Brussels 2000m start lists out! Can Jakob break the world record??

Fair enough. I think my issue with the 2,000 is it pretty much is like a 1500/mile with fewer tactics. In the 3,000 you have some cat and mouse once the rabbit drops and often have a huge last lap etc. In the 2,000 I feel like more often than not the pace will have been comfortable enough for the top guys that it just becomes a fitness contest/time trial for the last 800.

I like the occasional 1,000, but it seems like few guys run it with any aggression and just treat it like a 1,500 going out in 1:48-9. But it could be alright to see if the wavelights were set to 1:46.

Will be mid-70s at race time. On the warm side, but not crushing.

WR incoming...

Race is at 6:57 local…I see 84 degrees

What is European U20 record? It has to be “something”. Whatever that “something” is, I guess that Laros has a chance.

7:54.1 is on par with 4:44.5 but moving down is slightly away from Jakob's sweet spot of 3K/2mile. That said, I'm guessing something like 4:45.80

The 3000 mark will go down next year. He'll dip under 7:20.00

I also think 12:36 or so is reachable next year.

Laros is not 800/1500 guy. He ran that 13:23 5k in his 1st race of the season. He is definitely capable of running sub 13:10 now, maybe even 13:05. I think he is more of a 1500/3000 specialist.

It looks to be very warm in Brussels - Friday forecast low 80s. And the race is at 7pm (sunset is 8:15 so it might be sunny too). That's not promising.

Jakob will run it even if he isn’t in 4:44 shape. The lights were set for WR pace in Lievin earlier this year and he still went for it, even though he had been sick and must’ve known he wasn’t in shape to run 3:30. My guess is he’ll make a strong effort but come up short, say 4:46 and 2nd all-time.

El Guerrouj is the most obivous doper ever. No way Jakob breaks this.

He ran 1:44.78 for 800 indicating very good speed for a 3:30 guy. That’s not to say he can’t run a good 5k, but just saying for now to say he is a 1500/3k specialist is guesswork.

worlds best for 18 year olds is 5:06.56, should not be much of an issue for him

Before Budapest I personally believed this would be easily within his reach. In his 2 mile demolition he averaged 59.3 seconds a lap and it was hard to imagine (even more so after he ran 3.27.1 for 1500m) that he couldn't run 4 laps in 57.0 and close in about 56 flat (which would be 4.44.0.

Hicham in 99 ran 3.27.65, 3.43.13 and 7.23.09

Jakob this year has run 3.27.14 and his final 3000m of the 2 mile was 7.21.5 - to me that sets up better for the 2000m than El G's 99 season.

But, all of that being said, it's hard not to take into account what happened in Budapest with the "illness" - which honestly could be a symptom of a long season of truly elite performances (2 x sub 3.28, another sub 3.29 and the big 2 mile). Was passing on Zurich him a necessary "battery charger" or was it simply to put the "cherry on the sundae" for this tilt? Tough to know. I think this distance is perfect for him given his 1500m ability right now in his career but I still think he will have to be on his game to do it. I don't think even 95% Jakob can get this.

But I will trust that if he is lining up he is in shape, so I will still err on the side of him being the 2000m WR holder when he wakes up Saturday morning.

Correct. He runs a similar time as 800 specialist Sumner while being younger and he's not an 800/1500 guy?? I get he's also very fast in the 5000 but doesn't seem that's what he'll focus on. Mostly the 1500 while throwing down some fast 800s.

I would be surprised if he breaks it now. Beyond the illness there is somewhat of a demoralizing letdown after losing the 1500 the way he did. That has carryover.

I would have expected him to destroy this record if he came off a high of two global golds. That's what Kipyegon did during early summer. Thrive via confidence and form. Jakob would really have to be miles better than the record to take it down during funk stage.

I see 4:56.25 (by Cheru in 2011) as the world best. Cheru was running 3:35.7 in 2011. He never ran faster than 3:35.1 in his career. I guess that Laros should be able to do that easily.

58.8

There are two Belgians in the men's 400. That's why it's last. Brussels always does that type of thing, just like the Lausanne meet always closes with a women's sprint relay so it can spotlight multiple Swiss teams in the relay.

Not everything is centered around global stars. The fans want to see the local athletes on a big stage. That's why the Brussels meet also always features a women's 400 B final within the television window. Sometimes it's 4 Belgians vs 4 Dutch using a points system for neighborly bragging rights. This time I see 2 Belgians, 2 Dutch and scattered others. The two Dutch are Saalberg and Peeters, the other two legs on the relay with Bol and Klaver.

Race is at 20:56 local time according to DL website. That’s 8:56pm.

Temps will be mid 70s

Previous poster referred to 10,000 not 2,000