You're comparing what Jakob needed to do to win as he eased away from Aregawi easily vs what Kerr had to do at maximal effort to beat Hocker. It isn't about comparing the tactics of both races but the strength of the top of the field. Jakob has never lost a 3000m race and is considered the GOAT of the 3000m and the further the distance increases the more unbeatable he is. Trying to compare apples to oranges is futile.
The tactics of both races matter for evaluating which one is harder to win. This year’s race required a faster close off a faster split against fresher, more focused, and deeper competition. Facts.
Jakob often runs to win with minimum necessary output because he’s aerobically superior to the field. That suppresses both the pace and the closing speed. It’s not that the race can’t be faster, it’s that it doesn’t need to be. If Jakob needed to close in 54-55 off a 7:2x pace to win, he already has the demonstrated capacity to do it. There is no evidence to suggest otherwise. Jakob has already run 7:23.63 with a 54 last lap and sustained 1:54 / 2:24 closing speed, including a 12.8 second last 100m which was faster than Hocker's today, which meets or exceeds the exact standard you’re using to crown this year’s race as “harder.” The only difference is he usually doesn’t bother, because he doesn’t need to. So what you’re actually praising is a race where: 1. No one is dominant and 2. everyone is forced into a desperate last-lap sprint. That’s not “harder to win.” That’s what races look like when no one is good enough to break it open earlier. Jakob is a harder opponent to beat than Kerr, Schrub, and Hocker. Facts.
No matter how many times you wanna say it's easier to win an indoor championship 3k against a guy crossing 2800 in 7:09.22 and closing in 26.34 than it is against someone crossing 2800 in 7:19.42 and closing in 26.67, it just isn't true.
Jakob closed a 7:23 in 25 seconds less than 24 hours after front running 3:43 in hot, windy conditions. If you don’t think he’s a better 3k runner than Josh Kerr you are legitimately a moron. Just looking at the winning times and final 200 splits of their indoor victories doesn’t tell the whole story.
Anyone denigrating yesterday’s field is also a total clown. That was a strong final with more depth than last year and Kerr did a great job coming away with the gold.
Jakob closed a 7:23 in 25 seconds less than 24 hours after front running 3:43 in hot, windy conditions. If you don’t think he’s a better 3k runner than Josh Kerr you are legitimately a moron. Just looking at the winning times and final 200 splits of their indoor victories doesn’t tell the whole story.
Anyone denigrating yesterday’s field is also a total clown. That was a strong final with more depth than last year and Kerr did a great job coming away with the gold.
I told the whole story when I wrote about the condition Jakob was in going into the 3000 in Nanjing. The 2023 Prefontaine Classic is a different story that doesn't apply to the comparison of 2025 Nanjing with 2026 Torun.
I never said Kerr is a better 3k runner than Jakob. Read what I wrote before busting out the insults. It's not about who's the better 3k runner. It's about which world indoor championship race was harder to win based on the context of who was in the field, what condition they were in, and how the races transpired. Torun was harder to win because it required a faster close off a faster split against a stronger field.
The race is certainly an all-timer. You have the entire paris Olympic 1500m podium plus Beamish plus Jacob Krop (2022 Worlds 5,000 silver, 2023 Worlds 5,000 bronze).
The race is certainly an all-timer. You have the entire paris Olympic 1500m podium plus Beamish plus Jacob Krop (2022 Worlds 5,000 silver, 2023 Worlds 5,000 bronze).
Jakob closed a 7:23 in 25 seconds less than 24 hours after front running 3:43 in hot, windy conditions. If you don’t think he’s a better 3k runner than Josh Kerr you are legitimately a moron. Just looking at the winning times and final 200 splits of their indoor victories doesn’t tell the whole story.
Anyone denigrating yesterday’s field is also a total clown. That was a strong final with more depth than last year and Kerr did a great job coming away with the gold.
I told the whole story when I wrote about the condition Jakob was in going into the 3000 in Nanjing. The 2023 Prefontaine Classic is a different story that doesn't apply to the comparison of 2025 Nanjing with 2026 Torun.
I never said Kerr is a better 3k runner than Jakob. Read what I wrote before busting out the insults. It's not about who's the better 3k runner. It's about which world indoor championship race was harder to win based on the context of who was in the field, what condition they were in, and how the races transpired. Torun was harder to win because it required a faster close off a faster split against a stronger field.
