John Wesley Harding wrote:
“Juantorena, at 32, ran his fastest 800 since 1977 last week in Havana, when he was timed in 1:44. He also tried the 1500 for the first time and clocked 3:45.”
(Followed by comments from Juantorena on how the 1500 was a bit of a struggle)
I made a thread very recently speculating on what Faith and Jakob could run at every distance where I pegged Kipyegon for 1:55.75. Which I suppose gives Hodgkinson the narrowest edge, since I doubt her 1:55.77 was a 100% fulfillment of her capacity.
It would be an interesting race—more intriguing than 1k IMO, where Kipyegon could break the WR and there’s no way Keely could win. I suspect Faith would stalk Keely until the final 100 and then try to overtake her, and whether she’d be successful or thwarted is probably on a day to day basis.
Kipyegon’s PR is only 1:57.36 but that was her only 800 of the 2020 season, it was the fastest time in the world that year and she won by almost 2 seconds. Obviously that’s not proof she couldn’t run faster in a different race in a different month. She lost to Moraa once last year, but Hodgkinson lost to Moraa three times last year so what does that prove.
Watch the 2016 1500 final. Not only does Kipyegon close in 1:57-mid, slowing down at the end when the race is won, but she splits 56.8 from 800 to 1200. Muir tries to go with the move and totally bites it in the last 200. And Kipyegon has only gotten better since then.
Unofficial PB and on a one news source would be hard to find.
As for, Kipyegon's potential well. I'm not saying that at no point in her career she wouldn't have bested Keely. Just simply saying, that point is not now. Her 3:49.11 1500 is amazing on paper, but don't forget how it was run — Wavelight. She hit 62.xx, 61.xx, 61.xx, and a 42-43 300. Pretty even race.
Her 5000m is 14:05. Her range is not that potent where she best against the Olympic and World Silver Medalist at the 800 meters simply because of Time trials at higher distances.