Why the hell is Josh Kerr not racing this one? I will admit that I dislike him strongly and am biased here, but this seems like the perfect opportunity to race, especially considering what his season has looked like since Pre. If Kerr truly believes that he is the best in the world, does he not want to prove that? He talks a big game but isn't even giving himself the chance to back it up. This just makes me want Jakob to win gold in Paris even more.
I don’t want to judge Kerr either but from a psychological stand point I would say he wants to go into the Olympics with his win against Jakob from a month or two ago and not risk a loss against him right before the biggest event on the world stage. This is what I like about Jakob. He doesn’t pick and choose like that. He’s very strong minded.
I also like Jakob for that reason, but hate the excuses he makes when he loses. I would prefer to see Kerr racing often against the best, but I understand him not wanting to risk his mental edge for a once in 4 year opportunity. Why should he give Jakob chances to figure out how to beat him and remove his fears about losing again? Don't give up your edge.
Why the hell is Josh Kerr not racing this one? I will admit that I dislike him strongly and am biased here, but this seems like the perfect opportunity to race, especially considering what his season has looked like since Pre. If Kerr truly believes that he is the best in the world, does he not want to prove that? He talks a big game but isn't even giving himself the chance to back it up. This just makes me want Jakob to win gold in Paris even more.
He has already proven that with a WC gold, followed by an indoor WR and indoor gold. He intends to continue proving that with an Olympic gold. That's what goes into the history books of greatness, not some diamond league meet. He holds the championship belt and does not need to prove himself to the rest. They are salivating to beat him, but they'll have to wait for Paris. And if he pulls off gold in Paris, the haters will have to remain salty until next WC.
He has already proven that with a WC gold, followed by an indoor WR and indoor gold. He intends to continue proving that with an Olympic gold. That's what goes into the history books of greatness, not some diamond league meet. He holds the championship belt and does not need to prove himself to the rest. They are salivating to beat him, but they'll have to wait for Paris. And if he pulls off gold in Paris, the haters will have to remain salty until next WC.
I think you are wrong here -if Kerr got a fatal career ending injury post Paris (after winning the gold), and ends with a pb 3.29 / 3.45 he would of course be considered one of the 2020’s greats in the 1500m. But OG and WC gold + a pb in 3.27 / 3.26 territory would place him in a totally different ballpark when it comes to legacy… Of course he can do this time (s) post Paris, but why not go for things when you know you are in shape..?
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Why the hell is Josh Kerr not racing this one? I will admit that I dislike him strongly and am biased here, but this seems like the perfect opportunity to race, especially considering what his season has looked like since Pre. If Kerr truly believes that he is the best in the world, does he not want to prove that? He talks a big game but isn't even giving himself the chance to back it up. This just makes me want Jakob to win gold in Paris even more.
I don’t want to judge Kerr either but from a psychological stand point I would say he wants to go into the Olympics with his win against Jakob from a month or two ago and not risk a loss against him right before the biggest event on the world stage. This is what I like about Jakob. He doesn’t pick and choose like that. He’s very strong minded.
Jakob's confidence is one of his biggest assets and also his biggest downfall. He genuinely, truly believes he is the greatest athlete to ever touch the track and that nobody will ever be able to compete with him. He is not afraid of losing because he just doesn't think he will, and if he does his brain immediately gives him an excuse to justify it, allowing his confidence to go untouched. It makes him a very interesting athlete, because it means he kind of just "does" things when he wants to, without worrying about what others are doing or what the future might hold.
Kerr I think just needs a little more convincing. Jakob has been hearing about his greatness since he came out of the womb, but Kerr gets confidence from believing in his plan (just look how much he gushed about it last year). That plan involves intense focus on a single target date (the Olympic final), and he has shown he is unwilling to compromise on that focus at all. It won him a gold medal, so it's hard to criticize, but it also makes him a less exciting athlete.
I suppose sisk can get to 1k in 2:18-2:19 but how much longer can he go after that? He has a 1k PB of 2:15.52 set 3 days ago at FBK Games. He also has a 1500m PB of 3:35 from last year...I don't think we will be seeing a super fast time here. Maybe 3:28.
I see no reason to say this; Sisk is on a much higher level than Akbache, participating in the Olympics in the 800m, and running 2:15 in the 1000m and 3:35 in the 1500m (previous year, he looks much stronger now). He always leads his races, so he knows what to do. He could be the best pacer you’ve seen this year. He will open in 1:51.5 and run another 56sec lap to 1150 or 1200 meters. It will be the perfect race for Jakob. Monaco set this one nice up. I expect something fast.
I get that you probably don’t actually believe this, but the joke just ain’t funny homes and posting it on every thread just gets annoying, please STFU
Jakob's confidence is one of his biggest assets and also his biggest downfall. He genuinely, truly believes he is the greatest athlete to ever touch the track and that nobody will ever be able to compete with him. He is not afraid of losing because he just doesn't think he will, and if he does his brain immediately gives him an excuse to justify it, allowing his confidence to go untouched. It makes him a very interesting athlete, because it means he kind of just "does" things when he wants to, without worrying about what others are doing or what the future might hold.
Kerr I think just needs a little more convincing. Jakob has been hearing about his greatness since he came out of the womb, but Kerr gets confidence from believing in his plan (just look how much he gushed about it last year). That plan involves intense focus on a single target date (the Olympic final), and he has shown he is unwilling to compromise on that focus at all. It won him a gold medal, so it's hard to criticize, but it also makes him a less exciting athlete.
I think you over do Jakob’s confidence in the mid distances (800m - two mile). In 2023 he didn’t need any inflated confidence in the 1500/mile/2000/3000m/2 mile -he was way better than everybody else (2 sec in the 1500m and around 4 sec in the 3k). Well, he still seems very confident in 2024, but this is partly a rhetoric he has to keep because of the Kerr controversy, but I think also partly because of a vision I suspect he has: To max out on 3.25 mid to Kerr’s (or others) max 3.27.5. -Then I think he still thinks he can skip tactics, and win all of his races purely on better fitness…
Is Jakob’s (perceived) vision realistic? Well maybe not this year (but close enough maybe -who knows). But next year, barring no injuries/ longtime sickness, may give some answers. (The “vision” may however falter if 3.25 is unapproachable, or if f.ex Kerr runs faster than 3.27.5…).
I think also you over do the importance of Jakob hearing he’s the chosen one from the womb -I think he early on acknowledged that he wasn’t that fast in the shorter distances (even the 800m -he once said he would never do 1.44). and I also have heard that he never has viewed himself as a special talent… (And when he’s reduced -f.ex the 2023 WC 5000m he’s very capable of eating crow and run tactically)…!
So what about the 5000m and above? I think it’s no way of knowing (not even exactly in the 5000m) before he does some fast times. -But it’s more fun and interesting than inflated that Jakob chooses to go out so high in the long runs, IMO…
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