As I was watching it, I was intellecually thinking. "He shouldnt win this race. I mean Samuel is basically probably better than Grant Fisher right now. Would I expect Langon to beat that?"
But he sure made it interesting. Baller.
That’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever spewed on this site. Samuel is not better than F’ing Grant fisher. He’s great but we just saw him get smoked at milrose by all the American pros. Calm down on your love for Marco. He ain’t that good
I kind of have to agree with this. Fisher is a lot better still than Samuel at every distance possible,
Agreed. Samuel isn't better than Fisher.
I also disagree with rojo saying Langon gave an epic effort. I think Langon ran too passively in the middle portion of the race. He was in 8th at 3k, and he didn't show any urgency until it was too late.
Credit to Samuel for demonstrating the killer mentality that Langon talks about having. When the pace was lagging at 1k, Samuel was the one who took the lead and injected pace to make sure the race was honest. From there, Samuel kept himself in striking position, then took absolute control of the race between 3400 and 3600 by dropping the pace from 32s to 31-30.
Langon had an impressive close, and finishing 2nd to Samuel is nothing to be ashamed of, but Samuel was the baller and deserving champion today.
Yes to everything above.
Post race, Habtom credited Jane's race just prior for showing him the blueprint for winning a championship race. He essentially ran the same tactics as Jane, squeezing down, squeezing down until he was the only one with any juice left at the end.
Many have stated Habtom has no kick. The tv announcers noted Habtom's shoeless xc race back at '24 NCAAs which caused him to miss training time which resulted in a few 2nd place finishes -- making it appear his kick was not very good. Everything's been right for him for a year now -- and he has the hardware to show for it.
BTW, has Samuel applied for US citizenship? There has been innuendo for months now he wants to transfer allegiance. Eritrea sure doesn't want him.
Post race, Habtom credited Jane's race just prior for showing him the blueprint for winning a championship race. He essentially ran the same tactics as Jane, squeezing down, squeezing down until he was the only one with any juice left at the end.
Many have stated Habtom has no kick. The tv announcers noted Habtom's shoeless xc race back at '24 NCAAs which caused him to miss training time which resulted in a few 2nd place finishes -- making it appear his kick was not very good. Everything's been right for him for a year now -- and he has the hardware to show for it.
BTW, has Samuel applied for US citizenship? There has been innuendo for months now he wants to transfer allegiance. Eritrea sure doesn't want him.
I think Samuel showed last year he did have a kick in the loss to Musau. Mid-26s finish and was an eye-opener for me even in a loss. It’s not like there’s any shame in losing to Musau or Kipkurui who had one of the best kicks in the 10K at worlds (4th just too far back). At the college level his kick is good but at the pros it’s a slight concern. But I think he could be a 10K/HM guy where his speed is plenty good. He can clean up on the road circuit and if he gets US citizenship I like him over Blanks in a track 10,000.
On Marco he definitely ran well but it was more passive than I expected. The two Kenyans got better positioning than him and I second guess how he never got to Habtoms shoulder.
This post was edited 2 minutes after it was posted.
Langon ran very well. Put himself right there with 80m to go. Simply did not have that last gear. Beaten by a guy who is just a hair better. No shame in that; Samuel is a stud and was the favorite going in.
I kind of have to agree with this. Fisher is a lot better still than Samuel at every distance possible,
Agreed. Samuel isn't better than Fisher.
I also disagree with rojo saying Langon gave an epic effort. I think Langon ran too passively in the middle portion of the race. He was in 8th at 3k, and he didn't show any urgency until it was too late.
Credit to Samuel for demonstrating the killer mentality that Langon talks about having. When the pace was lagging at 1k, Samuel was the one who took the lead and injected pace to make sure the race was honest. From there, Samuel kept himself in striking position, then took absolute control of the race between 3400 and 3600 by dropping the pace from 32s to 31-30.
Langon had an impressive close, and finishing 2nd to Samuel is nothing to be ashamed of, but Samuel was the baller and deserving champion today.
