Cole MF Hocker takes it to the WORLD CHAMP. Doubters, what do you say now?

the overreaction can be explained by the disappointing performance of the US athletics men's team. Americans are still trying to process how the rest of the world has improved and they are stuck or downhill in many events. Then a promising runner like Cole Hocker - who if he runs the race of his life will perhaps be good for a Bronze - is treated like a World Record beater.

Sopa de SabadelI wrote:

Hocker had a good race and was US hope #1 to begin with, but a 3:28 race is gonna break him, just like 3:32 race broke Centro.

Why does everybody keep insisting Hocker can’t run faster? In every major race and now in 2 rounds he’s run fast enough. No reason to think this won’t continue in the final. We simply don’t yet know his top end, but he looked so comfortable today, no reason to think what we saw today is all he’s got. He certainly can win the final off a slow pace, but maybe he can off a fast pace too. The others in the race don’t know either, but I’m sure they are concerned about him.

Easy1 wrote:

I will bet Big Money it is going to take a New World Record to win it and Hocker isn't in that league! You heard it right hear El G's record is gone in the final!!!

You will lose "Big Money". There is not gonna be a 3:25 in the final. A 3:28-29 at best, since everyone is gonna be even more tired after the semis. Kipsang and Tim FTW, Ingebrigtsen 3rd.

truth here wrote:

If Hocker gets 8th in the final people are going to act like it is a huge failure. He was a 3:58 miler before this year. He's already exceeded all expectations.

+1. He is the youngest in the field I believe.

Like I said.....1 would make the final, the rest would get spit out in the semis. Well, one was DNS. Centro was unluckily in a fast heat. Hocker made it through because it was a slower heat.

Hockey will be outside a medal, 5-6th.

Alan

rojo wrote:

But he hasn't run fast... Fair enough but

His pb is now 3:33.....

What’s wrong with you? Why do you constantly taunt your readers like a 5 year old

Hocker looks very, very sharp, and it turns out to have been a stroke of luck to have been in the first heat rather than the second. This will leave him fresher than some of his other competitors. I think it's clear the pace will be hot--but Hocker has the fitness and the savvy to get a medal. There will be a lot of carnage on the final 100, but if he can navigate successfully around it, he will be on the podium.

rojo wrote:

But he hasn't run fast... Fair enough but

His pb is now 3:33.....

Good performance, but it's the semis. Calm down with the MF, took it to the world champ nonsense. But, then again it's Letsrun so lets pump him up and set up huge expectations before the final so we and tear him to pieces after, Yeah!!!

Let the hype even get greater. Potato Tim unsolicited mentioned Hocker as a contender.

We're about to publish the post-race comments but I'll share this now.

“There is some strong guys. Hocker is good, Jakob, McSweyn,” said reigning world champion Timothy Cheruiyot of Kenya after the race when asked who could medal besides Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

Cheruiyot then admitted he’d watched Hocker’s run at the US championships. “Yes, I swatched. The guy is good in kick.”

Hocker will be 2nd 3rd or 4th

Easy1 wrote:

Jakob C. Hocker wrote:

Had Hocker been in the second semi, he'd have still run tactically savvy. He's been so composed and technically consistent this year, level of competition notwithstanding. He closed in 25.8 (52.8).

He is up against guys that can close in 49 if they had to. Some of the 1500m runners he is racing against can run sub 3:30 with a 51 final 400m remember that. The final will not be tactical. I will bet Big Money it is going to take a New World Record to win it and Hocker isn't in that league! You heard it right hear El G's record is gone in the final!!!

Your argument's changed. Wasn't it that Hocker had no chance of making it out of the second semi? This same kid lined up against the fastest person in the world in the first semi and didn't let nerves get to him. There's nothing to suggest that he wouldn't have the same composure in the second semi.

Potato Tim must have something against Britain not to mention any of the Brits as medal contenders.

Great run. He would have been behind Centro in the second heat..

Hocker looked good. I still don't think he can get a medal, he was 7th fastest over the two heats, hell, even Jake Heywood ran quicker. What this race does confirm sit hat he hasn't got a lethal 150 off that sort of hot pace. Compared to Josh Kerr, who looked ragged but closed like freight train, Hocker seemed uncomfortable closing out that race - if he'd had it the tank, I'm certain he would have kicked to take the win.

But he's in the final and that gives him a shot. Let's see what he can do in a race with both Cheruiyot and Mcsweyn pushing the pace. The final is going sub-3:30, that's a near certainty.

Also, how good did Wightman look? Eased to a 3:33. I thought Kerr would be top of the Brits but I'm not so sure now

Impressive by this young American in his international debut. Why some people ar'nt impressed ... only in America. Sure, it will be a fast race in the final. Looks like a fight between Cheruiyot and Ingebrigtsen. Not ver surprised that Centrowitz did'nt make it. He has been a great runner, though.

He ran slower than Centrowitz.

Good for Hocker, but his advance can just as easily be as a fluke of the qualifying system as a sign that he's a legit medal contender.

rojo wrote:

Let the hype even get greater. Potato Tim unsolicited mentioned Hocker as a contender.

We're about to publish the post-race comments but I'll share this now.

“There is some strong guys. Hocker is good, Jakob, McSweyn,” said reigning world champion Timothy Cheruiyot of Kenya after the race when asked who could medal besides Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

Cheruiyot then admitted he’d watched Hocker’s run at the US championships. “Yes, I swatched. The guy is good in kick.”

The final won't be slow enough for Hocker's kick to get a medal. McSweyn, Tim, Jakob and even Hoare will want a 3:28 race.

High hopes wrote:

Hocker looked good. I still don't think he can get a medal, he was 7th fastest over the two heats, hell, even Jake Heywood ran quicker. What this race does confirm sit hat he hasn't got a lethal 150 off that sort of hot pace. Compared to Josh Kerr, who looked ragged but closed like freight train, Hocker seemed uncomfortable closing out that race - if he'd had it the tank, I'm certain he would have kicked to take the win.

But he's in the final and that gives him a shot. Let's see what he can do in a race with both Cheruiyot and Mcsweyn pushing the pace. The final is going sub-3:30, that's a near certainty.

Also, how good did Wightman look? Eased to a 3:33. I thought Kerr would be top of the Brits but I'm not so sure now

he did not look uncomfortable. that is what his running looks like. similar to Hassan.

kokoko wrote:

AlSalswhatsapp wrote:

Cheruiyot looked like he just jogged it in. BBC saying he had nothing else to give. Opinions?

I'm surprised he didn't react when Wightman went past him. Look kinda flat.

Hocker couldn't react, he was gassed off the sub-3:35 pace. Some perspective: he's come to his first Olympics, made the final, and run a PB. He's already "won", you can't expect more than that from a rookie. The final is him playing with house money