Hill Run wrote:
The Ayana/Hassan comparison is interesting as highlights the different ways you can be great over the 10k.
We will never know, but if Hassan had been in her current form and raced with Ayana in the London worlds 10k, Ayana would have beaten her convincingly from a long way out. A few days ago I sent a message to Letesenbet Gideys coach Haile Eyasu Gebray in which I suggested Gidey attempt to front run hard with at least 10 laps to run. As it transpired she only made her move with 4 laps remaining and Hassan covered this move relatively easily.
It matters little if Hassan can run the final 1500 of a 10k in 3.59 if she trails the leading runner by 300m with 3 & 3/4 laps to the finish
Minus Almaz Ayana that was an absolutely insulting race. After 5 steps I thought they should all have been pulled off the track. It was immediately obvious that it would be a virtual rerun of the Diamond League final from a month or so ago...dawdling pace with 4 or 5 in contention with a lap or two remaining, and then Hassan would destroy the field while Hellen Obiri faded to deserved irrelevance.
The only reason I savored the race was that certainty of Obiri being embarrassed. She is such a fraud. I'm still laughing at the morons around here who were insisting Obiri above Ayana at 10,000. Meanwhile Obiri would be life and death not to be lapped by Ayana. There is absolutely no comparison between those two upon equal rest and health.
That 10,000 reminded me of a horse race in which they walk the first half then sprint home. Only fools assign credit for anything that happened late.
I posted on several sites in recent days that these meet became tailor made for Hassan, once Ayana pulled out. Now Hassan can extend far less energy while winning the 10,000, with plenty left for the 5000. As I posted here months ago, Hassan would have been a world class idiot to challenge Faith Kipyegon at 1500 instead of stiff Obiri and others at 5000. Hassan's 1500 or mile times mean squat against Faith Kipyegon. Hassan would trail Kipyegon and attempt to pass late. That is not going to happen. Kipyegon still owns a class edge and will to win edge. Hassan would be stunned again when her late rally was parried by Kipyegon.
Ayana vs. Hassan would have been fascinating at 10,000. No chance Hassan and Obiri could afford to sit back and dawdle. They'd have to go with Ayana, or close enough to keep her honest. Meanwhile Ayana would grind them out with lap times they simply could not match.
Damn shame it's not a certainty that Ayana will ever regain that level. She changes the dynamic of the women's 10,000 more than any other athlete changes the scope of any track and field event.
More than anything, that race displayed that female distance runners remain wimps. It has been that way in all the decades I have followed this sport. They don't want to actually run 10,000 meters. Simple remedy...jog the first few kilometers. Now we are credited for 10,000 even if we actually ran half that far. It is the reason that some of the also rans whined and cynicized about Ayana's record in Rio. They don't want the scrutiny of sitting back and lollygagging through 75 or 80 second laps, while someone else is clipping them off 15% faster. Just stay back here with us, honey. We'll lollygag together. Haven't you been paying attention? Nobody will know the difference.
Katie Ledecky changed the distance dynamic in women's swimming. Others in that sport have recognized the necessity to follow suit, like Ariarne Titmus and Simona Quadarella. They go to the front and push the pace. Others will follow. The lollygagging in women's swimming is long gone.
The 10,000 needs a half dozen more like Almaz Ayana, and the steeplechase needs a half dozen more like Beatrice Chepkoech. Otherwise there will continue to be disgraceful lollygags like that insulting race today.