Americans are crazy delusional about American talent.
Jakob would wipe the floor with Blanks in a 10k and it's not even close.
Per the current OP, yes! I would say it's bit of a reach pit GB vs. JI. GB is in amazing form right now, but not the form of JI.
Most of America's younger distance runners don't realize how serious European X-C is. It's an important part of their training program, not to mention that most Europeans start running X-C at a very young age and it carries a lot of prestige to be successful at it, not to mention it is a valuable part of their annual training program. Back in the 80's and 90's running a few Euro X-C events and qualifying for the World X-C Champs was the norm for many American runners. Pat Porter, Ed Eyestone, and Lynn Jennings were regulars on the USA World Cross Country teams for many years and believed it was a huge part of their successful running careers. The Africans have always taken X-C very seriously and have dominated year in and year out. That being said, JI is no joke in Euro X-C, I hope GB continues his X-C career as a pro, he has the goods to be an amazing X-C runner.
While I think Bkanks would have been top 5, Jakob is a different level, even in December. Hakob did only what he needed to and still put 10 sends on the field in less than 1000 meters.
A more interesting hypothetical is who’d have won if Blanks had run the 3000 last weekend or had the NC guys run the 5000…..
NXN Oregon course is a joke. Mostly flat golf course. Sadie Engelhardt from CA got destroyed on it. Then you had Footlocker at Morley Field, San Diego. Dirt, grass, hilly. A real course. Very sad Footlocker has lost so much prestige to NXN. Elizabeth Leachman Texss winner today did both races. Why didnt Sadie E and the rest of the CA girls?
Jakob is a speed track guy. Great at the 1500/3000, great at championship 5,000m races. Not sure about an all out time trial 5,000m race yet. At 10,000m he's probably dropping off. We clearly saw he has a big drop-off by half marathon and can't compete with the best in the world at 21km. Graham is roughly a 10th best in the world type of guy in 5,000 meters and probably pretty close to that in the 10,000m. So it would probably be very close, I'd give the edge to Jakob but it wouldn't be by more than 5 seconds or so, Graham isn't going to get absolutely dropped.
This is a serious misunderstanding of the event. It isn't really possible to be great at championship 5000m races without also being capable of a fast time in a time trial. To dominate the way Jakob has in the last 3 global finals (or the way Mo did throughout the 2010s) requires more than tactical savvy and a sub-3:30 PB. While 1500m speed is a great asset, it is not the primary indicator of championship 5k success. No doubt it helps, but only if one has the strength to use it. Most elite 1500m runners will be chewed up and spit out in these 13:10 races where the final kilometer is low 2:20s because they lack the 5k ability necessary to reach that point of the race intact.
It's not an accident that the Africans "handed" Mo the title year after year and have continued to do the same for Jakob. When someone is too fast to out-kick and too strong to drop, there is no effective strategy to beat them.
Back on topic: Jakob over Graham all day. It's not really a fair comparison. Could be worth revisiting in a few years depending on how Blanks progresses, but for now they are not on the same level.
And now Hocker is in the conversation for the 5000m as well.
what kind of stupid qns is this no offense, fitness wise, jakob wipes the field in xc against any americans, it's not even remotely close in terms of prs