Mo was this cocky but he was loved for his big smile and friendly demeanor off the track. Hard not to be cocky when he dominated with exact same tactic year after year after year. Go ahead folks, I’m waiting for someone to outkick me, which didn’t happen until late in his career.
It’s possible Jakob could retire in a few years and set three/four WR in the process. As the Navy SEALs motto goes, “It pays to be a winner.” And “The only easy day was yesterday.”
Absolutely. Lance Armstrong was like this too. Although Jakob is more likable.
Being more likeable than Lance is a very, very, very low bar.
But actually Jakob isn't bad, and I usually don't like the cocky sorts. He's alright because he's cocky in a matter of fact way, which is a big different. Plus, he delivers. Plus, he's my kind of runner, none of this pretense that he's playing 9 dimensional tactical chess. Just gets out there, runs hard, and doesn't let people pass him. That works for me.
two guys just ran 12:41 with a 2:24 last k and 55 last lap. he is beatable.
I would like to believe this, but I think Jakob is in close to 12:30 shape based on his two mile, and neither of those guys can outkick him either
Jakob may very well be in 12:30 shape, but Kiplimo has outkicked him in a 7:26-7 3000m race while being a 10K-HM guy. If there is anyone who can take Ingebrigtsen down over 5000m, it would be him.
Also note: Jakob never mentions any other athlete by name in his interviews. It's always "him" or "they." Any time an interviewer names a competitor, Jakob always ignores it and says stuff like "there's always people coming up or performing well." He seems to view races as him versus the field rather than any individual.
It's an interesting mindset that is only made possible by believing/knowing you are the fastest guy over the distance. For virtually all of the other competitors, simply frontrunning 3:27 low or faster to 'guarantee' beating Jakob isn't a viable tactic so they need to hope that they can hang on and outkick him like Wightman. In this sense, each and every one of them is factoring him specifically into the execution of their race, whereas he doesn't need to factor any one individual in, so long as he is leading. Nothing about his last three races suggests that WC gold is in any doubt whatsoever. If you were one of the other guys, how on earth do you plan for gold?
Can try a Centrowitz and hope for a 3.50 pace. I.e. the race essentially reduces to an 800 m or 400 m race.
I would like to believe this, but I think Jakob is in close to 12:30 shape based on his two mile, and neither of those guys can outkick him either
Jakob may very well be in 12:30 shape, but Kiplimo has outkicked him in a 7:26-7 3000m race while being a 10K-HM guy. If there is anyone who can take Ingebrigtsen down over 5000m, it would be him.
I agree that he is very insightful. Many other athletes, typically the sprinters, just cough up the standard phrases like "I tried to execute well". As someone would believe that they would try the opposite.
That whole interview is amazing, not just the burn on Wightman. He's asked a question about how he elevates others to perform better in his races and the interviewer says the others in the field were trying to "run him down." His response: "I don't think they we're trying to run me down, they were trying to hang on."
And when he says that he'd like to do some chasing but no one else is good enough... cold.
I was just thinking earlier today what a shame it is that Jakob doesn't currently have any true rivals in the 1500 besides Wightman. The 5k's a different story, though.
Remember the times he pushed a bunch of Kenyans out of the way to get to the front at the start of a cross race and then preceded to get beat by most of them? Ah, good times.
If you get too soft you lose that edge. Plus it’s more fun for the fans. Not some “oh yippee I’m just glad to rave everybody we’re all so good and nice!” BS
Call it what you will, but he was right. The runners behind him weren't chasing him, they were indeed hanging on. It got them PR's and Jakob was right correcting the interviewer. Some wouldn't have and that's fine too, but between that 2 mile and the 1500 races, he's head and shoulders above the others. He was obviously working hard in both races, but he still made them look easy. Sorry Benjamin, that's not cocky, that's calling it like it is.
I would like to believe this, but I think Jakob is in close to 12:30 shape based on his two mile, and neither of those guys can outkick him either
Jakob may very well be in 12:30 shape, but Kiplimo has outkicked him in a 7:26-7 3000m race while being a 10K-HM guy. If there is anyone who can take Ingebrigtsen down over 5000m, it would be him.
Jakob is levels better than he was at that time, while kiplimo is probably only marginally better than he was.
The best way to defeat Jakob in a 1500 global final is for someone to sacrifice themselves, intentionally or otherwise. Perhaps team tactics. Allow Jakob to settle into his comfortable spot for a long time then loop around him and accelerate to clear advantage. Just after 800 would be ideal but anywhere in that range. Jakob would have to think instead of relax. The mental stress alone can sap critical reserve. Even if he made the correct decision he might get it wrong for 5 or 10 steps, just enough to be compromised late.
Completely agree, really good analysis. As far as team tactics go, none of the top potential challengers (Katir, Nuguse, Cheruiyot, maybe Wightman) have much incentive to work together. Maybe Hoare and Garcia Romo try something like this for Yared if they all make the final. Interesting to think about.
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