Mekhissi-Benabad was as tall as Cooper and heavier. Tahri also very tall though more wiry like El Bakkali. Just because most of the Kenyans are short and fast-twitch type guys… This is actually a very interesting idea.
It seems like there are two competing things you want in a good natural steeplechaser. First you want to be light so jumping doesn’t take as much, and second you want to high crotch height so you don’t have to jump as hard. I would think the most natural steeplechasers would be very slight, tall runners.
There is no advantage in being tall. No one clears the barriers from the top of their head. Barriers are cleared from the bottom of their butt. A taller runner is going to be a heavier runner. More weight means more energy to lift the body 35 times over the course of the race. Also, a tall runner's natural take off point is further in front the barrier, which means a longer trajectory from take-off to landing, frequently causing awkward rotation over the barrier, while the short guys just pop up and drop down. Shorter runners are able to perform spectacular victory dances when they win (most times).
A taller guy on has a higher crotch. Not as much higher as at the top of their head, but say 0.4 times the height difference. Its a lot like the high jump. A taller guy has to raise his center of mass less. Not as much less as the height difference, but say 0.55 times the height difference.
Historically, more overlap of 3000mSC guys with 10000m than the other events. Historically, 3000mSC guys are built similarly to 10000m guys. The recent success of a very small number of females over 5'7" and very small number of males over 6'1" in 3000mSC are just outlier data points. Note: 10000m medalists average about 5'7".
So why not run the race that is 3000m? He’s 6’ 2”.
The best steeplechasers are generally tiny little men. 6'2" isn't tiny.
No offense, Malmo, as I know your background in the event, but you are confusing causation and correlation. The best distance runners (longer than 1500m) are all tiny little men. And most of them are tiny little East African men. So, yes, they're the best in the steeplechase too. Relatively-speaking, and I saw your later comment about higher weight (which is ludicrous in my opinion), it's doesn't follow at all that a taller runner would be more disadvantaged in the steeple than the flat events. In fact, it's the opposite: from successful steeplechase runners that have already been mentioned on this thread to high jumpers (how many world champ high jumpers are under 6'0"?) there's clearly a benefit to being taller all else being equal.
The best steeplechasers are generally tiny little men. 6'2" isn't tiny.
No offense, Malmo, as I know your background in the event, but you are confusing causation and correlation. The best distance runners (longer than 1500m) are all tiny little men. And most of them are tiny little East African men. So, yes, they're the best in the steeplechase too. Relatively-speaking, and I saw your later comment about higher weight (which is ludicrous in my opinion), it's doesn't follow at all that a taller runner would be more disadvantaged in the steeple than the flat events. In fact, it's the opposite: from successful steeplechase runners that have already been mentioned on this thread to high jumpers (how many world champ high jumpers are under 6'0"?) there's clearly a benefit to being taller all else being equal.
You believe you deserve an up arrow because you used the lawyer phrase: Correlation doesn't mean causation.
Go ahead and list the Olympic SC medalists of mostly European heritage before 2008 Olympics over 6'1".
Let'srun lawyer, I stated 3000mSC is correlated with 10000m. Dig through the data and prove me wrong.
I've said for a while here that Teare is a 3k/5k type (there are plenty of these guys). I would suggest that he focus on 3000s in Europe, then give the 5k another shot in September. He's got a better skill set than Ritz, so I believe 12:56pt is reachable.
Yes, what matters is hip height. People have different proportions of torso/leg height, but it doesn't matter how tall your torso is very much, only your legs. And very short people can be very good at steeple, it's hardly worth talking about. Above 4'9" females and 5'3" males, if you're strong and light enough to run distance at the elite middle school+ level, you should be strong and light enough to get your hips over the barriers 36 times.
It seems like there are two competing things you want in a good natural steeplechaser. First you want to be light so jumping doesn’t take as much, and second you want to high crotch height so you don’t have to jump as hard. I would think the most natural steeplechasers would be very slight, tall runners.
There is no advantage in being tall. No one clears the barriers from the top of their head. Barriers are cleared from the bottom of their butt. A taller runner is going to be a heavier runner. More weight means more energy to lift the body 35 times over the course of the race. Also, a tall runner's natural take off point is further in front the barrier, which means a longer trajectory from take-off to landing, frequently causing awkward rotation over the barrier, while the short guys just pop up and drop down. Shorter runners are able to perform spectacular victory dances when they win (most times).
Daniel Lincoln AR holder 5'11", 154 and not long legged. If Teare is really 6'2" then he is no heavier then that. Having access to Jager as an assistant coach should be invaluable.
Daniel Lincoln AR holder 5'11", 154 and not long legged. If Teare is really 6'2" then he is no heavier then that. Having access to Jager as an assistant coach should be invaluable.
There's been a noticeable increase in taller and fewer shorter distance runners. Super shoes have taken away the smaller runner's training advantage of being able to build up to and maintain high mileage with fewer injuries.
This is a good call. Teare has no weapons for the 1500. With a lot of luck, he could possibly make a global final, but more likely, he'd have a career like Johnny Gregorek. Maybe he can get better at the 5000 and hope for retirements/moving up from Chelimo and Kincaid over the next few years. Still, the steeple gives him a path to a global champs every year now that Jager and Bor are done. If Geordie Beamish can get close to 8:15, Teare should be able to run the standard with little trouble. And you can medal in the steeple without a devastating kick.
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