I watched the 5000m after that Ben did for a workout. Dude is super fit. Good threshold solid threshold effort 2.5 hours after the 1500m. With it being so early in their season I'd expect them to be that close
Pretty sure in high school he ran in the New Balance superspikes. Anyhow the Adidas one is by all accounts good. Hobbs is just not in great fitness yet.
It amazes me on here how all of these arm chair experts think they have an f'ing clue of Kessler's abilities or the plan. Nick tries to give you a view, but the idiots still continue on and on. If you look at the Very Nice Videos, they train and train hard right thru this meet, and he missed training with a small foot injury. It's pretty clear that I am a Ron and VNTC fan of all those guys for a while now, and he knows exactly what he is doing, running 3:30's high in a nothing meet in April is NOT the plan..LOL. I also think people forget that even though marginally he had PR'ed in the Mile Indoors at 3:57.10 at still 18 years old, turning 19 in March. And an eased up looking around 7:59 3K on 1/24. Things were and are going fine.
Some of you also need to know how to analyze race from the splits available, without seeing it. He closed in 1:56.1x and just under 57 and got pipped probably easing up by .08.
He’ll be just fine. Hard speed on the track has just started, and the MI weather has been less than cooperative.
Exactly my point. Now it's the weather's fault.
7 weeks out and only starting speed now? He's in trouble, he should have started earlier. He just got outkicked by a halfmarathoner with a 3:43 PB in the 1500. Flanagan's best 800 is only 1:57.
Ever tried to do outdoor track work in michigan in late winter/early spring? C’mon up and give it a try. It might give you a better perspective.
By the way for those who worry if Adidas is getting their monies worth, I might argue that as a 19 year old prospect, any publicity is good, until it becomes a siruation where it is clear he/she would never get better. There are 67 posts on this thread now.
20 on the Hocker/Teare 4 x mile no competition at all, record attempt.
So I was at the meet. Kessler definitely wasn't easing up. He was on the inside and an Ohio State guy was on his shoulder and they were both digging for the line (it was visible on their faces), but Ben came on the outside and they just didn't see him. I definitely don't endorse any of this "hobbs is done" talk. It was a fun race to watch. Hobbs led the first lap then it slowed on lap 2 and 3 while someone else from Ohio State took over (that guy later dropped back to jogging, so he may have been pacing for his teammate), but Hobbs took the lead with a lap to go and held it until less than a meter to the line.
Another thing that happened at the meet was Trevor Bassett pulled up about 10 meters into the 200 holding his left glute/hamstring. He was walking around after though so hope he's all good.
Pretty sure in high school he ran in the New Balance superspikes. Anyhow the Adidas one is by all accounts good. Hobbs is just not in great fitness yet.
Think he wore Dragonfly last year. The adidas spikes are just as good. They seem to work fine for Mason Ferlic last night in the steeple, NAU, NC State, Washington, etc.
Realistically, the Adidas contract likely had some effect on his immediate success, similar to the transition from high school to college is not always smooth for many students. I think that the stress of contract negotiations likely put some strain on Kessler during the Olympic Trials, but signing at that moment was the best financially. Hobbs will be fine, and will perform with longevity as he seems to have a long term approach similar to his Mentor Willis. By fine, I mean that he will get the most out of his potential at the right moment, which only time will give us our answer what that potential is. But it is not the shoes, it may be the stresses of being a professional athlete as a teenager or that it is APRIL and no one in their right mind is peaking now. Remember, Centro ran 1:50 last April.
I was at the meet and I haven't seen any discussion on it so I'll say something.
Hobbs ran the first lap mid-pack (I think it was a 53-high opener for him). On the back straight there were four guys in front of him on the rail. He then slowed down and stepped off the track with about 250m to go. Was obviously pissed off because he threw his spike. I don't know anything other than that.
I don't have any bold predictions for his trajectory but I will say I'm a bit disappointed.
7 weeks out and only starting speed now? He's in trouble, he should have started earlier. He just got outkicked by a halfmarathoner with a 3:43 PB in the 1500. Flanagan's best 800 is only 1:57.
Ever tried to do outdoor track work in michigan in late winter/early spring? C’mon up and give it a try. It might give you a better perspective.
How is this a valid excuse? Hes a pro runner, not a HS runner anymore, figure out the training situation. + Michigan has a state of the art indoor track, so you are wrong anyway.