Going to add that the big winner of Hocker's move was Neil Gourley. He was boxed like a fish for the whole race, absolutely screwed. Then Hocker shoves Farken, accelerates, and makes a huge gap for Gourley to run into. Gets through on a photo finish. Good on him, and I'm glad to have three Brits in the final, but I'd have thought he'd be a better tactical racer at this stage of his career. The answer to the question "where is Neil Gourley?" is always: he's in a box
Agreed. I fee Laros or Kerr should win. But all signs are pointing to some slapstick finish where a piano falls on Laros and Koech paints a fake finish line to trick the rest of the field.
Past the bell, heading into the back straight, surging Ron Clark shoves Billy Mills sideways out to lane 4. Mills recovers and makes his way back to Clark's shoulder. Bobblehead Gammoudi then comes up from behind and lays his left hand on Clark's shoulder, yanking himself between Mills and Clark to set up the historic final sprint for Olympic gold. Nobody got DQed.
That's over 60 years ago! Hockey goalies weren't wearing masks, marriage between people of different races was illegal in 17 States in the U.S., and Tang wasn't yet readily available. We've evolved since then!
What do you guys think of a podium for the 1500 of Laros, Kerr, then either Wightman or Koech in no specific order. I feel like there's a chance it goes fast but most likely won't be because no one will want to become the pacer but if it does then replace Wightman and Koech with Tim Cheruiyot but only if its in the 3:28s range.
Going to add that the big winner of Hocker's move was Neil Gourley. He was boxed like a fish for the whole race, absolutely screwed. Then Hocker shoves Farken, accelerates, and makes a huge gap for Gourley to run into. Gets through on a photo finish. Good on him, and I'm glad to have three Brits in the final, but I'd have thought he'd be a better tactical racer at this stage of his career. The answer to the question "where is Neil Gourley?" is always: he's in a box
Yeah it’s getting annoying now. He never gets himself in a good position. He hugs the rail and assumes a position will open up. Yet often it doesn’t. He’s too experienced to keep making the same mistakes now and he suffers for it.
Wightman is far better at tactical racing and getting in a good position. You rarely see him boxed in.
What do you guys think of a podium for the 1500 of Laros, Kerr, then either Wightman or Koech in no specific order. I feel like there's a chance it goes fast but most likely won't be because no one will want to become the pacer but if it does then replace Wightman and Koech with Tim Cheruiyot but only if its in the 3:28s range.
In my opinion, it's almost anyone's race and it will be chaotic. Laros and Kerr are the favorites, but baaaarely.
Don't count out R. Cheruiyot. His semi was the first race in a while that he had good tactics. He had a clear path the last 200, never let himself get boxed, and looked really smooth and relatively unstrained while winning the heat while even shutting it down a tick the last few strides. If he has a clear path to the finish in the final he could win it all. I see Laros, both Cheruiyots, and Kerr fighting it out for gold.
What do you guys think of a podium for the 1500 of Laros, Kerr, then either Wightman or Koech in no specific order. I feel like there's a chance it goes fast but most likely won't be because no one will want to become the pacer but if it does then replace Wightman and Koech with Tim Cheruiyot but only if its in the 3:28s range.
In my opinion, it's almost anyone's race and it will be chaotic. Laros and Kerr are the favorites, but baaaarely.
I'm 50-50 on whether they really should barely be favorites or if, they combined (mostly Laros, maybe 60-40) should be heavy favorites. With Phanuel fading as he went into championship season and Hocker and Nuguse not in the race, who is a legitimate, credible threat to Laros and Kerr?
Laros has not lost at 1500 or mile all season, and ran a 3:28.8 equivalent at Pre. He's young but hasn't been beatable this year.
Kerr has only lost twice this year at 1500/mile, and Laros has never beaten him (albeit they haven't raced this year). His build has been slightly worse than last year, but better than any other year, including his 2023 gold year. Once was his debut many moons ago, and once to Phanuel in London. As I recall, they both made their move at the same time but Phanuel passed on the inside and Kerr on the outside and that was most of the difference. Kerr was clearly trying to win but held his form through the line in 3:29. Given his track record of peaking when it matters, that's a solid lead in for the most accomplished and consistent 1500/mile athlete of the last 4-5 years.
Could win on a magical day: Wightman (can lightning strike twice/will the race be slow enough?), Jonah Koech (I think his beginner's luck is about to run out based on that semi, but I'm wrong often -- didn't think he would beat Hocker, Nuguse, and Kessler at USAs)
Could sneak onto the podium, but won't win: Both Cheruiyots, Nader, Gourley
Hanging on for dear life: Pihlstrom, Coscoran, Ben, Farken, Tsh~!te, Riva
In my opinion, it's almost anyone's race and it will be chaotic. Laros and Kerr are the favorites, but baaaarely.
I'm 50-50 on whether they really should barely be favorites or if, they combined (mostly Laros, maybe 60-40) should be heavy favorites. With Phanuel fading as he went into championship season and Hocker and Nuguse not in the race, who is a legitimate, credible threat to Laros and Kerr?
Laros has not lost at 1500 or mile all season, and ran a 3:28.8 equivalent at Pre. He's young but hasn't been beatable this year.
