Centro ran a perfect race tactically; just got run down by Hocker -- as so many people have this year.
Centro ran a perfect race tactically; just got run down by Hocker -- as so many people have this year.
jcaban wrote:
Centro still looked like he was smirking at the line—like he didn’t care that Hocker beat him. Maybe it’s just that his running style is so smooth that it makes him look casual, but idk, his face as he crossed the line didn’t look to me like someone who was just upstaged.
He wanted to win.
Pulling faces to cover an L is natural from middle school to the pros, but doesn't show that the guy didn't try.
Dubious Caesar wrote:
Centro didn't quite take an L in my book... this is not a definitive race. He had to qualify, and it looked like with 10m to go that Centro wasn't interested in straining further - that was where Hocker drew alongside and it was only then that he would have been aware the momentum Hocker had.
Centro made his move with Hocker - and everyone - way behind him and knew he had qualified if he held it; Hocker made his when there was about a 3m gap from Centro to everyone else, and knowing that he had to wring the sponge, so had more momentum for a few metres. That's all.
In their heat, you could tell that each were conscious of beating the other but it wasn't distracting either of them from just making sure they placed. Neither seemed particularly concerned in the Heat either, despite what was visibly said. That was all secondary. The Olympics proper will tell a tale.
He was beaten.
If Hocker had been let out of the box earlier (his fault) this would have been a win by a second
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https://i.ibb.co/xmSNsmP/1500m2021.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/J2mZQVm/1500m2021v2.jpg
Here is their faces before the finish line. Sorry for the poor quality had to snip it from NBC's vid.
Craig looks horrified, sad face
trailer wrote:
rojo wrote:
This is the perfect example of a writer wanting to craft a nice narrativeeven if the facts don't match up. It's fine. That's fine. Some would say…
Some would say this is a description of every article you write.
I dont know about "some." Its "every" running fan I personally know.
jcaban wrote:
Centro still looked like he was smirking at the line—like he didn’t care that Hocker beat him. Maybe it’s just that his running style is so smooth that it makes him look casual, but idk, his face as he crossed the line didn’t look to me like someone who was just upstaged. I got the feeling that he’s focused on winning in Tokyo, not at the trials.
Race is a race. He lost. If he keeps thinking "oh Ill wait until the important race," he will never win again
Bullet_Proof wrote:
jcaban wrote:
Centro still looked like he was smirking at the line—like he didn’t care that Hocker beat him. Maybe it’s just that his running style is so smooth that it makes him look casual, but idk, his face as he crossed the line didn’t look to me like someone who was just upstaged. I got the feeling that he’s focused on winning in Tokyo, not at the trials.
Race is a race. He lost. If he keeps thinking "oh Ill wait until the important race," he will never win again
Hocker beat Centro and is US champ... no doubt.
We'll see what happens come Tokyo... Hocker is going to have to hold peak form for another month+ which is hard to do... My guess is that Centro will continue to improve for the next 4 weeks and peak at Tokyo. I think Centro has a better shot at making the Olympic finals than Hocker.
Ace_of_Base wrote:
I don't think Centro hit 100% all-out in the last 100m, if he knew Hocker was coming he could have hit his final gear.
Ridiculous. He so obviously knew he was engaged in a two-man sprint from 70m out. Luckily for you, the poster who seems to think “Hobbs” won has you beat.
John Wesley Harding wrote:
Ace_of_Base wrote:
I don't think Centro hit 100% all-out in the last 100m, if he knew Hocker was coming he could have hit his final gear.
Ridiculous. He so obviously knew he was engaged in a two-man sprint from 70m out. Luckily for you, the poster who seems to think “Hobbs” won has you beat.
Well Centro’s form looks so damn smooth it’s hard to see where he turns it to all out. He looks over his shoulder both ways at 100 to go. That seems strange to me, not the action of someone pushing all out hoping not to get “hocked”
rojo wrote:
I eagerly got up toa nd read
up toa nd read
Doubt that rojo ever left a nap eagerly, and especially not to read.
hail the village idiot wrote:
rojo wrote:
I eagerly got up toa nd read
up toa nd read
Doubt that rojo ever left a nap eagerly, and especially not to read.
lol
Nuguse ran the whole race in lane 2.
The track is 400 meters measured in lane1 and 407.67 in lane 2. Hocker ran lane 1 pretty much the hole race, Centro probably half in lane 2 or 3 and half in 1. I realize these are estimates but Nuguse probably ran 20- 25 meters farther than Hocker and half that farther than Centro. Brilliant race by Hocker to stay on the rail knowing that he can outkick anybody and fight his way out of the pack. Unbelievable finish by Nuguse after running the whole race in lane 2.
This is Jim Kiler wrote:
None of our guys are going to be there when the Tokyo final goes 3:29.
This is not a time trial, it is a jog to a sprint for medals.
3:32.07 is the olympic record and yet most races end in the 3:34 range
Hocker and Centro will both have a chance
If anyone can run 3:29 without a pacer, more power to them, I don't see it
I'm not the biggest Centro fan, never really have been, but I think he showed how much more experience he has than Hocker, who's pure grit...
Centro ran a wonderful, veteran race. He positioned himself perfectly, controlled his effort, and got outkicked... I'm sure he'll take the information he learned from the race and apply it appropriately.
Hocker ran, IMO, a pretty terrible race in terms of positioning. He made moves up the inside that went no where, was boxed in a few times, and to some degree, got lucky he got an opening when he did.
This isn't to say that Hocker didn't deserve to win, but winning the Olympic 1500, historically, takes tactical expertise and timing. I think Hocker's done incredibly well so far, and hopefully it will translate well to world championship style racing, but I'd still bet on Centro at the Dance.
Also, I was unaware anyone on Let's Run considered themselves journalists... the Fox news of running.
In some respects Nuguse ran best of the top three, but yeah, he gave away a lot of ground and then let Hocker find daylight to close.
But Centro was the one who ran the most meters, he lost the race to Hocker in the first 1000m.
What happened to Centro happened to greats runners of the 800m. So it's quite difficult to argue about the quick here.
I'm kind of with the people who say centro didn't have to win he just had to qualify and if one guy outsprints him he still qualifies. But in the olympics that won't be an excuse. And he should learn the lesson, win it on strength, not speed.
former tinman elite pro runner wrote:
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https://i.ibb.co/xmSNsmP/1500m2021.jpghttps://i.ibb.co/J2mZQVm/1500m2021v2.jpgHere is their faces before the finish line. Sorry for the poor quality had to snip it from NBC's vid.
Yeah… Centro clearly didn’t want to win… clearly trying to just qualify 🙄
What runner wouldn’t want to be the US champ? I’m sure he would get a bonus for that, along with just general pride.
Anyone saying he didn’t want this win is a moron.
He wanted to win, but he was willing to gamble on a sit and kick strategy, because it's unlikely that too many people will do what hocker did. Everyone thinks you can do that now because of Salazar and Farah/Rupp. Truth is Leo Monzono also would outkick him. Centro wins when he makes a strength move 3/4 in the race.
