You are mistaken: Strand is a legitimate contender. You’re dismissing him as a kid who’s out of his depth or something, but you’re lagging behind. The last time he was in a fast 3k/2-mile (13 months ago) he won in 7:30.15, the equivalent of an 8:04-high 2-mile, and almost exactly what Kerr split (7:30.14) in his indoor WR.
Then he won two competitive 3:48 miles.
Then he beat Hocker, Nuguse and Kessler in the U.S. final, running 3:30.25 with closing splits of 1:49.40/53.07/39.09/25.88/12.69. This in particular is a super elite performance, the kind that wins global medals.
Now he’s training as a full time pro for the first time and when we saw him on Saturday he was matching Reynold Cheruiyot stride for stride in a 2k XC race.
The “lag” you’re exhibiting is not uncommon: people have a certain cognitive dissonance in recognizing when some NXN contender type or boyish blonde Tar Heel has officially become a world beater. We saw it big time with Hocker, and even last June after Nico crushed the 3k at GST half the boards thought he remained in a league below Fisher…until 11 days later he won the Oslo DL in 12:45.
Strand is ready to run way under 7:30/the 2 mile equivalent, he’s got a lethal kick and he’s a winner. Do not be surprised.
He’s a winner except he went out in the first round of the 1500m at the 2025 World Championships. Chill with the hyperbole, it’s more likely he runs around 8:01-8:02 which might not be fast enough to win.
Is Jakob injured? Was kind of expecting the 2 mile wr holder.
Why, because it’s being advertised as the greatest 2-mile field ever?
Jakob doesn’t factor in that conversation, since he opted to run his record without serious opposition.
Correction: Jakob opted to run the fastest two miles ever and shattered Daniel Komen’s longstanding two mile mark where it mattered most (outdoors) and anybody who did not partake in the race was dodging him.
Something might be up in the air as it doesn’t seem like he’s at altitude. Hopefully no injury. And for the guy saying that Jakob is dodging kerr? That’s laughable. Kerr has not had a good result to challenge Jakob since 2024. Dude won nothing last year except two GST sit and kicks.
False. Kerr advanced further than Jakob in the 2025 world championships 1500m. That's the third year in a row Kerr did better than Jakob in that event at the outdoor global championship.
Would you rather embarrass yourself and your home country, after claiming all year that you’d win easily, by running 4:11 and placing last, or go in with an injury and run 3:36 and place an impressive 10th in the 5000m after barely any training?
He’s a winner except he went out in the first round of the 1500m at the 2025 World Championships. Chill with the hyperbole, it’s more likely he runs around 8:01-8:02 which might not be fast enough to win.
He went out in the Semis, but I agree with your assessment.
Zero chance Strand runs 7:58. The only person to run under 7:59 is Daniel Komen and Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and you think Strand is going to match that?
I wouldn't count it out. He's fit- why not peak for this race? No WCs or Olys- outdoor track a long way off.
7:58 is not remotely the same as when Komen ran it- it isn't even the same as when JI ran it a few years back. It's still a hell of a run, but there are more than a few people in this race capable of breaking that barrier.
Plus,
I've seen (and made) dumber hot takes on this site before
You are mistaken: Strand is a legitimate contender. You’re dismissing him as a kid who’s out of his depth or something, but you’re lagging behind. The last time he was in a fast 3k/2-mile (13 months ago) he won in 7:30.15, the equivalent of an 8:04-high 2-mile, and almost exactly what Kerr split (7:30.14) in his indoor WR.
Then he won two competitive 3:48 miles.
Then he beat Hocker, Nuguse and Kessler in the U.S. final, running 3:30.25 with closing splits of 1:49.40/53.07/39.09/25.88/12.69. This in particular is a super elite performance, the kind that wins global medals.
Now he’s training as a full time pro for the first time and when we saw him on Saturday he was matching Reynold Cheruiyot stride for stride in a 2k XC race.
The “lag” you’re exhibiting is not uncommon: people have a certain cognitive dissonance in recognizing when some NXN contender type or boyish blonde Tar Heel has officially become a world beater. We saw it big time with Hocker, and even last June after Nico crushed the 3k at GST half the boards thought he remained in a league below Fisher…until 11 days later he won the Oslo DL in 12:45.
Strand is ready to run way under 7:30/the 2 mile equivalent, he’s got a lethal kick and he’s a winner. Do not be surprised.
He’s a winner except he went out in the first round of the 1500m at the 2025 World Championships. Chill with the hyperbole, it’s more likely he runs around 8:01-8:02 which might not be fast enough to win.
The "world beater" label is premature, but I don't think it's hyperbolic to say that Ethan Strand is a talented athlete on the rise who is a legitimate contender to win at Millrose.
He got eliminated in the semis at Tokyo, but that was his first global championship competition, and tactics haven't been his forte. He can do much better in a fast race like Millrose will be.
