Wheating never made a global final or won a US title, Hocker did both by age 20.
Hocker may or may not run as fast as Wheating. At age 22 Wheating ran 1:44.56 and 3:30.90. Cole Hocker is turning 22 in June. Cole has run 1:46.39 and 3:31.40. Cole is also much faster at 5000m. We shall see. Cole is also racing in superior footwear.
Hocker may or may not run as fast as Wheating. At age 22 Wheating ran 1:44.56 and 3:30.90. Cole Hocker is turning 22 in June. Cole has run 1:46.39 and 3:31.40. Cole is also much faster at 5000m. We shall see. Cole is also racing in superior footwear.
Times are just one aspect of a career. Comparing Hocker and Wheating’s 800m PB is misguided because Hocker is more 1500/5000, and he has never raced in a fast 800 fresh.
Hocker translated his 1500 fitness into 6th in an Olympic final. Wheating never made it out of the semis on a global stage because he was only in that form for one season and unluckily for him it was a non-championship year. If Wheating had replicated his 2010, everything would look different. In reality, in 2010 he was great ~ a 1:44/3:30.9 guy who probably could’ve finished in the top half of 1500 final (though navigating rounds at his size was hard). But for the rest of his career he was no better than a 1:45/3:34-6 type guy. Hocker last year was well better than than, and we really don’t have a reason to believe 2021 was a blip considering in 2022 he looked good until the injury.
Wheating never made a global final or won a US title, Hocker did both by age 20.
Hocker may or may not run as fast as Wheating. At age 22 Wheating ran 1:44.56 and 3:30.90. Cole Hocker is turning 22 in June. Cole has run 1:46.39 and 3:31.40. Cole is also much faster at 5000m. We shall see. Cole is also racing in superior footwear.
Who cares about the footwear, Wheating never won anything or made it to a global championship final. He had one superb race in Monaco, but Hockers age 19/20 season was superior in accomplishments to anything Wheating has done.
Hocker may or may not run as fast as Wheating. At age 22 Wheating ran 1:44.56 and 3:30.90. Cole Hocker is turning 22 in June. Cole has run 1:46.39 and 3:31.40. Cole is also much faster at 5000m. We shall see. Cole is also racing in superior footwear.
Times are just one aspect of a career. Comparing Hocker and Wheating’s 800m PB is misguided because Hocker is more 1500/5000, and he has never raced in a fast 800 fresh.
Hocker translated his 1500 fitness into 6th in an Olympic final. Wheating never made it out of the semis on a global stage because he was only in that form for one season and unluckily for him it was a non-championship year. If Wheating had replicated his 2010, everything would look different. In reality, in 2010 he was great ~ a 1:44/3:30.9 guy who probably could’ve finished in the top half of 1500 final (though navigating rounds at his size was hard). But for the rest of his career he was no better than a 1:45/3:34-6 type guy. Hocker last year was well better than than, and we really don’t have a reason to believe 2021 was a blip considering in 2022 he looked good until the injury.
Comparing their 800m times is not misguided. It is one aspect of ascertaining their abilities and strengths and weaknesses. There are indeed several ways to skin a cat or run a 1500m. Wheating appears to have brought more speed to the table and Hocker more endurance. Of course personal bests are just one aspect of a career but especially with the advent of super footwear if the athlete from an earlier era is faster it damn well means something. Of course Hocker’s career may just be getting started so we shall see.
Comparing their 800m times is not misguided. It is one aspect of ascertaining their abilities and strengths and weaknesses. There are indeed several ways to skin a cat or run a 1500m. Wheating appears to have brought more speed to the table and Hocker more endurance. Of course personal bests are just one aspect of a career but especially with the advent of super footwear if the athlete from an earlier era is faster it damn well means something. Of course Hocker’s career may just be getting started so we shall see.
If it’s not misguided, it’s premature. Wheating ran three high-level 800s fresh in Europe. That’s how he got his shiny PB. Hocker has never pursued a fast, fresh 800m as a professional. Who knows what he could run?
You can talk about supershoes or whatever, but the point remains that Wheating got to compete on the World stage and he did not acquit himself as well as Hocker did against guys wearing all the same equipment.
Comparing their 800m times is not misguided. It is one aspect of ascertaining their abilities and strengths and weaknesses. There are indeed several ways to skin a cat or run a 1500m. Wheating appears to have brought more speed to the table and Hocker more endurance. Of course personal bests are just one aspect of a career but especially with the advent of super footwear if the athlete from an earlier era is faster it damn well means something. Of course Hocker’s career may just be getting started so we shall see.
If it’s not misguided, it’s premature. Wheating ran three high-level 800s fresh in Europe. That’s how he got his shiny PB. Hocker has never pursued a fast, fresh 800m as a professional. Who knows what he could run?
You can talk about supershoes or whatever, but the point remains that Wheating got to compete on the World stage and he did not acquit himself as well as Hocker did against guys wearing all the same equipment.
Hocker is extremely unlikely to get a medal on the world stage so in the end it will be the same. They are/were both great talents but Hocker looks like he peaked in college. He does have time though to change that narrative.
Hocker is extremely unlikely to get a medal on the world stage so in the end it will be the same. They are/were both great talents but Hocker looks like he peaked in college. He does have time though to change that narrative.
