Niels laros is Jakobs biggest threat for Paris

Not to this guy lol

Likely to be not the age he say he is.

So many Kenyan 'teenagers' run super fast and then never ever improve.

Odds that Cheruyiot improves on his 2023 PBs during the rest of his career?

Reynold Cheruiyot: Because, in general, Kenyans peak earlier and have less running longevity unless going by the name Eliud Kipchoge, or similar.

Amazing it took a page and a half for somebody to say this.

To the person who said Reynopd is only 8 months older- as if you can pin down any Kenyan's age to a precise month. He would still have one more season's experience behind him than Laros anyway.

Plus, whether you like it or not, the stastical fact is that there is a 5% to 10% chance of him being suspended by anti-doping before Paris.

While true on the second part, he already has improved quite a bit.
We can also use our eyes and subjective opinions and he doesn’t look particularly old and is quite raw in how he races.
Still Laros is undertrained and has a great setup, so his ceiling is enormous. Cheruiyot is probably deeper into the pro lifestyle so that is a factor.

Kind of a weird take after what Jakob ran yesterday.

Jakob was pacing his two brothers when he ran the 2.000 in 2020. He was only let loose the last lap. He probably could have done 4.48-4.49. But yes, Laros is very impressive, a star in the making.

The problem with teen phenoms is we just dont know what will happen.A few go on to have great senior careers,but most burn out,and dont.Even those that do,usually peak fairly young.In 10 years time,he'll either be a champion,or a memory.

Niels Laros is a spectacular runner. He is fast and he has stamina. He and Reynold Cheruiyot might be the next big ones. But, please, not next year. It is a bridge to far for them. There is a fierce competition for the second place. First and foremost the two brits, Nordas, Nuguse etc. But in 2028. May be.

He ran
00:13:26

5k in Monaco Road race. Must be Dutch national record.

Yes, but he was beaten (by 2 sec) by his training partner, the 20 years old Norwegian A.D. Rabi, who beat Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s Norwegian 5k record by 4 sec; 13.24…

He'll be a threat but will so many others including 3:43 miler Yared Nuguse. This may just be one of the most and perhaps the most competitive 1500M Olympic Race in Olympic history! I think Kerr and the Brits are focused so much on Jakob that they are forgetting or underestimating every one else!

Oops -I forgot that Narve (G.Nordås) ran 13.26 this winter, so my correction is: Rabi broke Nordås’ National 5k record by 2 seconds, in a 13.24 road race in Monaco.

His 5k results are whatever but he is a rarity in this age - a speed-laden 1500 guy. So running decent 5ks is good enough.

Yared or Kerr are the favorites this season so far.

If J Ingebrigtsen splits 1200m, 2024 Olympic 1500m final faster than 2:42, he cannot win and he would not medal. A piano would jump on his back.

If J Ingebrigtsen splits 1200m slower than 3:00, he cannot win and he will not medal.

Smart money says: Bet on the field.

Laros is probably several years younger than Reynold Cheruiyot. It's just a fact that age cheating is rampant in Kenya and that birth certificates are not universally issued at hospitals, since hospital births are a relatively low percentage still. That being the case, Laros at 1:44 at his age, along with 3:31 and low 13:20s on the track, is a tremendous 1500m prospect. This year is not his time yet, but the truly great ones rise quickly to the top.

i think it was in the gault article that it was mentioned Kiptum was likely 3 years older than his listed age. Maybe it was somewhere else, but the anecdote sounded legitimate.