It's a great time to an American distance fan - An American man could win gold in every single mid-d / distance event at Worlds

rojo wrote:

I was thinking what a special time this is for the US mid-d and distance fans. In the history of the World Championships, which has had 19 previous editions, a natural born American man has won a total of 1 gold medal in an event longer than 400 meters. Donavan Brazier's gold in 2019 is the only one (Kenyan-born Bernard Lagat won 2 and South African born Mark Plaatjes won 1 also).

Yet we've got legitimate gold medal aspirations in every single event on the track longer than 800 meters. The logic for gold is simple.

800 - Brazier's done it before
1500 - Hocker has done it before. Strand's kick is insane and Koech won USAs and a DL.
Steeple - Rookis won the silver last year + falls are part of the event.
5000 - Fisher medalled last year, Nico won a DL and Ingebrigtsen hasn't raced all year.
10,000 - Cheptegei has abdicated the crown and Fisher medalled last year and Young beat him at USAs.

(Marathon - it wouldn't shock me if Young medalled but gold seems tough).

I'm not saying we are going to win 5 golds but the odds we win at least 1 are well over 50% .

PS. If you are wondering about the women, 4 American women have won WC gold in an evnet longer then 400 - Athig Mu, Mary Decker (twice), Jenny Simpson and Emma Coburn.