat behind Tim on the rail and followed his moves close enough to ensure no one got between them.
And, knowing Tim, he’s going to push the pace and keep the lead/rail.
Smart game plan by Cole - at least in the prelims.
Ghost1 wrote:
rhimby wrote:
He's only a 3:35 guy though.
Cole Hocker:
Correct, but I think his intrinsic worth at the moment is around 332 in the right conditions. Definitely a contender and he’s a fighter also. he reminds me of a middleweight boxer when he runs. Pugnacious.
Intrinsic is not the word you're looking for.
Interesting statement given he's already run a 3:50.55 mile which means he would have passed through the 1500m mark enroute in approx 3:33.5.
We had a nice chat with Cole and a ton of the 1500 guys after this one. We'll put them all in our recap on the front page, but here is the Hocker info.
Quick Take: Cole Hocker proves he belongs, gains a lot of confidence as he still had another gear he didn’t unleash, and hopes to contend for a medal
When someone closes as well as Cole Hocker did at USA and NCAAs, it’s pretty obvious to true distance aficionados that he is world-class. But given his modest pb (3:35.28), some skeptics were still out there. Today, racing in a stacked first heat which featured eight guys who have broken 3:34 this year, Hocker ran a great race tactically and had plenty in the tank when it was time to kick for the auto spots.
“I felt really good, and that race gave me a lot of confidence because it's my first Olympics of course and first international race altogether so that was just a completely different experience,” Hocker said. “I'm really happy with how I was able to handle myself in the most competitive race I've ever been in.
“It really builds my confidence. Like, of course [the first round is] not a race that people are going all-out but sort of on that last 100 meters a lot of the times people have to kick in to their all-out gear to guarantee that top six, and I didn't feel like I had to do that and I was able to lock in that top six and that gives me a lot of confidence.”
Considering Cole Hocker's 2021 campaign started six months and five days ago on January 29 with an indoor race in Arkansas, it was natural to wonder if Hocker would be feeling worn down after having had such a long season. Hocker himself admitted he wondered that but said he felt great.
“That was another thing -- I was kind of wondering about going into this first race back in a month [if I would feel burned out], but I really think that month off really gave me time to recover, and I tried to recover during that month off and then sort of sharpen up right here at the end just because I've had that such a long season of building fitness I'm not going to lose it really with taking a little downtime.”
World, watch out. Cole Hocker is still looking sharp and now he’s playing with house money and hopes to contend for a medal.
“Yeah, that's something I had to keep telling myself like for so long. This was the goal to get here and then I'm putting this pressure on myself. I don't want to get out in the first round like [if that happens it’s] almost like not worth coming out in my mind, which of course isn't true. But it's pretty interesting how my perspective changes just after one race and I hold myself to a much higher standard, but I do have to keep reminding myself like this [making it here] was the ultimate goal for so long. And now just take advantage of it.
“Pretty much after NCAAs, [my focus] switched to the Trials and then immediately after Trials it switched to Olympics and hold myself to like not just qualifying and not just making it to the final but performing well and hopefully contending for a medal.”
drtoneill wrote:
Cole certainly looked like a boy among men but he ran well.
I couldn't disagree more. I thought he ran a tactically perfect race. He literally got out well and on the rail. Stayed on the rail for the entire race and found himself in third at the bell.
Got a tiny bit dicey around 1200 when I'm assuming guys around him tried to come in as they got antsy but then h ad plenty left in the tank. There were like 8 guys with pbs under 3:33 in that heat. Hocker is a beast. Has me so pumped.
GreatDane1 wrote:
Interesting statement given he's already run a 3:50.55 mile which means he would have passed through the 1500m mark enroute in approx 3:33.5.
Not ture. They took a 1500 split in that race. It was 3:35.63.
