you can't just sit and kick on Laros. He could be sitting anywhere from 3rd to 8th himself.
You can follow close to Jakob, bc you know he's gonna be in position 1 or 2. even if you can't get to him, you can get within a couple spots, and that's close enough to the front. if you want to follow Laros, you might get yourself swallowed up in really bad position, and never even have a chance to medal.
And that doesn't even factor in that Laros is as fast or faster than Hocker anyway.
No way Hocker will be able to sit on Laros while running. 1, he would easily slip off the moment Laros starts to run and 2, it is highly unlikely Hocker could sit on Laros during the 1500m or any distance race. Too much movement, maybe if he was laying down on the track he COULD sit on Laros but only if Laros let him, which would be odd as I don't think either of them swing that way
Seeing how easy Jakob looks in his first race back will be the most anticipated 1500 prelim of all time.
Until then, the likelihood he will be fit enough to lead the race like he normally does is a mystery.
The heats are not even interesting, everyone will have it easy, I expect the 2 semifinals, that's where the real fight will be. There is no place for everyone in the final. If Jakob appears on the starting line, we know who the favorite is, everything else is stories for little kids.
Is Laros capable of a 3:27.65 with closing splits of 26.3 and 13.0? (Like Hocker did last year)
AND
Is Hocker capable of a 3:29.20 with closing splits of 25.9 and 12.5? (Like Laros did today)
Don’t forget Jonah Koech, who closed a 3:30.17 in 25.7 and 12.5 a month ago. And, of course, we can’t ignore the 3:26 guy, even if he hasn’t raced since indoor.
Most under the radar contender. I give Koech the same winning odds as Hocker or Laros.
He’s only run the event twice. One of them with a bum hamstring.
Laros would be stupid to try sitting on Hocker; Hocker is often bunched up in 7th place in a pack until 400m to go, which would put Laros buried. But Laros should follow Hocker up to the front and get positioned there, somewhere where he isn't boxed.
Hocker would be stupid to try sitting on Laros. Laros could be anywhere but probably won't be in the lead. Hocker should be sitting somewhere near the lead because a faster race benefits him. He has more strength (723 3000m) than Laros so it's less risky for Hocker if the pace is hot. Similarly, Hocker doesn't want it slow enough that someone like Strand can outkick him. It's got to be a 327-328 race for Hocker, but he also can't lead. So he needs to be there putting pressure on whoever takes the lead.
Yep great suggestion (he says sarcastically)...Hocker sits on Laros in 5th place, and then watches Laros run away from him with 120m to go. Hocker doesn't have the wheels to compete with Laros in an all out sprint.
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What if Hocker's strategy going into the final is: "Just stay right behind Laros, and try to outkick him in the final stretch" while Laros' strategy going into the final is: ""Just stay right behind Hocker, and try to outkick him in the final stretch" ?
That would be interesting to watch
The reality is, Hocker won't be able to outkick Laros in the final stretch.
Why are we debating about what Hocker needs to happen to win when we already know? He needs a repeat of the 2024 Olympic 1500m final. An incredibly hot race in which he can tuck in 3rd-6th, move into 2nd/3rd from 1200m-1400m, and find a gap over the last 100m.
Laros has a more dangerous last 100m. Hocker needs to be in perfect position with 100m to go, and that position has to be better than Laros's.
Yes exactly. The stage is set perfectly for Laros due to how the 1500m is currently being run.
Hocker has a better chance if someone is pushing the pace to 3:27-28, but who the hell is going to do that?
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you can't just sit and kick on Laros. He could be sitting anywhere from 3rd to 8th himself.
You can follow close to Jakob, bc you know he's gonna be in position 1 or 2. even if you can't get to him, you can get within a couple spots, and that's close enough to the front. if you want to follow Laros, you might get yourself swallowed up in really bad position, and never even have a chance to medal.
And that doesn't even factor in that Laros is as fast or faster than Hocker anyway.
You are being illogical. The dopers are the ones who can maintain top form for months on end without suffering a drop in performance level. Clean athletes have to carefully time their peak.
Yo how shocked are all these guys going to be when Strand beats Hocker again. The tears are going to be insane. Remember this was them a couple weeks ago “Hocker-Nuguse-Kessler until Kingdom comes, these college boys are just a whole rung below our top guys 😜”. Get ready for another humbling.
You are being illogical. The dopers are the ones who can maintain top form for months on end without suffering a drop in performance level. Clean athletes have to carefully time their peak.
Dopers also peak when they dope. They don't always dope all year round. So it doesn't necessarily mean they perform at the same level throughout the season. Hocker's win in Paris was a red flag. If he wins in Tokyo it will be a klaxon.