I disagree. I don't think it's clear who is the best of this era. From 2019 to today, five different people have won gold at each of the five global champs. Two guys have medals from three of those champs (Jakob and Kerr) but still only one gold each. No doubt, Jakob dominates the circuit, but that's a very specific type of racing and those races are kind of meaningless in the grand scheme of things, unless he does eventually the WR in one of them. So I don't think there's a clear best of the era.
What I will say for Jakob is that he's the most important 1500m runner since El G. He has changed the game entirely and raised the floor of the event. Every single guy on the circuit owes the PB to Jakob. There still hasn't been a sub-3:30 race without Jakob for at least five years. Just watch any DL 1500 when Jakob isn't running and it is inevitably won in a une above 3:30. While he hasn't yet raised the ceiling of the 1500, he's made it the current field the most competitive in history. When they're all retired and looking back, I think even his fiercest rivals will recognise that.
Diamond League wins are not meaningless. That is ridiculous. Even if we only look at global championship medals, which is a dumb constraint, Jakob still has Gold Silver Silver. Nobody has matched that. If Kerr can finish ahead of Jakob in 2025, then yes he is the best championship runner and has an argument for the best. But now, we have to look at other things, which Jakob is clearly on top of.
The DL is quite literally meaningless. The fact that it's meaningless is precisely what's wrong with the sport. In its wisdom, World Athletics has decided that the regular season is utterly devoid of stakes. The DL might matter to you personally, and I enjoy the races myself, but they mean nothing. They are nothing like an average Premier League match or even an ATP500 tournament in terms of how much they matter to an athlete's progress in any given season.
And prioritising global medals is not a dumb constraint, it's the primary criteria for assessing greatness in athletics. The other stuff counts, but to a much lesser degree. Medals matter above all else, every athlete will tell you that.
Diamond League wins are not meaningless. That is ridiculous. Even if we only look at global championship medals, which is a dumb constraint, Jakob still has Gold Silver Silver. Nobody has matched that. If Kerr can finish ahead of Jakob in 2025, then yes he is the best championship runner and has an argument for the best. But now, we have to look at other things, which Jakob is clearly on top of.
The DL is quite literally meaningless. The fact that it's meaningless is precisely what's wrong with the sport. In its wisdom, World Athletics has decided that the regular season is utterly devoid of stakes. The DL might matter to you personally, and I enjoy the races myself, but they mean nothing. They are nothing like an average Premier League match or even an ATP500 tournament in terms of how much they matter to an athlete's progress in any given season.
And prioritising global medals is not a dumb constraint, it's the primary criteria for assessing greatness in athletics. The other stuff counts, but to a much lesser degree. Medals matter above all else, every athlete will tell you that.
He isn't a 3:26 man if you mean he has equalled El G's wr - and that's what saying he is a 3:26 man implies. So 3:26-high.
If you say Cheptegei is a 12:35 man, the Jakob is a 3:26 man.
So Bolt is a 9-second man, not a 9.58 runner? Your claim isn't comparable because 12:35-flat isn't the record and no one but Cheptegei has run sub-12:36. The fractions of a second aren't an issue in the 5k record, because no one is near Cheptegei's time; they are in the 1500 record, where several runners have beaten 3:27. Only one is a true "3:26 man".
This post was edited 2 minutes after it was posted.
If you say Cheptegei is a 12:35 man, the Jakob is a 3:26 man.
Idiot. It isn't comparable because 12:35-flat isn't the record and no one but Cheptegei has run sub-12:36. The fractions of a second aren't an issue in the 5k record, because no one is near Cheptegei's time; they are in the 1500 record, where several runners have beaten 3:27. Only one is a true "3:26 man".
Idiot. It isn't comparable because 12:35-flat isn't the record and no one but Cheptegei has run sub-12:36. The fractions of a second aren't an issue in the 5k record, because no one is near Cheptegei's time; they are in the 1500 record, where several runners have beaten 3:27. Only one is a true "3:26 man".
Jakob is undeniably the best in the era. Any sane person would say this.
I disagree. I don't think it's clear who is the best of this era. From 2019 to today, five different people have won gold at each of the five global champs. Two guys have medals from three of those champs (Jakob and Kerr) but still only one gold each. No doubt, Jakob dominates the circuit, but that's a very specific type of racing and those races are kind of meaningless in the grand scheme of things, unless he does eventually the WR in one of them. So I don't think there's a clear best of the era.
