Strand is a miler. Probably the best the ncaa has ever seen.
Currently, Young vs Strand in a 2k (5 lapper) should be dead even.
Nope.
Hocker was better and at age 19 (3 years younger than Strand is now), won 4 NCAA Titles, made the Olympic team, and went through to the Olympic finals. And unlike Strand he wasn't using Nike dragonflies or bicarb.
Strand ran 7:30 in the 3k a week after ending his cross country season - meaning only off of 10k training. Strand closed his 3:48 mile with a 2:21 while celebrating the last 5 meters.
Strand could have easily finished that NCAA 3k with a 24 if he needed to. Strand on that day > Nico @ Grand Slam.
Strand ran 7:30 in the 3k a week after ending his cross country season - meaning only off of 10k training. Strand closed his 3:48 mile with a 2:21 while celebrating the last 5 meters.
Strand could have easily finished that NCAA 3k with a 24 if he needed to. Strand on that day > Nico @ Grand Slam.
I think the exciting thing as an American is that between Fisher, Young, Wolfe, and Strand we have four guys who are capable of competing for the win in the 5k in LA 2028
This! I'll take grant for his word as long as he faces Nico next time ... if not this was definitely a dodge.
The guy who won 2 medals at the Olympics last year is dodging the guy who got 12th in one of those races? I don't get it.
I said he likely wasn't dodging provided it didn't happen again (maybe you misread) ...... And yes, the person who has 2 medals has much more to lose by racing less than 100% peak racing shape.
4a. Scottish hunk yet again demonstrates the master blueprint for finish line celebration antics. That hunk dance and pump was one level more electrifying. Add that suave brashness and a tinge of Roger Bannister works wonders.
Big time, I don’t think Fisher can close like Nico just did in that 3k
Very very impressive by Nico but not sure he beats a fit Fisher. I think Fisher takes the 3000 with 3 laps to go and makes it a strength finish. Nico would hang for a bit but I think Fisher ultimately wins. No one stronger in the US than Fisher.
I agree. I think some of our fans tend to get a little overly optimistic when they see a great performance and think it means that others who were not in the race are suddenly downgraded.
Remember during indoor track when Fisher, Hocker and Yared all put up great performances and Jakob had yet to make his season debut. People were doing all kinds of speculating since Jakob hadn't raced up to that point yet, that he'd struggle to beat Fisher in a 3K or he wouldn't be the indoor mile WR holder. Then he started his season and absolutely crushed it.
Completely forgot that Nico Young is 1 year younger than Graham Blanks. With him going pro earlier, I had him as a year older.
You did not forget.
However, you also did not take a few moments to do basic internet research to answer your question.
Graham is only 3 months older than Nico. Both born in 2002. Birth months are April & July, respectively.
And, both are 2020 hs class graduates.
Nico went right to college in fall 2020 while Graham took a break year and didn't enroll until fall 2021. Thus, Nico graduated college last year while Graham just graduated last month.
For all practical purposes, they are the same age -- with Nico currently holding a significant competitive advantage, being this is his 2nd year now as a professional runner while Graham is just beginning his first.
Nico Young is the future of the 5k and 10k. While Grant is busy doing lactate testing his Jerry training is wearing off and Young is looking to get medals. Fisher so ducked the competition
What a terrible take. So the guy who won two medals in Paris last year and set two world records indoors this year is now having his old training wear off and is ducking a guy he's undefeated against?
That's a bad take even by LRC standards, which is saying something!
The guy who won 2 medals at the Olympics last year is dodging the guy who got 12th in one of those races? I don't get it.
I said he likely wasn't dodging provided it didn't happen again (maybe you misread) ...... And yes, the person who has 2 medals has much more to lose by racing less than 100% peak racing shape.
They said back when Coach Smith signed his contract that all of the athletes that he coaches will be grandfathered in even if they are under different brands. This included Grijalva, Nico, whoever else I believe, such as Drew Bosley.
…….But once their contract is up they have to switch to Nike or leave. If Nico signed a contract through 2028, he is fine. Hiltz’ contract with Lululemon was up at the end of 2024(Olympic cycle makes sense) so they chose to not sign with Nike and find a new coach
Big time, I don’t think Fisher can close like Nico just did in that 3k
Very very impressive by Nico but not sure he beats a fit Fisher. I think Fisher takes the 3000 with 3 laps to go and makes it a strength finish. Nico would hang for a bit but I think Fisher ultimately wins. No one stronger in the US than Fisher.
I agree with this take. Honestly that Nico can finish like he can is impressive. That he can improve year over year is too. But can he do it so convincingly if Fisher is characteristically pushing from the front with several hundred meters to go? I'm not so sure.
Also--I may be in the minority here--but I wouldn't put so much stock into a fast finish on a slow time? A lot of collegiate and pro racers do workouts like this, maybe not with the same speed to close, but if it was this kind of speed on a more reasonably split meet, I would be more excited. Nico has the pedigree to back a lot of this up, but I don't expect him to go close like this on a more aggressive pace, at least not for a while.
I agree with this take. Honestly that Nico can finish like he can is impressive. That he can improve year over year is too. But can he do it so convincingly if Fisher is characteristically pushing from the front with several hundred meters to go? I'm not so sure.
Also--I may be in the minority here--but I wouldn't put so much stock into a fast finish on a slow time? A lot of collegiate and pro racers do workouts like this, maybe not with the same speed to close, but if it was this kind of speed on a more reasonably split meet, I would be more excited. Nico has the pedigree to back a lot of this up, but I don't expect him to go close like this on a more aggressive pace, at least not for a while.
You should put stock in a fast finish from a guy who ran 12:51 pushing himself the last K. We also know this isn't a guy who falls off the pace very easily. I'm not saying he's definitely beating Fisher or anything at 5,000. But if he races it fresh at Worlds, I'm picking him over most of the Ethiopians who consistently stink it up/peak wrong and I'd like him vs. the 10K guys doubling back and probably with a sub-27 in their legs.