I think Hocker is most likely to win at Millrose, but after seeing how good Strand looked in Tallahassee, it would not surprise me to see Strand win. Fisher and Kerr are coming back from injury, so I can see it coming down to Strand vs Hocker (with all due respect to the others), and Strand has already shown he can beat Hocker. It's going to be an exciting race.
He’s a winner except he went out in the first round of the 1500m at the 2025 World Championships. Chill with the hyperbole, it’s more likely he runs around 8:01-8:02 which might not be fast enough to win.
The "world beater" label is premature, but I don't think it's hyperbolic to say that Ethan Strand is a talented athlete on the rise who is a legitimate contender to win at Millrose.
He got eliminated in the semis at Tokyo, but that was his first global championship competition, and tactics haven't been his forte. He can do much better in a fast race like Millrose will be.
I think Hocker is most likely to win at Millrose, but after seeing how good Strand looked in Tallahassee, it would not surprise me to see Strand win. Fisher and Kerr are coming back from injury, so I can see it coming down to Strand vs Hocker (with all due respect to the others), and Strand has already shown he can beat Hocker. It's going to be an exciting race.
I do think people forget Strand beat Hocker at Hockers own game at USAs. That being said Cole was doubling and did look damn good in the 5k at both USAs and Worlds.
I don’t really care to watch Cole early season because he’s much like Centro never really killing it any early than he has to. Last year in the 3k I think he genuinely just got mega competitive and wanted to take down fisher by trying different tactics. In the 5 two weeks later he just did enough to qualify for worlds with Cooper. He's going to do whatever his coach tells him to do based on his current fitness not based on last year.
You are mistaken: Strand is a legitimate contender. You’re dismissing him as a kid who’s out of his depth or something, but you’re lagging behind. The last time he was in a fast 3k/2-mile (13 months ago) he won in 7:30.15, the equivalent of an 8:04-high 2-mile, and almost exactly what Kerr split (7:30.14) in his indoor WR.
Then he won two competitive 3:48 miles.
Then he beat Hocker, Nuguse and Kessler in the U.S. final, running 3:30.25 with closing splits of 1:49.40/53.07/39.09/25.88/12.69. This in particular is a super elite performance, the kind that wins global medals.
Now he’s training as a full time pro for the first time and when we saw him on Saturday he was matching Reynold Cheruiyot stride for stride in a 2k XC race.
The “lag” you’re exhibiting is not uncommon: people have a certain cognitive dissonance in recognizing when some NXN contender type or boyish blonde Tar Heel has officially become a world beater. We saw it big time with Hocker, and even last June after Nico crushed the 3k at GST half the boards thought he remained in a league below Fisher…until 11 days later he won the Oslo DL in 12:45.
Strand is ready to run way under 7:30/the 2 mile equivalent, he’s got a lethal kick and he’s a winner. Do not be surprised.
He’s a winner except he went out in the first round of the 1500m at the 2025 World Championships. Chill with the hyperbole, it’s more likely he runs around 8:01-8:02 which might not be fast enough to win.
8:02 would be great for him. More likely he's around 8:05. I don't think anyone breaks 8:00
Zero chance Strand runs 7:58. The only person to run under 7:59 is Daniel Komen and Jakob Ingebrigtsen, and you think Strand is going to match that?
I wouldn't count it out. He's fit- why not peak for this race? No WCs or Olys- outdoor track a long way off.
7:58 is not remotely the same as when Komen ran it- it isn't even the same as when JI ran it a few years back. It's still a hell of a run, but there are more than a few people in this race capable of breaking that barrier.
Plus,
I've seen (and made) dumber hot takes on this site before
7:58 is a damn good mark. I’d only put Hocker in that shape if he’s paced correctly, Fisher seems worrying with his injury, Kerr as well. I don’t believe in that 1.08 conversion or whatever, 218 extra meters is a lot.
Shoot I have been looking for an excuse to take a New York trip. I'd love to see Strand beat a field of this caliber in person, and he's clearly in shape from XC. I might even argue that training for 2k XC is better for a 3k than training for 10k XC.
Anyone remember a couple years ago when Kerr ran 8:00, and behind him Beamish and Hocker ran 8:05? They both had super fast closes, and both have made big improvements since then. Everyone knows Hocker has 3k WR potential since he broke the old record last year, but I think Beamish might be floating under the radar a bit here. He has a long history of slacking off the pace, but if he keeps himself in it and counts his laps right this time, I think he's got the fitness to stick with anyone in the field. If Strand doesn't win, Beamish is my 2nd pick. Hocker 2nd.
He’s a winner except he went out in the first round of the 1500m at the 2025 World Championships. Chill with the hyperbole, it’s more likely he runs around 8:01-8:02 which might not be fast enough to win.
8:02 would be great for him. More likely he's around 8:05. I don't think anyone breaks 8:00
I think several can break 8.
but I think adding so many good guys killed the record attempt.
even if the rabbit takes the race through 1800-2k on wr pace, it’s likely no one in this field commits.
fisher 2 years ago would’ve ago. Now he thinks he can kick as well as Kerr / strand / Hocker ..which he can’t.