Jakob closed as fast as he needed to win the race. Otherwise he would run even faster, as his overall results show. 2023 Prefontaine Classic actually does apply as Jakob ran a 3:45.14 Mile earlier whereas at the Pre Classic he ran 3:43.73. He said he felt better and better as the indoor season went along so he was likely close to the shape he was in 2023 by Nanjing. Jakob is a harder opponent to beat in a 3k so it is harder to win last years race.
I told the whole story when I wrote about the condition Jakob was in going into the 3000 in Nanjing. The 2023 Prefontaine Classic is a different story that doesn't apply to the comparison of 2025 Nanjing with 2026 Torun.
I never said Kerr is a better 3k runner than Jakob. Read what I wrote before busting out the insults. It's not about who's the better 3k runner. It's about which world indoor championship race was harder to win based on the context of who was in the field, what condition they were in, and how the races transpired. Torun was harder to win because it required a faster close off a faster split against a stronger field.
Jakob closed as fast as he needed to win the race. Otherwise he would run even faster, as his overall results show. 2023 Prefontaine Classic actually does apply as Jakob ran a 3:45.14 Mile earlier whereas at the Pre Classic he ran 3:43.73. He said he felt better and better as the indoor season went along so he was likely close to the shape he was in 2023 by Nanjing. Jakob is a harder opponent to beat in a 3k so it is harder to win last years race.
2023 Prefontaine Classic was a different set of conditions and a different type of race. It doesn't apply.
In Nanjing (the only race that's a relevant comparison to Torun when answering the question of which race had a stronger field), Jakob tried to seize the lead at the bell, but the guy who had been training for a half marathon was too quick for him and held him off. Jakob was in sprint mode pumping his arms to try to overtake the longer distance runner on the last lap, only doing so in the final 50 meters.
Kerr had the better WIC 3k performance. Against a better field.
Jakob closed as fast as he needed to win the race. Otherwise he would run even faster, as his overall results show. 2023 Prefontaine Classic actually does apply as Jakob ran a 3:45.14 Mile earlier whereas at the Pre Classic he ran 3:43.73. He said he felt better and better as the indoor season went along so he was likely close to the shape he was in 2023 by Nanjing. Jakob is a harder opponent to beat in a 3k so it is harder to win last years race.
2023 Prefontaine Classic was a different set of conditions and a different type of race. It doesn't apply.
In Nanjing (the only race that's a relevant comparison to Torun when answering the question of which race had a stronger field), Jakob tried to seize the lead at the bell, but the guy who had been training for a half marathon was too quick for him and held him off. Jakob was in sprint mode pumping his arms to try to overtake the longer distance runner on the last lap, only doing so in the final 50 meters.
Kerr had the better WIC 3k performance. Against a better field.
Wrong. Jakob tried to seize the lead but realized that he could just overtake him in the final few meters effortlessly so that he could be fresh for the next days 1500m final and not have expend more energy. Jakob could have closed far faster. Thanks for ignoring the rest of my post, now I know you are failing.
2023 Prefontaine Classic was a different set of conditions and a different type of race. It doesn't apply.
In Nanjing (the only race that's a relevant comparison to Torun when answering the question of which race had a stronger field), Jakob tried to seize the lead at the bell, but the guy who had been training for a half marathon was too quick for him and held him off. Jakob was in sprint mode pumping his arms to try to overtake the longer distance runner on the last lap, only doing so in the final 50 meters.
Kerr had the better WIC 3k performance. Against a better field.
Wrong. Jakob tried to seize the lead but realized that he could just overtake him in the final few meters effortlessly so that he could be fresh for the next days 1500m final and not have expend more energy. Jakob could have closed far faster. Thanks for ignoring the rest of my post, now I know you are failing.
That's illogical. If Jakob knew he could effortlessly beat Aregawi in the final few meters, then he wouldn't have tried to seize the lead at the bell. He would have just waited until the end.
When you say I ignored the rest of your post, are you talking about Jakob saying he felt better as the indoor season went along? When exactly did he say that? Was it before or after he ran 4 races in 4 days at Euros and then took a very long trip to China soon after that?