This is an interesting take, and I actually do not disagree. I think these fields are too big on 200M tracks anyway, and I say that regardless if I have a rooting interest. What I think Marco did was okay to gather for one run in rather than up and down it to move around during the race. Samuel going to the front at those fractions until 1600 to go, was not some epic effort either, it was quite easy for him and devoid of traffic. I don't think at this stage Marco is beating Samuel at above 3K , Samuel is a mature runner who ran 10K cross with one shoe for last 5K of NC Nats XC two years ago. When I look at the splits, Langon ran 4:00.x for last 1600, he went from a meter or so back of third in fourth to get to second, I really don't think this looks much different if he is in second or third , I think Samuel would have just run a little faster. I did not think Langon was winning this race, and second by .4 was about as good as it would look. I think it's a very good race, only mitigated by the rhetoric before and after every performance, which is actually part of who he is and drives him I think. I give him another thing for sure..he is consistent with the dialogue, but this post race was a little more measured than the usual. I am a big fan of the talent, he is a next level guy, only 21 in a field where 7 of first 11 finishers were African..and God knows how old.
What must be pointed out is that Samuel did the heavy lifting and was able to run everyone off his tail. Marco did an excellent job of hanging in there when the others could not yet getting even with Samuel never happened because Samuel is THAT strong. If he does not lose that shoe with 3.2 miles left, he likely beats Blanks and wins back to back XC titles.
3000m works to Marco's advantage in a match-up with Samuel. Look for Marco to get his first National title.
I also disagree with rojo saying Langon gave an epic effort. I think Langon ran too passively in the middle portion of the race. He was in 8th at 3k, and he didn't show any urgency until it was too late.
Credit to Samuel for demonstrating the killer mentality that Langon talks about having. When the pace was lagging at 1k, Samuel was the one who took the lead and injected pace to make sure the race was honest. From there, Samuel kept himself in striking position, then took absolute control of the race between 3400 and 3600 by dropping the pace from 32s to 31-30.
Langon had an impressive close, and finishing 2nd to Samuel is nothing to be ashamed of, but Samuel was the baller and deserving champion today.
When I look at the splits, Langon ran 4:00.x for last 1600,
I also disagree with rojo saying Langon gave an epic effort. I think Langon ran too passively in the middle portion of the race. He was in 8th at 3k, and he didn't show any urgency until it was too late.
Credit to Samuel for demonstrating the killer mentality that Langon talks about having. When the pace was lagging at 1k, Samuel was the one who took the lead and injected pace to make sure the race was honest. From there, Samuel kept himself in striking position, then took absolute control of the race between 3400 and 3600 by dropping the pace from 32s to 31-30.
Langon had an impressive close, and finishing 2nd to Samuel is nothing to be ashamed of, but Samuel was the baller and deserving champion today.
Yes to everything above.
Post race, Habtom credited Jane's race just prior for showing him the blueprint for winning a championship race. He essentially ran the same tactics as Jane, squeezing down, squeezing down until he was the only one with any juice left at the end.
Many have stated Habtom has no kick. The tv announcers noted Habtom's shoeless xc race back at '24 NCAAs which caused him to miss training time which resulted in a few 2nd place finishes -- making it appear his kick was not very good. Everything's been right for him for a year now -- and he has the hardware to show for it.
BTW, has Samuel applied for US citizenship? There has been innuendo for months now he wants to transfer allegiance. Eritrea sure doesn't want him.
Samuel needs to take a pretty chunk off of his 3:38 1500m PR before we anoint him as a big kicker. For the time being, he wouldn’t have a prayer against 3:48/12:45 guys like Fisher and Young.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.???On the biggest of stages and in one of the most highly anticipated finals of this year's national championships, senior distance runner Marco
Samuel passed right by Langdon at 1k or so in. Not sure why Langdon didn’t just get on his shoulder then. the announcers kept talking about the aggressive killer instinct multi sport Langdon and he really didn’t show it here.
Post race, Habtom credited Jane's race just prior for showing him the blueprint for winning a championship race. He essentially ran the same tactics as Jane, squeezing down, squeezing down until he was the only one with any juice left at the end.