It’s just way too soon, man. You’re digging Hocker’s grave after one injury and a few bad months? You realize Wheating after 2010 never even sniffed 3:30.9 or 1:44.5. Hocker last year won 2 US indoor titles, ran PBs at 3,000 and 5,000, finished top 5 in a Diamond League, ran 3:50.35 and that was all before the end of May. There’s a lot one can accomplish even if Hocker doesn’t medal, which is a really high bar. He’s been top 6 in the Olympics, he’s won USA titles, he very well could win a Wanamaker mile, finish top 3/win a DL race, set an American record and so on. Wheating’s career was disappointing not because he peaked in 2010, but because he never approached that level again.
It’s just way too soon, man. You’re digging Hocker’s grave after one injury and a few bad months? You realize Wheating after 2010 never even sniffed 3:30.9 or 1:44.5. Hocker last year won 2 US indoor titles, ran PBs at 3,000 and 5,000, finished top 5 in a Diamond League, ran 3:50.35 and that was all before the end of May. There’s a lot one can accomplish even if Hocker doesn’t medal, which is a really high bar. He’s been top 6 in the Olympics, he’s won USA titles, he very well could win a Wanamaker mile, finish top 3/win a DL race, set an American record and so on. Wheating’s career was disappointing not because he peaked in 2010, but because he never approached that level again.
Wheating was a flake. He lacked seriousness, desire and commitment. He is his own worst enemy.
Wightman won gold at 28 years old. Hocker will be still younger than 28 years old in LA 2028.
I do learn so much from you folks. Nick Willis ran 3:35 at age 38. Andrew Wheating is only 35 so I would guess Andrew could run under 3:35 if he only wanted to.
Why the hell would anyone be anxious, nervous and worried about some random runner's performance unless they have no life and are just living vicariously through others? It's not normal to be this invested in a stranger's performance. Hell, I wouldn't even write this way about my own kid, unless I wanted him to know his dad is a fkn wanker"
It is the same reason we care about the outcome of the World Cup or the Superbowl. We are sports fans and if the players can't take the pitch, play in the playoffs, or race as we expected, it impacts the outcome of the sport.
I would also be disappointed if I was going to see Hamilton and the real cast all caught Covid. That makes sense, right? I don't want to watch understudies on stage. I want the "pros." When I go to a Golden State game, I want to see Steph Curry, not some back-up player. Do you love sports and theater? Then you know how that feels.
Hocker is an amazing runner and I want to see him race well. Plateauing (if that is what happens) would suck. I like sports competitions to include the best of the best.
It's normal to be a sports fan.
It's normal to discuss your favorite celebrities in whatever niche you're into.
Your post, however, makes it seem like you're about to add this topic on the next visit with your counselor. When you use the words worried, anxious, and nervous, you're suggesting your mental health is riding on some random runner's career.
I thought Hocker looked astonishingly easy in his 7:51. That to me was a very good sign. Much of the way he looked like he was running 10k pace until he picked it up near the end.
Umm wasn't he basically running 10k pace? ok maybe more like 8k pace but running 64s just isn't that fast for a guy who is looking to run 5ks at 62s pace...
Umm wasn't he basically running 10k pace? ok maybe more like 8k pace but running 64s just isn't that fast for a guy who is looking to run 5ks at 62s pace...
It’s 2:37 per K. That’s 13:05 pace so goal 5K pace or a touch slower. Looking easy running a 3K at 5K is a good thing, but we’ll get a better look at his fitness at Millrose of course.
Your post, however, makes it seem like you're about to add this topic on the next visit with your counselor. When you use the words worried, anxious, and nervous, you're suggesting your mental health is riding on some random runner's career.
That's not normal.
Well, that just because we use the word "worry" to mean different things. I am not really worried about Hocker at all. I don't know him and if there are injuries in his future, I will find other runners to cheer for, so no, I am not really thinking about it or worrying about it at all.
Sorry though if my post came across like I was stressing out. I am not. Hocker just was so much fun to watch him kick and I hope he gets back to that level.
Also, correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the phrase "is it time to worry about so-and-so" part of sports parlance? As in "is it time to start worrying about Kevin Durant?" or "Should Dallas be worried about Dak's performance on Sunday?" I think that just means "is so-and-so's trajectory going in the right direction?" That is what I thought it meant...
p.s. I never used the words anxious or nervous. That was another poster (you maybe?).
This post was edited 8 minutes after it was posted.
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Forgot quote; fixed typo
I don't pay attention to any of this crap. 5 runners under 4:00 in 1977 Nearly 100 now. Clearly, the sport has a major doping problem and I'm not singling out any particular runner. I'm sure maybe 10 are legit.
I don't pay attention to any of this crap. 5 runners under 4:00 in 1977 Nearly 100 now. Clearly, the sport has a major doping problem and I'm not singling out any particular runner. I'm sure maybe 10 are legit.
When you say "this crap" do you mean pro running or NCAA running, or what? You obviously visit Letsrun, so you must be paying attention to something, right?
What is your favorite part of the sport these days?
I don't pay attention to any of this crap. 5 runners under 4:00 in 1977 Nearly 100 now. Clearly, the sport has a major doping problem and I'm not singling out any particular runner. I'm sure maybe 10 are legit.
“I don’t pay attention to any of this crap” says the person posting on a thread about this crap.