Jakob is known for exaggerations in his speech. This is the same person who said he could beat his rivals blindfolded. Take what he says with a grain of salt. It's better to look at how he ran. Not as fast as Kerr.
Jakob closed a 7:23 in 25 seconds less than 24 hours after front running 3:43 in hot, windy conditions. If you don’t think he’s a better 3k runner than Josh Kerr you are legitimately a moron. Just looking at the winning times and final 200 splits of their indoor victories doesn’t tell the whole story.
Anyone denigrating yesterday’s field is also a total clown. That was a strong final with more depth than last year and Kerr did a great job coming away with the gold.
Kerr could run 7:24 at the VERY worst. He ran 8:00.67 indoors which converts to 7:25.06 via the 1.08 formula; WA points put it at 7:23.24 indoors, 7:19.08 outdoors. He's not a 7:19 guy but is a very good 3k runner – much more of a 1500/3000 guy than 800/1500
Wrong. Jakob tried to seize the lead but realized that he could just overtake him in the final few meters effortlessly so that he could be fresh for the next days 1500m final and not have expend more energy. Jakob could have closed far faster. Thanks for ignoring the rest of my post, now I know you are failing.
That's illogical. If Jakob knew he could effortlessly beat Aregawi in the final few meters, then he wouldn't have tried to seize the lead at the bell. He would have just waited until the end.
When you say I ignored the rest of your post, are you talking about Jakob saying he felt better as the indoor season went along? When exactly did he say that? Was it before or after he ran 4 races in 4 days at Euros and then took a very long trip to China soon after that?
Jakob is known for exaggerations in his speech. This is the same person who said he could beat his rivals blindfolded. Take what he says with a grain of salt. It's better to look at how he ran. Not as fast as Kerr.
Your post is factually incorrect in various places.
Jakob tried to pass Aregawi so that he could be in the lead. Once he saw that he wasn’t relenting it, he slowed down and just waited until the final 50 meters so he didn’t have to run a faster last lap and exert more energy. It makes a lot of sense.
He said that in a youtube video during the indoor season last year documenting a 6x800m workout where he says he feels better after European Indoors. It’s well known that he was focused on World Indoors and was planning a mini peak on it despite running 3:45.14 a month before. He said so in a Q&A last year as well.
Jakob does not exaggerate. I’d love to see more examples of his exaggerations as yours is incorrect. He did not say he would beat all of his rivals blindfolded, he only said he would beat Kerr blindfolded. This was in response to a Two Mile where Kerr ran 8:00.63. Jakob is almost 50 meters clear of that with his 7:54.10. He also closed a 7:23.63 with a 25.8 last lap. I’d agree with him that he’d beat Kerr blindfolded. Are you ready to admit that you are wrong in so many places?
Your post is factually incorrect in various places.
Jakob tried to pass Aregawi so that he could be in the lead. Once he saw that he wasn’t relenting it, he slowed down and just waited until the final 50 meters so he didn’t have to run a faster last lap and exert more energy. It makes a lot of sense.
He said that in a youtube video during the indoor season last year documenting a 6x800m workout where he says he feels better after European Indoors. It’s well known that he was focused on World Indoors and was planning a mini peak on it despite running 3:45.14 a month before. He said so in a Q&A last year as well.
Jakob does not exaggerate. I’d love to see more examples of his exaggerations as yours is incorrect. He did not say he would beat all of his rivals blindfolded, he only said he would beat Kerr blindfolded. This was in response to a Two Mile where Kerr ran 8:00.63. Jakob is almost 50 meters clear of that with his 7:54.10. He also closed a 7:23.63 with a 25.8 last lap. I’d agree with him that he’d beat Kerr blindfolded. Are you ready to admit that you are wrong in so many places?
Your theory is still illogical. Jakob wouldn't have wasted energy going for the lead at the bell if he thought he could easily beat Aregawi at the end.
Kerr wasn't the only one who ran at Millrose. If Jakob said he could beat Kerr blindfolded, the claim applies to everyone else in that field. Jakob's claim looked silly when Kerr beat him the next time they raced, in Eugene.
Jakob also said the Paris Olympics would be a "walk in the park." His claim looked silly again when Hocker, Kerr, and Nuguse beat him.