Kerr has only lost twice this year at 1500/mile, and Laros has never beaten him (albeit they haven't raced this year). His build has been slightly worse than last year, but better than any other year, including his 2023 gold year. Once was his debut many moons ago, and once to Phanuel in London. As I recall, they both made their move at the same time but Phanuel passed on the inside and Kerr on the outside and that was most of the difference. Kerr was clearly trying to win but held his form through the line in 3:29. Given his track record of peaking when it matters, that's a solid lead in for the most accomplished and consistent 1500/mile athlete of the last 4-5 years.
Could win on a magical day: Wightman (can lightning strike twice/will the race be slow enough?), Jonah Koech (I think his beginner's luck is about to run out based on that semi, but I'm wrong often -- didn't think he would beat Hocker, Nuguse, and Kessler at USAs)
Could sneak onto the podium, but won't win: Both Cheruiyots, Nader, Gourley
Hanging on for dear life: Pihlstrom, Coscoran, Ben, Farken, Tsh~!te, Riva
Laros beat Kerr last year (Zurich). Don't say that the race didn't matter, Kerr in an interview beforehand said that the race mattered a ton.
Kerr is not the most accomplished and consistent 1500/mile athlete, that's laughable.
This post was edited 48 seconds after it was posted.
I'm 50-50 on whether they really should barely be favorites or if, they combined (mostly Laros, maybe 60-40) should be heavy favorites. With Phanuel fading as he went into championship season and Hocker and Nuguse not in the race, who is a legitimate, credible threat to Laros and Kerr?
Laros has not lost at 1500 or mile all season, and ran a 3:28.8 equivalent at Pre. He's young but hasn't been beatable this year.
Kerr has only lost twice this year at 1500/mile, and Laros has never beaten him (albeit they haven't raced this year). His build has been slightly worse than last year, but better than any other year, including his 2023 gold year. Once was his debut many moons ago, and once to Phanuel in London. As I recall, they both made their move at the same time but Phanuel passed on the inside and Kerr on the outside and that was most of the difference. Kerr was clearly trying to win but held his form through the line in 3:29. Given his track record of peaking when it matters, that's a solid lead in for the most accomplished and consistent 1500/mile athlete of the last 4-5 years.
Could win on a magical day: Wightman (can lightning strike twice/will the race be slow enough?), Jonah Koech (I think his beginner's luck is about to run out based on that semi, but I'm wrong often -- didn't think he would beat Hocker, Nuguse, and Kessler at USAs)
Could sneak onto the podium, but won't win: Both Cheruiyots, Nader, Gourley
Hanging on for dear life: Pihlstrom, Coscoran, Ben, Farken, Tsh~!te, Riva
Laros beat Kerr last year (Zurich). Don't say that the race didn't matter, Kerr in an interview beforehand said that the race mattered a ton.
Kerr is not in the most accomplished and consistent 1500/mile athlete, that's laughable.
Why is that laughable?
2021 - 3rd
2022 - 5th
2023 - 1st
2022 - 2nd
Who beats that? Only other man with an argument didn't make the semis.
Laros beat Kerr last year (Zurich). Don't say that the race didn't matter, Kerr in an interview beforehand said that the race mattered a ton.
Kerr is not in the most accomplished and consistent 1500/mile athlete, that's laughable.
Why is that laughable?
2021 - 3rd
2022 - 5th
2023 - 1st
2022 - 2nd
Who beats that? Only other man with an argument didn't make the semis.
Hocker, Cheruiyot, now Laros have an argument. Jakob throws Kerr out of the park in consistency and accomplishments. WHat are you even blabbering about.
i am so done with following professional track. I don’t even care about the final or this meet anymore. I hope the corrupt body of WADA and World Athletics collapses from the inside.
I hope I am not the only one really excited about this! Without Jakob or Yared, the tactics could be totally different here, in something we haven't seen since 2016. Could Tim go back to frontrunning the way he did when he dominated from 2017-19? Or will he trust his kick now that he trains with Laros?
The tactics of the field could be very different AND the personnel are very different. You've got arguably half the field as more 800m/1500m runners: Wightman, Laros, Koech, Ben, Tsh*te, and Farken!
Going into worlds, I was thinking we'd have a 3:29 or faster race where a long train of people hang on for dear life and some combo of Kerr, Hocker, Jakob, Laros, Phanuel Koech and Jonah Koech make the podium. Now I have no idea what's gonna happen, and someone even as sharp right now as Laros could make an error and end up 5th or something!
Yes, I'm bummed Strand and Hocker and Jakob didn't make the final, but Jakob wasn't fit, Strand was inexperienced and wasted energy mid-race, and Hocker was impatient and was rightfully DQed, so none of them deserved it.
Can't wait for this final, so many guys in here are easy to root for imo. So I'll be happy if pretty much anyone other than dbag Josh Kerr wins.
I don´t think Tim can go low 3:29 by front running anymore.
I don´t think they will go sub 3:30 in the final.
even if Tim can do that, (which might be possible? but probably not) mostly everyone else can go with that pace just fine. Tim should trust his kick - lewandowski has done great things for him.
Who beats that? Only other man with an argument didn't make the semis.
Hocker, Cheruiyot, now Laros have an argument. Jakob throws Kerr out of the park in consistency and accomplishments. WHat are you even blabbering about.
Your Jakob fanboy bias is showing. Missing almost the entire outdoor season is the opposite of consistency.
Kerr has now finished ahead of Jakob 3 global outdoor championships in a row.