Many have stated Habtom has no kick. The tv announcers noted Habtom's shoeless xc race back at '24 NCAAs which caused him to miss training time which resulted in a few 2nd place finishes -- making it appear his kick was not very good. Everything's been right for him for a year now -- and he has the hardware to show for it.
BTW, has Samuel applied for US citizenship? There has been innuendo for months now he wants to transfer allegiance. Eritrea sure doesn't want him.
Samuel needs to take a pretty chunk off of his 3:38 1500m PR before we anoint him as a big kicker. For the time being, he wouldn’t have a prayer against 3:48/12:45 guys like Fisher and Young.
Actually he doesn’t. Miruts Yifter was a legendary kicker who didn’t “need to take a pretty chunk off his 1500m PR before we anointed him as a big kicker.” We didn’t have to anoint Yifter, as he simply outkicked almost everyone.
As I was watching it, I was intellecually thinking. "He shouldnt win this race. I mean Samuel is basically probably better than Grant Fisher right now. Would I expect Langon to beat that?"
But he sure made it interesting. Baller.
ROJO!!!!
WTF are you talking about? Samuel better than Fisher? Epic effort? Baller? I know you have a strong running background, and spend most, if not all of your time watching and analyzing the sport, but HOLY SH^T!!!, what freakin' race were you watching? Your Boy Marco ran the PERFECT RACE to finish 2nd place. He stayed out of trouble, moved up nicely through the pack, and set him self up perfectly to unleash his 3:33 1500m kick, and what happened? Kinda like a monster M-80 you light on the 4th of July, when everyone is waiting for the big blast...and poof! a little bit of smoke...and NOTHING!!!...a dud. A slow, cruise and kick race, and Marco sh^t the bed! Hey, 2nd place isn't bad, but when you talk so much sh^t about how you fear no one, and then when it's time to put on your big boy shorts, you instead put on your girlfriend's bikini briefs...and fold. Marco should've lit Samuel up with 2 or 3 laps to go, that show's balls. He never challenged him, and got bit^h slapped!
Also, kinda of tired listening to his post race excuses of how he lost, and all the adversity with his upbringing, blah...blah...blah. NO ONE CARES!!! Shut up, run faster, and WIN! The brutal thing is that he's wicked talented, but he needs to check himself a bit. Run on positive energy, not negative revenge.
As I was watching it, I was intellecually thinking. "He shouldnt win this race. I mean Samuel is basically probably better than Grant Fisher right now. Would I expect Langon to beat that?"
But he sure made it interesting. Baller.
ROJO!!!!
WTF are you talking about? Samuel better than Fisher? Epic effort? Baller? I know you have a strong running background, and spend most, if not all of your time watching and analyzing the sport, but HOLY SH^T!!!, what freakin' race were you watching? Your Boy Marco ran the PERFECT RACE to finish 2nd place. He stayed out of trouble, moved up nicely through the pack, and set him self up perfectly to unleash his 3:33 1500m kick, and what happened? Kinda like a monster M-80 you light on the 4th of July, when everyone is waiting for the big blast...and poof! a little bit of smoke...and NOTHING!!!...a dud. A slow, cruise and kick race, and Marco sh^t the bed! Hey, 2nd place isn't bad, but when you talk so much sh^t about how you fear no one, and then when it's time to put on your big boy shorts, you instead put on your girlfriend's bikini briefs...and fold. Marco should've lit Samuel up with 2 or 3 laps to go, that show's balls. He never challenged him, and got bit^h slapped!
Also, kinda of tired listening to his post race excuses of how he lost, and all the adversity with his upbringing, blah...blah...blah. NO ONE CARES!!! Shut up, run faster, and WIN! The brutal thing is that he's wicked talented, but he needs to check himself a bit. Run on positive energy, not negative revenge.
