Picking Laros to win the 5K with a 13:10 and 7:29 to his name is wild. In 2-4 years, absolutely. But he doesn’t have the engine yet
I don’t care if he’s closing 3:29s in 11 flat, he’s not there yet. And I’m a fan
Good points. Although, a guy can go from looking like he doesn't have the engine to having the engine pretty quickly. Look at Hocker in the 5000 at USAs in 2024 (nonfactor) vs. in 2025 (champion, beating Olympic bronze medalist Fisher and AR-holder Young). But to your point Hocker is a 7:23/12:57 man, not 7:29/13:10 (and Hocker was a 12:58 man even in 2024 when he couldn't handle the double). So I like your 2-4 years prediction.
I'll flip it: after sending the strongest team in history, no Americans make the 800m final. Brazier's been phenomenal, and I think he has a great chance to win the whole damn thing. But for the sake of this scenario, he has his first off race of the year in a stacked semi. Cooper's 16 at the tail end of a truly mind-blowing season, and his close falls short this time.* And Hoppel just continues his string of underwhelming performances--which feels a bit harsh when he's ahead of last year's times going into Paris, but things haven't quite seemed right. Maybe it's because he was behind Hoey until USAs, but he's also dropped two complete eggs in Diamond League races.
Brazier's my favorite runner, Hoppel's probably in my top 3, and Cooper's a great kid, so I desperately hope this doesn't happen. My initial take was that they'll all make the final, but with how strong the team is I'm not sure that's hot enough to qualify for this thread (crazy to say about a high schooler and a guy who hadn't raced since an injury-riddled 2022). This, though, I can see in my nightmares.
*Also, Cooper barely made the final at USAs. That's a huge what-if moment, since without that he'd "only" have a 1:45, may not have decided to go pro, and wouldn't have knocked Hoey, the second-fastest in the world, off the team.
Edit: I checked World Athletics after posting and realized the Americans are 4 of the top 8 this year, despite the historical depth and world record chatter. I knew we were good, but holy hell. Maybe I should've said we'd sweep.
This post was edited 3 minutes after it was posted.
Reason provided:
Saw the stats
In the final event in Tokyo (I confirmed it's last on the timetable), the USA men's 4x100m relay team shocks the world by getting the stick around with clean exchanges and wins gold. Then, in a role reversal from Budapest, Sha'Carri Richardson tackles Christian Coleman in celebration. While he's on his back, she gives him a kiss and tells him she loves him. He says he loves her too. After they get up, she pulls out an engagement ring, drops to one knee, and proposes to him on the track. He accepts, and they kiss again. The moment instantly goes viral, becoming the most watched video in the sport's history.
I'll add in a few more good ones, some of them I really do believe in and some I don't but will hopefully start debate.
Akani Simbine finally has his day - Take a quick look at this guy's competition record over the last decade.
Neither Tebogo or Lyles win the 200m - Tebogo obviously hasn't looked the same this year, and maybe Lyles injuries during the build up into his season hurts him more than we expect. Kenny has a chip on his shoulder after what happened at USAs.
Reynold C wins it all - Devastating kick with several years of healthy international development.
africans set suicide pace, then laros sits and kicks ok kerr who struggles 100m out, then hocker drives and laros sits on him, and sets the world record.