We merged two threads on the same topic and kept the one started by Rojo as Rojo's was started first and its his website. The 2nd thread was titled, "Random Swede runs 12:44 to smack the Africans and set new European record!?"
he's hardly random. he already has a European Record (10k road). fast time trialist with decent range (1:45 800, 59:23 HM) but he's just not good at tactical/championship races so most ppl don't know about him.
What's with the "Nico who?" in the thread title, Rojo? Almgren is a seasoned pro still in his prime who ran 12:44. Nico is in his first full year as a pro and ran 12:45 at age 22.
What's with the "Nico who?" in the thread title, Rojo? Almgren is a seasoned pro still in his prime who ran 12:44. Nico is in his first full year as a pro and ran 12:45 at age 22.
I'm poking fun on Nico and American fans. We'd never seen anything like that but three days later, a Swede ran faster all by himself in worst conditions.
the theory that no one can compete with africans in middle long D, doesn't hold much water these days.
the 800 is a racial salad, one of these days a random asian will join the mix.
The theory has never existed for mid-distance unless Jim Ryun, John Walker, Herb Elliott, Sebastian Coe, Rodal, Cram, Centrowitz et al were Africans secretly.
For distance yes Westerners are smashing the old standard for the 5,000-10,000. The marathon/half marathon will be interesting as rarely the best athletes go there in their prime unlike Africans. Mantz and Cairess are encouraging but I’m not sure the depth will ever be like this.
he's hardly random. he already has a European Record (10k road). fast time trialist with decent range (1:45 800, 59:23 HM) but he's just not good at tactical/championship races so most ppl don't know about him.
He's also been injured at his best like when the olympics came around last year, he was injured.
My god that was impressive. Final 2+ k all by himself leading it all. Not nearly as good conditions as Oslo as it was warmer and windier.
Hocker got dropped about 5 minutes in.
Rank Pos Nat Name Time 1 13 SWE ALMGREN Andreas 12:44.27 Official AR MR 2 12 ETH GIRMA Kuma 12:57.46 Official 3 11 AUS ROBINSON Ky 12:58.38 Official PB 4 1 NED FOPPEN Mike 13:02.43 Official NR 5 7 UGA KIPROP Kenneth 13:02.69 Official 6 10 KEN KIPKOECH Denis 13:07.02 Official 7 14 USA HOCKER Cole 13:09.36 Official 8 4 USA BEADLESCOMB Morgan 13:13.37 Official 9 5 MEX HERRERA Eduardo 13:17.08 Official 10 8 ERI TESFAGIORGIS Saymon 13:23.78 Official 11 9 KEN ALAMISI Andrew Kiptoo 13:29.07 Official 12 6 SWE DANIELSSON Emil 13:32.03 Official 13 2 ETH MELAK Biniyam 13:32.79 Official 14 3 KEN KEMBOI Cornelius 13:49.29 Official
SPlits 1000 POL CZERWINSKI Adam 2:33.17 2000 CZE SASINEK Filip 5:07.43 3000 SWE ALMGREN Andreas 7:42.93 4000 SWE ALMGREN Andreas 10:16.16
Not too many 5000m guys at this level can run mid-1:45 800m. This guy can medal, though I notice that he made the pace hot after lap 6 (about 6:02 for the last 2400m), rather than really dropping down the last two laps, albeit with no one close to him. At World's, it will probably be close to 13:10 yet again with a very quick last two laps.
Well again here is another guy who I think would be best dropping the 10,000 if he wants to medal in the 5,000. He’s certainly in the mix if he does. But if he goes against a fresh bunch of athletes in the 5,000 like Mills, Girma, Lobalu etc his chances go lower.
I think this is sound strategy for most guys. Never understood the idea of going 5/10 double. Extremely difficult. Of course, guys have done it but its a very tall order. If fresh, Almgren could possibly win the 5000. Certainly medal. Big talent.
His PRs by World Athletics peak quite nicely in the middle:
1156 | 1:45.59 800m June 2015 1216 | 3:32.00 1500m June 2023 1212 | 7:34.28 3000m June 2024 1268 | 12:44.27 5000m June 2025 1238 | 26:52.87 10000m March 2024 1211 | 59:23 Half Marathon Feb 2024
I think he can lay down a sub-7:30 3000m and a 26:45 or so 10000m too
the 1:45.59 was run shortly after he turned 19.
Almgren has obviously been a mega talent since his mid teens:
100m 11.65, 200m 22.68 and 400m 48.33 all at age 16.
It is laughable when some of the (American?) posters don´t know, especially after his achievements the last 3 seasons.
Fills us in. What medals has he won in the world championships or Olympics? Heck what about euros? What makes him stand up from a couple dozen other runners?
if you aren’t local to him, he really hasn’t done anything. It would be like complaining that a Swedish track fan didn’t know who German Fernandez was.
That being said, why he isn’t a 3:28 guy has to be a fascinating story of the intersection of physiology, training and race distance.
It is nice though that the randoms from around the world are turning into potential medal guys and you just don’t need to look at the 10 guys from Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and expats….