While Jager is still the best steepler the US has ever seen, he did NOT run a good race... what makes more sense? Run in a pack of Kenyans letting them set up their kicks, and lick their lips for a 1-4 finish...? OR dictating the pace and tempo, making them work the whole race, and have less left at the end? Either way the same result could've happened if Jager just didn't "have it" today... but the smarter tactic is obvious
The way these races are going (everyone melting in the heat, slow early pacing) I'm giving D'Agostino a shot at top 5 in the 5k. Go Abby!!
Egg rollzzzzzz wrote:
Anybody know what the final 400 was? For jager and for all the Kenyan cheaters?
Yep, for Kemboi it was fast and for Jager it was slow.
Jager should have trusted his fitness and committed to a fast pace. His hesitation cost him a spot on the podium. Even if he had to lead, the kenyans would be watered down and unable to close that fast. The slow pace just played into the hands of the kenyans just like how it does for mo (with this 10k one of the exceptions). I think his strength lies on the speed endurance side but the kenyans just have that raw speed.
Hopefully he isn't too emotionally devastated and can learn from this and do something special in Rio 2016.
Jager should have trusted his fitness and committed to a fast pace. His hesitation cost him a spot on the podium. Even if he had to lead, the kenyans would be watered down and unable to close that fast. The slow pace just played into the hands of the kenyans just like how it does for mo (with this 10k one of the exceptions). I think his strength lies on the speed endurance side but the kenyans just have that raw speed.
Hopefully he isn't too emotionally devastated and can learn from this and do something special in Rio 2016.
As a Georgetown grad, I was very excited to see Emily Infeld win the bronze. Emily came back from two stress fractures, almost gave up track, and now wins the bronze. Too bad for Molly, but great finish by Emily.
Just so it'sclear it'sgreatweatherout here. not allthat humid. Actually I'm kind of cold
Old Man Winter wrote:
But wait! He's only the 6th fastest all-time, and he didn't run close to the world record in this race! How could he possibly be the best all-time?
The all-time list doesn't mean nearly as much as championships when it comes to all-time greats. Kemboi has medalled in every world championships since 2003 (gold '09,'11,'13,'15 and silver '03,'05,'07) and has two olympic golds ('04,'12). He is also only two seconds from the WR - not too shabby.
Dingler wrote:
Kemboi = greatest steepler of all time. End of discussion.
I picked Jager just for the heck of it, but I knew Kemboi would win. He always does that crazy fast video game like turnover sprint and wins in all the big meets. I should have changed my picks after the prelims, but I knew I was not going to win the brojo's contest anyway.
Love watching Kemboi and SAFP, both have crazy leg speed velocity ;^).
Lack of Commitment wrote:
Jager should have trusted his fitness and committed to a fast pace. His hesitation cost him a spot on the podium. Even if he had to lead, the kenyans would be watered down and unable to close that fast. The slow pace just played into the hands of the kenyans just like how it does for mo (with this 10k one of the exceptions). I think his strength lies on the speed endurance side but the kenyans just have that raw speed.
Hopefully he isn't too emotionally devastated and can learn from this and do something special in Rio 2016.
When has he ever shown a lack of confidence on the track? Jager did not have his fitness today.
Lack of Commitment wrote:
Jager should have trusted his fitness and committed to a fast pace. His hesitation cost him a spot on the podium. Even if he had to lead, the kenyans would be watered down and unable to close that fast. The slow pace just played into the hands of the kenyans just like how it does for mo (with this 10k one of the exceptions). I think his strength lies on the speed endurance side but the kenyans just have that raw speed.
Hopefully he isn't too emotionally devastated and can learn from this and do something special in Rio 2016.
Could you not see his form today? Yes, pushing the pace was the blindingly obvious route to go, but this is a different Jager to a few weeks ago. The way he just sneaked into the final (and could easily have failed) was a red flag. Personally I find if hard to believe that he could fall off his peak so fast since his 8min. Something else was up.
Like others, I have to echo the sentiment that Jager just didn't seem to "have it" today.
However, I can't get behind the way he let this race play out. Should he have taken off from the gun at 8:00 pace? Absolutely not. But as others are saying, a controlled push from ~800-1200m out would have fared him far, far better.
Because when was the last time Jager wowed you with his kick? Even his 3:32 1500m from earlier this season was accomplished more by maintaining and slightly increasing an already fast pace--rather than vigorously accelerating the way Kemboi did today.
And with the way his qualifying round unfolded, the decision to go along with a sit-and-kick race is even more perplexing. It clearly almost didn't work in the prelim. Why let it happen again?
It's hard not to have a sour taste in your mouth after this. Emily Infeld's bronze was a thing of beauty, but that notwithstanding, it's hard not to feel like Jager isn't falling into a long line of Schumacher-coached athletes who can run fast but can't race well.
I think he was kidding, since people were discounting Mo's 10k gold from the other day because he "didn't push the pace enough", even though the winning time was the 3rd fastest championship-winning time ever.
Where did all these Kenyan Steeplechasers come from?
He didn't run with confidence. He spent the entire race running wide including a few laps outside of Kipruto when he could have more easily run in the front and controlled it.
Jager watches the big screen too much when he races. He's not all-in.
Kenya
Is Kemboi the most dominant any single person has ever been at one event? Two Olympic golds and Four World Championship golds? Alexander Karelin, Kelly Slater, Donald Bradman, Sugar Ray Robinson, Cy Young, Steve Redgrave and a few others are all some usual picks, but honestly, I think Kemboi has to be included in this conversation now.
Here's wherein Farah's greatness lies, and every great runner: he can control the pace of the race so that it suits his talent, and not the talent of the others. Does Jager have this ability? We'll find out next year. Sometimes it takes time (and failures) for it to develop.
Woodstock wrote:
He didn't run with confidence. He spent the entire race running wide including a few laps outside of Kipruto when he could have more easily run in the front and controlled it.
it is simple wrote:
[quote]Lack of Commitment wrote:
Jager should have trusted his fitness and committed to a fast pace. [quote]
When has he ever shown a lack of confidence on the track? Jager did not have his fitness today.
I agree, he didn't have the fitness he displayed earlier in the season. There was nothing he could have done during the race to medal.
As for Infeld and Huddle, I am disappointed for Huddle, but as an American, any of the three American women medaling should be celebrated. There's more disappointment and "doh!" responses than celebration here. I'm more familiar with Huddle and Flanagan as they have been long time stars, but that was an awesome performance and result for Infeld.