Pick Your U.S. Men's 1500m Team Now

Nuguse

Teare

Prakel

Kessler to potentially replace Teare if he decides to run the 5k (we also need to see him run consecutive world class races).

Prakel just seems to be in contention when it matters. He's strong, experienced, and more likely to be there than, say, current Centro or Engles

After one of his big races, I think it was the 2012 OG, he celebrated with a Mexican flag that someone gave him. It didn't sit well with people who don't consider athletes like Lagat, Maree, and Manzano (just to name 1500m runners) to be "real Americans" since they grew up within a different culture from the typical American experience. It was hard to defend Manzano because the Mexican flag thing happened when he was in a USA uniform...

Personally, I didn't care. I am fine with the notion that some Americans are "just" American and some Americans are half something else (Manzano has dual citizenship). That is fine. We have several people in our family who are American citizens but identify primarily as some other culture (or even have dual citizenship).

cnn.com

U.S. Olympic athlete, Mexican flag? | CNN

Ruben Navarrette Jr.

Ruben Navarrette says it was bad judgment for Leo Manzano to display both the U.S. and Mexico flags after winning in the Olympics.

Open link

1. Nuguse

2. Kessler

3. Centro

4. Teare

Oh yeah, I said it.

Never count Centro out!

Prime Cooper Teare vs Old Man Centro for the third spot for the Paris team. Pretty even matchup when they’re both peaked.

When Centro was Cooper’s age he already had a world silver and bronze plus and Olympic 4th.

When an Olympic spot is on the line Centro is always ready to make his move

Okay... it has been a few days and now we have more information. And no surprise, more information has resulted in the situation being less clear.

Who would you pick right now if you were betting on who'd be on the US team for Budapest?

Here are our guys under 3:35 so far this year:

1. Hobbs Kessler - 3:32
   
2. Cooper Teare - 3:32
   
3. Yared Nuguse - 3:33
   
4. Cole Hocker - 3:34
   
5. Sam Prakel - 3:34
   
6. Johnny Gregorek - 3:34
   
7. Grant Fisher (obviously not running the 1500m at nationals; SB of 3:34.99)
   

Based on what just happened, Nuguse, Teare and Hocker…no disrespect to Kessler or any of the others listed, or just off this list.

My thoughts exactly, Nuguse, Teare and Hocker, and no disrespect to anyone.

Prakel can win all the road miles he wants but he ain't makin the team.

I actually think he has an easier time making the 5k team. Sure, he’s not the fittest in the race. I believe Teare would finish 4th in a 5k time trial. But, highly unlikely the trials is a sub 13 race. In that case, I think Teare can out kick Klecker & Fisher for sure, and Woody would be a toss up.

In the 1500m, I could see Nuguse, Hocker, Hobbs, Centro, and Teare all fighting for those 3 spots.

definitely not a hot take but

1. nuguse

2. kessler

3. hocker

everyone knows hocker as the best kicker, but kessler and nuguse are very similar closers at their best and they are more fit and have had better training. teare not a good enough racer in the bigger races and centro just not fit enough.

teare would not be 4th in a time trial. I imagine that the three you have beating him are woody, klecker, and fisher, but nur is probably on the same level as these guys (trains with grijalva and woody and historically only a small step down.)

I think teare's best bet is still the 15. My prediction: teare is 4th in 15 and 5th in the 5k.

My picks:

1. Nuguse 3:33 low

2. Kessler 3:33 high

3. Teare 3:34

If Teare runs the 5000, I'll pick Hocker for 3rd, in 3:34 high

A slower tactical race like last year might be like this:

1. Nuguse 3:37 low

2. Hocker 3:37 low

3. Teare 3:38 high (or Gregorek 3:38 high)

In this scenario, the pace is slow early. I predict Nuguse would pull away with 400-500 to go, Hocker moves at with 250 left, closes on Nuguse but can't pass. 3rd place is whoever has the strongest finish out of the pack.

Alright, Cole’s opener was enough for me to retract.

Nuguse

Teare

Hocker

Got

1) Hocker 3:33high

2) Kessler 3:34 low

3) Teare 3:34 low

1. Nuguse

2. Kessler

3. Hocker

In that order.

I don't get those not picking Nuguse. His indoor season proved that he's at a different level. Barring injury he's a lock. He can run well off a fast pace, has improved his kick so can run well in a tactical race. He can withstand any strength sapping surge thrown at him.

Nuguse

Hocker

Kessler

As much as I’d love to see Hobbs make the team, he’s yet to demonstrate he can handle multiple rounds of championship racing. Would love to be proven wrong and see him make a jump at USAs, but for now it’s gotta be:

1. Nuguse
2. Hocker
3. Teare

All three of these guys have made one of the last two US 1500m teams and I like all three of them to make it in a year where they are all healthy and fit going into USAs.

Nuguse and Hocker are who I feel best about at this point. Hobbs has always been a bit inconsistent. Will Centro or Engels round into shape in time? Teare just lost to Kessler, so by default I don't feel best about him.

The most interesting thing to me is that in prior years, I might have an easy 1-2 favorites in a fast race and a different 1-2 favorites in a slow race, but all the contenders this year (minus Hobbs) I feel fairly equal about in any paced race.

Could someone we aren't listing here slip into one of the 3 spots? (hunter, prakel, wynne, gregorek) I am cheering for Hunter.

I should’ve clarified. I think Teare is likely in sub 13 shape but not as fast as the 3 mentioned. Does Teare train with Fisher & Ahmed?

Anyway, 2 years ago, Teare ran 13:12 with a 54 last lap to beat Luis G at NCAAs. I think he’s much stronger now. And tbh, I think that race makes the team (13:10 with a 53-54 last lap).