He certainly would try…Fun prospect to imagine. Guys like Aregawi, Kiplimo, Fisher, Ebenyo, Kandie et al. know their only chance of beating Jakob is to make it relentless for at least 8K. Based on today, Mantz wouldn’t budge an inch in going with that. I’m not convinced Jakob gets dropped, but it’s fun to picture them turning the screws.
With Kiplimo and Aregawi leading, I could see them setting a pace that is so hot that it would actually test Jakob. And given what we saw from Jakob in Aarhus, and at the Copenhagen HM, I can definitely see him under a lot pressure and dropping off. World XC could easily be the best race of 2026
If Jakob the 1500 m runner shows up in Tallahassee then Mantz will beat him. If Jakob devotes a training block to xc and longer, then no, Jakob beats Mantz and probably wins the race. I don’t think Jakob can be ready to beat Kerr or Hocker at Millrose or whatever and also beat Mantz at xc.
Incredible run by Mantz. He's consistently been the top American on the roads for over 3 years now. Doesn't quite have the speed to compete on the track, but he's made for xc/roads.
I think having a pack to race against helped chop a lot of seconds off the American Record. They were going at it the last mile.
That being said, I'm surprised none of the other Americans broke 60. A lot of solid races today, but Ethiopia and Kenya have tons of people you've never heard of that break 60 and our best guys never do.
From a quick scan of those results, the guys Mantz beat to win those races aren't as good as Klecker. I'm picking Klecker.
Klecker has run 27 flat and has been doing much more threshold and aerobic work than Mantz.
I knew Mantz was cooked as soon as he did that 12 x 400 in 60 followed by those 200s in 26. Meanwhile Klecker was doing the work that would help him in a half marathon
Armchair quarterback goes home in shambles. Not as smart as you think you are, dude.
they round up in road races. I think even 59:16.001 would round up to 59:17 but I could be wrong
I always thought that if it was .1 or under it rounded down, but .101 or above was rounded up. I thought I read that in some version of official rules when I first started coaching. Maybe I misread though.
Everything rounded up. Tenths can be used to designate breaking a tie. Finish line camera should also have time and picture of who actually won
Maybe. I just can't root for that guy. He turns up for a few early indoor races in the US and then, nothing, not even British champs. Dever ran 27:08 last year, which was by far the best by a Brit. I think Rory Leonard has a chance of at least closing in on the standard but it would be a minor miracle if he hit it.
Charles Hicks will come closest to hitting the 10K standard outside of Dever. Rory Leonard’s improvement has been impressive, but Hicks is a class apart in terms of talent, and should be due a big PB this year as long as he doesn’t get injured.
I worry about Hicks. He seemingly hasn't progressed much under Schumacher. He needs a breakthrough season, probably this year. He should be better than 27:33 with his talent