I agree with the last paragraph, but I do not think he ran a bad race at all.I think he positioned himself 1-2 yards farther back than he should have thinking he could cover that and he did not, other than that he stayed out of trouble and put himself in a spot, (you could say for second, I thought when he rolled up on him right before top of the turn he was a winner, Samuel bit down hard and did not let that happen. Samuel is a very mature multi type champion. I would not be so critical of this result, myself and Scotty a dear friend of mine talk about this stuff a lot, and we both thought this was a crap shoot either way..that he could win , but he was not the favorite. I also do not think he is changing at all, you may not like it, I don't think I do either LOL and he probably knows that and does not care. I think folks need to really be objective on a couple of things, 3 years ago, who was farther up your radar gauge? Langon or the Young twins? You would be lying if you saw all of this coming, 3:33..7:34 and 13:05 barely nipped by Samuel in that race at line and this was not a runaway at all. These and his kind of surprising and that was balls out at that time 5K in NC's outdoors. The issue with the 5K 3K double for a few guys tonite and those doubling back from DMR like Birnbaum, is ,how deep did they go last night, the only one who got a walk away was Sahlman having to run 1 400/200 off of 4:04 mile pace almost, I had him in 53.7 or so , that almost adds. Listen, you can talk all you want(runners, I mean) but, it's tough enough out there I think without creating a Black Jack Mulligan persona, (for the elders) lol. He is really good, and with his PRs at 21 has some major tools, but there are no easy wins at any distance today and no talking your way into it either. I also thought last nights post race, was much better except for the obvious continuous younger life references. You are right on that, nobody cares , not really and if they did, it's been brow beaten out of them by now.
As I was watching it, I was intellecually thinking. "He shouldnt win this race. I mean Samuel is basically probably better than Grant Fisher right now. Would I expect Langon to beat that?"
But he sure made it interesting. Baller.
ROJO!!!!
WTF are you talking about? Samuel better than Fisher? Epic effort? Baller? I know you have a strong running background, and spend most, if not all of your time watching and analyzing the sport, but HOLY SH^T!!!, what freakin' race were you watching? Your Boy Marco ran the PERFECT RACE to finish 2nd place. He stayed out of trouble, moved up nicely through the pack, and set him self up perfectly to unleash his 3:33 1500m kick, and what happened? Kinda like a monster M-80 you light on the 4th of July, when everyone is waiting for the big blast...and poof! a little bit of smoke...and NOTHING!!!...a dud. A slow, cruise and kick race, and Marco sh^t the bed! Hey, 2nd place isn't bad, but when you talk so much sh^t about how you fear no one, and then when it's time to put on your big boy shorts, you instead put on your girlfriend's bikini briefs...and fold. Marco should've lit Samuel up with 2 or 3 laps to go, that show's balls. He never challenged him, and got bit^h slapped!
Also, kinda of tired listening to his post race excuses of how he lost, and all the adversity with his upbringing, blah...blah...blah. NO ONE CARES!!! Shut up, run faster, and WIN! The brutal thing is that he's wicked talented, but he needs to check himself a bit. Run on positive energy, not negative revenge.
It sounds like you think he WAS going to blow Samuel out, it was not that dissimilar to the BU race at 13:05 and Samuel won that by hundreths...here? .4?
This is an interesting take, and I actually do not disagree. I think these fields are too big on 200M tracks anyway, and I say that regardless if I have a rooting interest. What I think Marco did was okay to gather for one run in rather than up and down it to move around during the race. Samuel going to the front at those fractions until 1600 to go, was not some epic effort either, it was quite easy for him and devoid of traffic. I don't think at this stage Marco is beating Samuel at above 3K , Samuel is a mature runner who ran 10K cross with one shoe for last 5K of NC Nats XC two years ago. When I look at the splits, Langon ran 4:00.x for last 1600, he went from a meter or so back of third in fourth to get to second, I really don't think this looks much different if he is in second or third , I think Samuel would have just run a little faster. I did not think Langon was winning this race, and second by .4 was about as good as it would look. I think it's a very good race, only mitigated by the rhetoric before and after every performance, which is actually part of who he is and drives him I think. I give him another thing for sure..he is consistent with the dialogue, but this post race was a little more measured than the usual. I am a big fan of the talent, he is a next level guy, only 21 in a field where 7 of first 11 finishers were African..and God knows how old.
Thanks. You make a good point about the challenge of navigating traffic indoors. I wonder how much total distance Langon covered in that race. Seemed like he did quite a bit of running in lane 2.
He’s definitely developed very well at Villanova. His coaches have done a great job, and he’s very driven.