I don’t really know what you could quibble with tactically. Every time it looked like he might get in trouble, he made a little surge or sidestep to ensure his spot. In the Semis it will be imperative he make one extra move possibly to uncork the kick the last 100, but here with 6 going being safely in the top 4 was good enough
It’s very annoying hearing the butt hurt high school and college guys here saying everyone doubted Hocker. That’s not true at all. Anyone who saw him run indoors with a shred of knowledge about elite 1500 running would never say that. Dude is a total beast. I certainly questioned whether he would still be firing on all cylinders way back then but that is not questioning talent or desire. It’s a long season. I think he will make the final. I don’t know if he will medal but my doubts only come because of his long season. He definitely has the ability to medal with that sick closing speed. It will definitely be exciting. He and Nuguse are the future of US 1500 running. I hope Centro can stick around a little longer too.
Rojo, the same guy who whines about sharing gold medals, gives a MF headline to a guy finishing 4th in an opening round race.
oldoldrunner wrote:
thoughtsfailure wrote:
It doesn't matter what he can run in a rabbit race. He is one of the best kickers in the field and that's more important.
The final will be a rabbited race. It’s just that the rabbit will finish and probably win.
Centro is a great kicker and at Doha that was eliminated by just pounding the entire race. He ran 3:32 but that was only good enough for eighth.
Fast heat, semi and super fast final has away of taking away great kicks. Ask Centro.
Rabbited and won by whome? Tim? Jakob? Jakob doesn't usually front run from the start.
Having seen McSweyn's post-heat interview, don't be surprised to see him front run his semi and if he makes it, the final.
Nobody looked better out there today than Cole except maybe McSweyn. Just round 1, but things are looking good. Centro looked ok too, but not as good as Hocker, still every reason to think the USA will have two in the final. Kerr looked terrible. Is he sick or hurt?
haha YOYO wrote:
Rojo, the same guy who whines about sharing gold medals, gives a MF headline to a guy finishing 4th in an opening round race.
lol. rojo can be a bit of a troll at times. but mostly he is just a huge fan of the sport and some runners in particular. HE's a passionate guy. great for the sport.
rojo wrote:
GreatDane1 wrote:
Interesting statement given he's already run a 3:50.55 mile which means he would have passed through the 1500m mark enroute in approx 3:33.5.
Not ture. They took a 1500 split in that race. It was 3:35.63.
Thank you for backing me up Rojo. He's a 3:35 guy
rhimby wrote:
rojo wrote:
Not ture. They took a 1500 split in that race. It was 3:35.63.
Thank you for backing me up Rojo. He's a 3:35 guy
well, he's a guy who ran a 3:35 1500, and then just for fun kept on running another 109 meters in 14.9 seconds!
rojo wrote:
drtoneill wrote:
Cole certainly looked like a boy among men but he ran well.
I couldn't disagree more. I thought he ran a tactically perfect race. He literally got out well and on the rail. Stayed on the rail for the entire race and found himself in third at the bell.
Got a tiny bit dicey around 1200 when I'm assuming guys around him tried to come in as they got antsy but then h ad plenty left in the tank. There were like 8 guys with pbs under 3:33 in that heat. Hocker is a beast. Has me so pumped.
I just meant in physical stature. He's what 5' 9" / 63 kg and some of the others were 6' 1" / 75 kg plus. For sure he ran tactically really well and showed maturity beyond his years.
rojo wrote:
Fantastic race.
Sure, but it isn't worthy of a 'MF' middle name.
It's a prelim.
high school xc coach wrote:
rhimby wrote:
Thank you for backing me up Rojo. He's a 3:35 guy
well, he's a guy who ran a 3:35 1500, and then just for fun kept on running another 109 meters in 14.9 seconds!
He's a 3:35 guy. Why is this so hard for you to accept?
My guess: In at least one semi-final, 1500m race, first 1200m, sub-2:55. Someone will want to keep some of the crafty kickers, who kick well off of 3:36 + 1500m races out of final.
Lets compare notes in 12 months time. I for one say without doubt Hocker will run sub 3:35. You have already stated that he won't ever break 3:35 with his "3:35 at best" statement :-)