Michael S wrote:
LOL Rojo gives the same grade to Cole Hocker, a 6th place finisher, as Paul Chelimo, bronze medal winner
No kidding. That's what stood out to me in the entire piece, the Cole Hocker absurdity extending beyond the message board into what was supposed to be a rational analytical article.
Paul Chelimo constantly understands that you have to aggressively risk the front end in the late stage of international championship races. That's why I admire him despite the antics. He forced Mo Farah to find another gear in 2016 and likewise gave himself a chance here.
Cole Hocker should not be judged by the clock. That is disgraceful. He was well beaten and irrelevant. Risked nothing. Someone in another thread here made a great point the other day, that newcomers who risk the front often fail in spectacular fashion early in their career. He used Coe as example. There are countless others. Then eventually if they are good enough they start to hold on. The rewards are overwhelming. The same applies to other sports. Heck, I see it in horse racing all the time. American middle distance and distance racers have made me sick all my life because the vast, vast majority are content to remain well back, instead of sampling that potentially embarrassing method of pushing early, even if you collapse at the beginning of your career. Too bad we aren't coached like the Japanese, who lack the athletes but employ the proper tactic.
Speaking of horse racing, Purrier was indeed totally outclassed. I don't know how anyone expected otherwise. Granted, I stayed away from this site during the pandemic because I knew how many right wing hoax threads there would be. But I can't believe anyone failed to differentiate Houlihan from Purrier. Houlihan, regardless of the taco, had developed a legitimately threatening late bounce and turnover. Not enough to threaten Kipyegon but enough for bronze medal possibility. Purrier's actual ability level in top company was well below that 3:58 mirage. I am so glad I am not mesmerized by time. But following horse racing all my life prevents that type of thing: Class overwhelms speed on a daily basis. As often as not. Hence the great debate.
Coburn was not a gold medal threat. That is ridiculous. The winner had more than enough to race past her, even if Coburn had pushed slightly faster than Frerichs. Coburn is a one gear type who depends on everyone else falling apart, like 2017. It did not happen with Chemutai, who ran better in brutal conditions than Coburn has ever managed in perfect conditions. Frerichs was one of the absolute highlights of the Games. Without her injection of guts that podium was going to be swept by the East Africans.
Finally, Clayton Murphy was never a gold medal contender. After 2016 he needed to recognize that race was a fluke. He should have explored running from the front to the point he could gauge pace, and what his body could handle. Instead it remained a mismash style of lingering back and depending on others to collapse. How was he in great form in the first two rounds at Tokyo? He got boxed both times and was fortunate to squeeze through. He conceded as much.
The other two 800 guys Jewitt and Hoppel were both experimenting with tactics in Tokyo. Jewitt realized he didn't have enough stamina to lead from the front at his preferred pace, given that weather. So he totally deviated in the semifinal and got tripped. Amos was reinstated on name recognition alone, just like Lewandowski at 1500. Hoppel rationalized the opposite, that his late closing style wasn't likely for a medal so he switched to frontrunner, and paid for it.
The 800 is a hellish race. I hate to criticize. But the American men should devote every race to remaining near the front. You can't change tactics upon arriving at the Olympic venue.
BTW, thanks for linking Jonathan's summary piece from August 12th. I had missed that. Well done, including the photos and Norwegian journalists asking him about Jakob. I would have turned it around and asked those Norwegian journalists how Jakob and Warholm stand in Norway compared to winter stars like Johannes Klaebo or Johannes Thinges Boe. That is anything but obvious from afar.