I am worried that Chelimo is only giving the marathon a shot because he knows that he is toast on the track. Hopefully he gets lucky like Kipchoge... a 3k/5k guy who doesn't have it anymore on the track, but shockingly adapts to the marathon like it was his best event all along. Chelimo seems like a no-nonsense win-at-all-costs kind of guy, so maybe he knows something that we don't. And hey... debuting at the trials worked out for Rupp!
One thing he won't do is push his competitors 4 lanes wide in the home stretch.
That's right, instead he'll push them into the water bottle stands. Chelimo will even out the playing field by making sure that NO ONE gets their bottles.
I don’t think that he has the patience required for the marathon. I can see him doing something like taking off at 25k and getting a huge lead and then blowing up. If he hangs with the leaders until the last half mile he’d have a much better chance.
Who was 2003 World Champion, 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist and 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist at 5000m?
(same Olympic medals as Chelimo)
Easy - they’re both Kenyan
I guess this IS a good point. Kipchoge seemed washed up (compared to what he had been). Like, career could be over. Then switched. Then got better than he ever had been at 5k. I can see why a few of you have brought him up.
My left brain says I'm just not so sure. He's aging. Not as good at 10k (XC, etc.) as at 3k-5k. But then again, all that perfectly describes Eliud. So it actually IS possible he makes something happen in this race and/or the next few years in the 'thon.
I guess this IS a good point. Kipchoge seemed washed up (compared to what he had been). Like, career could be over. Then switched. Then got better than he ever had been at 5k. I can see why a few of you have brought him up.
My left brain says I'm just not so sure. He's aging. Not as good at 10k (XC, etc.) as at 3k-5k. But then again, all that perfectly describes Eliud. So it actually IS possible he makes something happen in this race and/or the next few years in the 'thon.
I get that there are some similarities between Kipchoge and Chelimo but I personally don't think that means Chelimo will find much success in the marathon because there are a lot of differences too. First of all, Kipchoge turned out to be the GOAT (until Kiptum breaks all his records) so comparing anyone to him is likely a fool's errand. Second, if we're talking about pure talent, Kipchoge is just a much more talented runner. The medal counts are similar but Kipchoge's 5K PR is 12:46 from 2004 while Chelimo's is 12:57 from 2018. Even with improvements in spike technology, Chelimo is still 11 seconds back. Kipchoge's mile PR is 3:50 while Chelimo's is 3:55. Third, Kipchoge showed much more adeptness at longer distances prior to his marathon debut than Chelimo did. Kipchoge's 10k PR is 26:49 (vs. Chelimo's 27:12) and he debuted in the half marathon in 2012 (pre-super shoes) with a 59:05 (which Chelimo hasn't sniffed). Finally, Kipchoge made his marathon debut when he was 29. Chelimo is 33.
I'm not tech savvy enough to figure out how to quote post from two different posts but someone said that Chelimo is "by far the most talented guy in the field" but that seems a little disrespectful to Rupp. Chelimo's 5K PR is a second faster than Rupp's but Rupp's PRs blow Chelimo away in every other event. Sort of being facetious but Chelimo has slower PR's in the mile and 5K than Nico Young (if you count an altitude conversion for Nico's 3:57).
I'm not tech savvy enough to figure out how to quote post from two different posts but someone said that Chelimo is "by far the most talented guy in the field" but that seems a little disrespectful to Rupp. Chelimo's 5K PR is a second faster than Rupp's but Rupp's PRs blow Chelimo away in every other event. Sort of being facetious but Chelimo has slower PR's in the mile and 5K than Nico Young (if you count an altitude conversion for Nico's 3:57).
I could see Chelimo pulling a 2020 Seidel and making the Olympic team in his first marathon. He has the talent and high level racing experience to do it. I will be rooting for him. It will be interesting to see the words KipRun leading the US Olympic marathon trials. I don't know if he will make the team, but I guarantee he leads at some point.
Hilly course, maybe a little on the warm side, so if he is smart and doesn't get carried away, and most importantly does not have any fueling issues, he could be dangerous if he is there late in the race with his speed.
It will be interesting if any runners try to go solo early, but I expect the Utah crew of Mantz, Young, Ward and maybe Chelanga to work together.
Hilly Course? Orlando is going to be pancake flat.
I could see Chelimo pulling a 2020 Seidel and making the Olympic team in his first marathon. He has the talent and high level racing experience to do it. I will be rooting for him. It will be interesting to see the words KipRun leading the US Olympic marathon trials. I don't know if he will make the team, but I guarantee he leads at some point.
His best bet is to hang back in the 3-6 spot, not go out too fast etc