What I will say for Jakob is that he's the most important 1500m runner since El G. He has changed the game entirely and raised the floor of the event. Every single guy on the circuit owes the PB to Jakob. There still hasn't been a sub-3:30 race without Jakob for at least five years. Just watch any DL 1500 when Jakob isn't running and it is inevitably won in a une above 3:30. While he hasn't yet raised the ceiling of the 1500, he's made it the current field the most competitive in history. When they're all retired and looking back, I think even his fiercest rivals will recognise that.
If Jakob isn´t the clear no 1 in the 1500m at the moment, who is?
He has been no 1 in IAAF´s ranking for more than 2.5 years. And he was also ranked 1 this by LETSRUN and din´t AW do the same? And before he was no 2 for some years starting when he was still a teenager.
Kerr (who I guess is your favorite top miler?) is no 6 at the moment and have never been higher than no 3.
Jakob is undeniably the best in the era. Any sane person would say this.
Zero accolades without pacers btw.
What you fail to realize is that Jakob´s competitors almost always have start to finish pacing, including in the Olympic 1500m final and all DL races (apart from the Bowerman Mile 2024).
I disagree. I don't think it's clear who is the best of this era. From 2019 to today, five different people have won gold at each of the five global champs. Two guys have medals from three of those champs (Jakob and Kerr) but still only one gold each. No doubt, Jakob dominates the circuit, but that's a very specific type of racing and those races are kind of meaningless in the grand scheme of things, unless he does eventually the WR in one of them. So I don't think there's a clear best of the era.
What I will say for Jakob is that he's the most important 1500m runner since El G. He has changed the game entirely and raised the floor of the event. Every single guy on the circuit owes the PB to Jakob. There still hasn't been a sub-3:30 race without Jakob for at least five years. Just watch any DL 1500 when Jakob isn't running and it is inevitably won in a une above 3:30. While he hasn't yet raised the ceiling of the 1500, he's made it the current field the most competitive in history. When they're all retired and looking back, I think even his fiercest rivals will recognise that.
If Jakob isn´t the clear no 1 in the 1500m at the moment, who is?
He has been no 1 in IAAF´s ranking for more than 2.5 years. And he was also ranked 1 this by LETSRUN and din´t AW do the same? And before he was no 2 for some years starting when he was still a teenager.
Kerr (who I guess is your favorite top miler?) is no 6 at the moment and have never been higher than no 3.
He isn't the "clear" number one. He is one of a bunch now and might only just still have his nose in front of the others (but only when it comes to ranking - not races, when he often loses). Some races matter much more than others - and those are the ones he is losing.
If Jakob isn´t the clear no 1 in the 1500m at the moment, who is?
He has been no 1 in IAAF´s ranking for more than 2.5 years. And he was also ranked 1 this by LETSRUN and din´t AW do the same? And before he was no 2 for some years starting when he was still a teenager.
Kerr (who I guess is your favorite top miler?) is no 6 at the moment and have never been higher than no 3.
He isn't the "clear" number one. He is one of a bunch now and might only just still have his nose in front of the others (but only when it comes to ranking - not races, when he often loses). Some races matter much more than others - and those are the ones he is losing.
I know you have a crush on Jakob but this thread is about Josh.
Kerr has huge regrets over Paris. You can bet he dreams of Jakob tripping hocker when he cut him off… then he wakes up and realizes that no, Hocker is still Olympic champion after a homestretch run for the ages that crushed Kerr’s soul for all time. Kerr can rag on Jakob all he wants, but considering the training time Jakob missed last year he still had a darn good season and did manage to snag gold in the 5k. Kerr can engage in endless PR campaigns but that doesn’t change the fact he’s simply an arrogant jerk. Talented, but a jerk.
He isn't the "clear" number one. He is one of a bunch now and might only just still have his nose in front of the others (but only when it comes to ranking - not races, when he often loses). Some races matter much more than others - and those are the ones he is losing.
I know you have a crush on Jakob but this thread is about Josh.
Yeah, his jealousy of Jakob combined with his longing for Jakob is telling, isn’t it?
He already is the best of this era. Last year for those who followed the sport closely he was the overwhelming favourite, only to be beaten narrowly by a dark horse. But when he's in shape he's still the guy to beat.
Kerr the best of this era?!
I think you and DevonDixonFan will get a reality check next month.
What do you think Kerr will run in the Wanamaker Mile and what do you think Jakob will run in the mile in Lievin 5 days later?
I will say that the winner in the Wanamaker Mile will run low 3:46 if they keep a good pace after the pacemakers have dropped out AND
that Jakob will run at least 1.5 sec faster than this in Lievin.
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