How does a 3.30 guy outkick a 3.26 guy in a 3.27 race?

Fair enough. I've been watching Hocker since college so I'm definitely biased but I always felt confident if he had them in striking distance with 400 to go, he could catch just about anyone.

He kicks like his life depends on it

I actually think they matter most in a shorter race. It's not that hard to lock in a 5k or 10k pace if you're used to running it (and if you have experienced pacers), but there isn't really a "feel" to 1500 pace. Each race is run differently, and even on an even pace, each lap just feels so different from the one before it that it's hard to lock in perfectly.

Yep me too. Kerr executed exactly as planned, but can't do anything about a performance like Hocker's.

No it matters a lot as evidenced by this final. Jakob is not used to leading from the gun and was full of adrenaline. These are situations you need to come prepared for. Kerr and company would not have made that mistake.

Couldn’t it be Gabby Thomas??

Oops wrong thread

There is unquestionably a slipstream in running. A perfect draft at sub-4 minute pace is worth over one second per lap. This has been shown repeatedly, both on paper and experimentally.

Ask a pro cyclist if drafting helps at 15 mph. There's a reason that GC contenders want their teammates on the climbs.

Did you stop reading after my first sentence? I said it helps more in a 1500 than in a 5k/10k.

When you draft in running, obviously you aren't going 15%-20% faster like you would in the sweet spot in a cycling paceline or peloton where the speed of the lead machines is fast enough to create a true slipstream. But there is a bit less air in front of you, and that does benefit you noticeably. Plus there is a psychological burden of pacemaking when the speed is so close to your limit that you're constantly unsure of whether you're still hitting your desired pace and not knowing how much easier your competitors might be feeling while following you. You definitely get tighter when you're frontrunning, especially at PR effort. If you do a decent amount of racing, that'll become obvious.

That’s a good way of putting it. The bottom line is, Jakob got out too fast, and he paid for it. Hocker has looked great in every race, from the trials to the heats to the semis. He looked incredibly easy in the semi. I thought he might run 3:28-low and be in contention for the bronze. I did not see the gold. But he’s proven time and again that you don’t want him just off your shoulder in the last 300 and definitely not the last 150. He’s the class of any field in that regard.

Jakob didn’t do horrible. Everybody was just so quick and out kicked Jakob. Jakob couldn’t handle world record pace he set out first half. Very disappointing but he’ll recover.

Ya bro you got it, you read his body language and him celebrating too hard proves something is off!!

Take off the tinfoil ya giant dweeb

I was thinking yesterday Jakob should cut a deal with someone to lead 600 each. Leading the entire way was dumb.

Having said that, could anyone else essentially rabbit a 328 with no help from anyone else? I don't think so. Perhaps after the games he will get in a race with a rabbit and go for 326 or under.

What was his first 200?

Right. What a dweeb that poster is. A 3 second PB in the Olympic final is totally normal for Americans. It also clearly shows he can still improve a ton more. Will he run 3:24 next year? I expect so.

Thing here: Cole PR-ed by 3.05 seconds today. That's _wild_ - he went from 3:30.7 to 3:27.65.

Expecting someone to PR? Yes. Expecting them to make high-school level improvements, but in an olympic final? No.

(Edit: Unlike the poster directly above me: I am not accusing Cole of anything)

this. yall need to check your stride. if this was someone with a different skin colour you would be a bit more suspicious of foul play. surprised there isnt an ounce of skepticism with this massive PR. this was sedjati type acceleration in the last 300 and everyone here suspects him because of that

Well, you do get somewhat of a draft - not as much as in cycling, but try running with a baggy jacket on, and you'll quickly realise that wind resistance is a thing in running (especially when running at 16mph).

Secondly, it's possible for someone to run faster than their previous best for a number of reasons:

1. They've not been in an ideally set up race previously; one that would allow them to run up to their full potential (think Monaco, with perfect conditions, pace makers and pace lights).

2. They've recently had a slight fitness increase.

3. They've tapered perfectly.

4. The occasion, with the enormous crowd and monumental stakes, drew the best out of them.

Etc, etc.

I'm going to say this even though I'm no fan of Jacob because of his disrespect to the other athletes in the past. I do kind of feel sorry for the guy. It must be very humbling to not only lose but to not even get on the podium with all the talk that's been going on between him and Josh.

There is some good news for him though! Based on what he did today he is ready to break the world record. If he could run 3/4 of the race like that without a pacemaker, he is in shape to run 3:25 definitely. I hope he learned that we are all human and no matter how fast we are there will always be someone else who can beat us. The same went for Mike Tyson, Muhammed Ali and all greats in all sports. Our time comes and goes before another takes our place. Those are important life's lessons.