Jakob can say whatever he wants, but actions, times, and outcomes speak louder than words.
Actions - Jakob tried to get into the lead by 2500 and again at the bell. Those aren't the actions of someone conserving energy and thinking he can easily win in the final meters.
Times - Kerr had a faster close off a faster split. Kerr's finish time was 10.53 seconds faster than Jakob's.
Outcomes - Shortly after Jakob's heavy indoor racing schedule concluded (7 races in 18 days in 2 continents), he got injured and hasn't been the same since.
Your post is factually incorrect in various places.
Jakob tried to pass Aregawi so that he could be in the lead. Once he saw that he wasn’t relenting it, he slowed down and just waited until the final 50 meters so he didn’t have to run a faster last lap and exert more energy. It makes a lot of sense.
He said that in a youtube video during the indoor season last year documenting a 6x800m workout where he says he feels better after European Indoors. It’s well known that he was focused on World Indoors and was planning a mini peak on it despite running 3:45.14 a month before. He said so in a Q&A last year as well.
Jakob does not exaggerate. I’d love to see more examples of his exaggerations as yours is incorrect. He did not say he would beat all of his rivals blindfolded, he only said he would beat Kerr blindfolded. This was in response to a Two Mile where Kerr ran 8:00.63. Jakob is almost 50 meters clear of that with his 7:54.10. He also closed a 7:23.63 with a 25.8 last lap. I’d agree with him that he’d beat Kerr blindfolded. Are you ready to admit that you are wrong in so many places?
Your theory is still illogical. Jakob wouldn't have wasted energy going for the lead at the bell if he thought he could easily beat Aregawi at the end.
Kerr wasn't the only one who ran at Millrose. If Jakob said he could beat Kerr blindfolded, the claim applies to everyone else in that field. Jakob's claim looked silly when Kerr beat him the next time they raced, in Eugene.
Jakob also said the Paris Olympics would be a "walk in the park." His claim looked silly again when Hocker, Kerr, and Nuguse beat him.
Jakob can say whatever he wants, but actions, times, and outcomes speak louder than words.
Actions - Jakob tried to get into the lead by 2500 and again at the bell. Those aren't the actions of someone conserving energy and thinking he can easily win in the final meters.
Times - Kerr had a faster close off a faster split. Kerr's finish time was 10.53 seconds faster than Jakob's.
Outcomes - Shortly after Jakob's heavy indoor racing schedule concluded (7 races in 18 days in 2 continents), he got injured and hasn't been the same since.
1) You have clearly never raced at a professional level. I have. Pushing hard for a whole lap expends more energy than waiting until the last 50 to pass someone. Facts.
2) Everyone else in the race was irrelevant at the time. The claim is irrelevant to a Mile when the discussion was a Two Mile. Keep reaching though.
3) Jakob said the European Championships would be a walk in the park, not the Olympics.
4) Once again they are are the actions of somebody conserving energy. He would have ran far faster if necessary but he has a good energy awareness for Aregawi.
5) Kerr barely closed faster while going all out. Jakob finished far faster than Kerr in a race 12 seconds faster while in similar fitness. Jakob is a far better 3000m runner than Kerr.
6) Now you are bringing in injury when that could be due to a million causes. Now that we know you are desperately trying to bring excuses out of everywhere, we know you are losing.
ya i thought the 1500 was an awesome race, but i had zero anticipation for it leading up to the race
That 1500 was abysmal on paper. Nader, the suspiciously good Portugal man against...Philstrom as the second best name?
Asking the Americans to show up or double indoors is a non-starter, so it would have been cool for a Ruthe or Nordas to hop in this
This worlds just seemed a mixed bag. There were whole events where I didn't recognize a runner. How many people can you name right now from the mens and womens and mixed 4 x 4? I mean if you run for a living....can't you mix in a WORLD championship meet in an off-olympic year? Is your periodization so exact you can't do it? What's more important over the winter?
People like Hull, Shot Putters, Hall/Doktor, Ehemmer, Hiltz, Kerr, Hocker etc...... seemed up to it? So it must be doable without wrecking your season? All you do is run! How about showing up to a World Championship meet, compete, rep your brand or whatever. This is what you do. Do sprinters need 6 months rest?