After that convincing Millrose win, I think every race from this point on he should be the favorite to win. Am I wrong?
Everyone downvoting you and saying no aren’t naming anyone better than him, you know why? They can’t. He’s currently the best distance runner in the world.
The degree to which he’s the best isn’t that high at the moment, but you can’t make an argument for anyone else (until you start factoring half marathon and above).
Track + Field New does not have Hocker in the world's top ten in 2025 and only #4 in USA. This is based on actual results from 2025 (not who they think is the best) and surely his DQ in the WC heats (semis?) hurt him. I give TFN lots of respect in their compilations
After that convincing Millrose win, I think every race from this point on he should be the favorite to win. Am I wrong?
Officially perhaps. But let's not lose sight of possible wolrds and the bigger picture. We'll never know if somewhere out there is not someone from one of the last remaining hunter gatherer tribes who just covered anything from 800 to 5000m in record time, high on herbs, trying to escape a predator. Maybe one of them spy satelites can do some mext evel real time movement detection and tracking to confirm this. Or another animal doing a casual sub 8 minute 3k en route to a sub 40 minute 10 mile. Or an alien on another planet who just did a 3 minute mile during a mommy walk. Or a different timeline where Hocker is a 250 pound office worker who won't run a step if you paid him. Please dont downvote. I have nothing constructive to add and am juat trying to be entertaining, knowing full well I'm not responding normally.
Excluding T+F and sprints and 400 H, the top (distance) guys are, in that order:
Wanyonyi
Sawe
Hoey
Sedjati
J. Korir
Laros
Arop
Kiplimo
Fisher
Burgin
Habz
Attaoui
P. Koech
Nuguse
Nader
Gressier
Masalela
Mehary
R. Cheruiyot
El Bakkali
Hocker
So, not quite but almost top 20 in the official World Athletics list. As of 26 Jan 2026, so we can revisit this once the past weekend is included.
This is heavily biased by fast performances, which is an also exciting but different metric compared to the "best". The "best" is who wins competitive races
Hoey is going to drop an absolutely NASTY 1500 this summer. If Hocker is in the race he will lose.
Hoey is not making to summer without a doping violation. Also, Hocker would smoke him over 1000m. Again, focus on what OP said. TODAY, this month, no one is beating Hocker. Jakob Achillies going to way of Brazier. He's cooked. Maybe a bronze coming in 5k in LA.
Excluding T+F and sprints and 400 H, the top (distance) guys are, in that order:
Wanyonyi
Sawe
Hoey
Sedjati
J. Korir
Laros
Arop
Kiplimo
Fisher
Burgin
Habz
Attaoui
P. Koech
Nuguse
Nader
Gressier
Masalela
Mehary
R. Cheruiyot
El Bakkali
Hocker
So, not quite but almost top 20 in the official World Athletics list. As of 26 Jan 2026, so we can revisit this once the past weekend is included.
This is heavily biased by fast performances, which is an also exciting but different metric compared to the "best". The "best" is who wins competitive races
The best is who does both and right now it’s very unclear who is that guy.
After that convincing Millrose win, I think every race from this point on he should be the favorite to win. Am I wrong?
Everyone downvoting you and saying no aren’t naming anyone better than him, you know why? They can’t. He’s currently the best distance runner in the world.
The degree to which he’s the best isn’t that high at the moment, but you can’t make an argument for anyone else (until you start factoring half marathon and above).
Wanyonyi, American Koech, Gressier, Kejelcha, Nader, Laros, and Habz arguably had better results this past Outdoor season based on different skillsets. I’m not saying Hocker isn’t up there but it’s too muddled to seriously consider him the best.
This post was edited 18 seconds after it was posted.
Hoey is going to drop an absolutely NASTY 1500 this summer. If Hocker is in the race he will lose.
Hoey is not making to summer without a doping violation. Also, Hocker would smoke him over 1000m. Again, focus on what OP said. TODAY, this month, no one is beating Hocker. Jakob Achillies going to way of Brazier. He's cooked. Maybe a bronze coming in 5k in LA.
? Hoey would destroy Hocker over 1000m lol. No one is beating Hocker except….all the guys that beat him this past year.
After that convincing Millrose win, I think every race from this point on he should be the favorite to win. Am I wrong?
He's going to get embarrassed by Sam Ruthe at the Sound Invite on the 14th. Hocker is too cocky and Ruthe is hungry and doesn't know any better than full gas. He'll catch Cole by surprise and it will be a HUGE storyline.
If he "shushes" him at the finish line it would be the best thing to ever happen in track & field.
You do realize that Hocker did this to a cocky Centro when he beat him in 2016, right? You were probably cheering Hocker on then. Now you want Ruthe to do it to Hocker LOL. What a never ending cycle.
He's the best championship racer in the middle distances out there right now. Being reigning Olympic 1500 and World 5000m champ pretty much grants you that title. But for circuit races, we know that he's often not in top form.
Hoey is not making to summer without a doping violation. Also, Hocker would smoke him over 1000m. Again, focus on what OP said. TODAY, this month, no one is beating Hocker. Jakob Achillies going to way of Brazier. He's cooked. Maybe a bronze coming in 5k in LA.
? Hoey would destroy Hocker over 1000m lol. No one is beating Hocker except….all the guys that beat him this past year.
I probably equally criticize Jakob and Cole. Since Jakob's inuries held him back last year I'd put hockr in front but only barely. Jakob did run 3:45 a yer ago so I am not counting him out at all. Same For Kerr. Indoor world champs are going to be exciting. Since this year it sems lik veryone is going you guys better not try to diminish the title like I already see people doing (pros included) for ultimate world champs. It will be equal to an outdoor one. Whoever wins is the king for the year
Excluding T+F and sprints and 400 H, the top (distance) guys are, in that order:
Wanyonyi
Sawe
Hoey
Sedjati
J. Korir
Laros
Arop
Kiplimo
Fisher
Burgin
Habz
Attaoui
P. Koech
Nuguse
Nader
Gressier
Masalela
Mehary
R. Cheruiyot
El Bakkali
Hocker
So, not quite but almost top 20 in the official World Athletics list. As of 26 Jan 2026, so we can revisit this once the past weekend is included.
What's the point of this, do you genuinely think guys like Fisher, Sedjati, Mehary, Cheruiyot are better than him? The list is ass and takes diamonds leagues in way too high of a consideration, and USAs and worlds way too low.
Everyone downvoting you and saying no aren’t naming anyone better than him, you know why? They can’t. He’s currently the best distance runner in the world.
The degree to which he’s the best isn’t that high at the moment, but you can’t make an argument for anyone else (until you start factoring half marathon and above).
Wanyonyi, American Koech, Gressier, Kejelcha, Nader, Laros, and Habz arguably had better results this past Outdoor season based on different skillsets. I’m not saying Hocker isn’t up there but it’s too muddled to seriously consider him the best.
Those who didn't win gold shouldn't belong there, Wanyonyi isn't distance. Gressier lost the world championship head to head (in Hocker's off event), Nader won a watered down 1500m field.
