Really, you think Mo Ahmed who got silver in the Olympics and was 0.4 seconds off of Gold behind the WR holder has less of a chance to kick for Gold than Kincaid? When has Kincaid ever had a fast finish in a global final? The idea of Woody Kincaid just doesn't match up with the reality.
Reminds me of Robby Andrews when everyone was saying that if he could just stay in it until the bell he has a shot to win. Putting yourself in the right position takes a ton of energy, its an entirely different ballgame than kicking in a time trial or a domestic competition where you can ride the rail and run down inferior athletes.
Woody has not raced in a world final where the weather wasn't hot and humid. Some people just don't do well in those conditions. And what makes you think he's not better than Ahmed now? I feel he's jumped another level. Robbie Andrews? Really comparing the two? What American record does he have?
World Champs are held in August, he better learn how to run well in those conditions thats not an excuse.
I think the real person being overlooked here is Joe Klecker. Led most of the last third of the race, and still ran 12:54.99. He's also the reigning US 10k champ (where he had a big kick). Yet because of Kincaid's kick in this race, everyone is (deservedly) talking about him.
Not saying that Klecker is better (or the reverse). But they seem very similar in ability at the moment.
1) Woody has never been a global threat. Look at his world and Olympic results, he isn't competitive at all. This was a glorified time trial, does anyone really believe that if the same race had been set up for the top five 5k guys in the world they wouldn't have run low 12:40's or high 12:30's?
2) Woody was the third best 5k runner on the Bowerman team. If Grant or Mo was in this race does anyone think Woody would have won? Probably not. It is easy to make up 3 seconds on Klecker but not so much on the worlds best.
3) The BU track plus super shoes is proving to be similar to an outdoor track if not faster. We need to stop thinking these times indoors are significantly slower than outdoors.
It is a great result for Woody and personal achievemnets should be celebrated, but slow down calling this guy a medal threat. I think he might struggle getting top 3 at the US trials in the 5K as there are 5 really good guys. (Fisher/Nurr/Cooper/Klecker/Woody)
The above is mostly correct and also likely true regarding Nico Young, except Nico is doing it at a much younger age, so you never know.