You’re right. Don’t forget his 12:48 PR is the ONLY time he’s gone under 13 minutes. He’s finished as a 5K runner! How can he compete with guys like Cheptegei, Gebrhewit, Kejelcha, Kiplimo, or Aregawi who can run 12:40 with ease?
Jakob could focus on the 1500—but we all know he lacks the top end speed needed to compete in championships. Cooked.
The 10K would seem like a logical event for Jakob to focus on now that he is finished in the 15/5. But he only holds a 27:27 PR. That’s not going to cut it against the world elite!
Move to the HM or marathon? What a joke!! He could only hit 63 for the Cogenhagen HM. Josh Kerr—a washed up 1500m specialist—ran a faster HM than that in his base phase.
When you really look at it—where can Jakob compete? He’s simply not fast enough to compete in the 1500, 5000, 10000. His best career move at this point is to be a high end pacer on the Diamond League. He potentially move to 3000m SC. He has a decent 3K PR and has run steeplechase before.
With a PR that slow, I doubt he even has the qualifying standard for major championships, let alone the ability to be competitive in the final.
So how's he doing for threatening the world record?
What "evolution" in training? Do you think the Kenyans coming down from the highlands have PhD's in training, so they can run super fast? Do their coaches? Or are they still putting in the miles and the work on the track? What special diets do runners have that don't include the usual carbs, fats and proteins? Physio is fine for when you are injured, but how does it make you run faster?
You observe that runners are recording faster times so you assume there are these extraordinary innovations in the sport that enable it (and don't give me a load of guff about "shoes" when the untouchable records of El G and Komen were run in the footwear of the '90's).
One thing athletes do have the benefit of today is a billion dollar industry dedicated to the chemical enhancement of sport.
All of Komen’s records have now been “touched” by Ingebrigtsen and Girma, and even one of El G’s records is no more. Records are only ever borrowed, not owned.
Tell that to Flojo, Koch and Kratochvilova - and El G over the 1500 and mile. But I'm sure further innovations in doping will change that.
Jakob has tried zero circuit 5000m races since the 12:48. He smashed Komen's 3k record by three seconds with 7:17. He has handled all the best 5000m runners with no problem in championships where he was running three 1500m rounds first. I see no reason whatsoever to think that he won't be in the 12:30s and at least challenge the world record in his next circuit 5000m. My prediction is that he smashes the record and maybe even is the first to break 12:30.
Jakob has tried zero circuit 5000m races since the 12:48. He smashed Komen's 3k record by three seconds with 7:17. He has handled all the best 5000m runners with no problem in championships where he was running three 1500m rounds first. I see no reason whatsoever to think that he won't be in the 12:30s and at least challenge the world record in his next circuit 5000m. My prediction is that he smashes the record and maybe even is the first to break 12:30.