Muktar Edriss (double world champion 2017/2019 5000m)
Selemon Barega (despite having won IAAF Best Rising Youth Athlete
Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda)
Sifan Hassan (she always referred unfairly for dopage)
Overhyped:
Eliud Kipchoge
Muktar Edriss (double world champion 2017/2019 5000m)
Selemon Barega (despite having won IAAF Best Rising Youth Athlete
Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda)
Sifan Hassan (she always referred unfairly for dopage)
Overhyped:
Eliud Kipchoge
I would also add
Salwa Eid Naser
there is a lot of hostility against her. We try by all ways to downgrade her.
The US women’s hammer contingency.
The throws in the USA has always been about shot put. But this group of women’s hammer throwers right now is ridiculous. Current top 6 in the US are #1, 2, 4, 8, 11, and 12 on the world list. A lot of women with a chance to make a final and medal.
umm probably Cole Hocker
Faith Kipyegon. Been almost a full Olympic cycle since she had a bad race. One of the most consistently world class 1500m ever tbh
Wouldn't say Obiri and Hassan are underhyped. No one could shut up about either (for good reason) in 2019. Faith slipped under the radar that year though.
Tempted to throw Moh Ahmed out there. Guy is 11th all time in the 5000, sub 12:50, sub 27, world medallist, and yet a few podcasts back one of the JoBros literally forgot his name. Got clipped twice by Jakob in the final 600m in Doha but still finished under 2s off of gold.
THOUGHTSLEADER wrote:
Gardiner is a great pick. He could break the 400m WR seemingly "out of nowhere," but really it would be much like WVN (who was similarly under-hyped before 2016).
A couple from me:
Sha'Carri Richardson - You'd think she'd be overhyped, but the combo of being out of gas last year after the college season and a low-key season this year actually leaves her under the radar to me. She just turned 20 and I think could be the SAFP, but I don't hear as much about her.
Getnet Wale - He only ran 4th last season at Worlds, but before COVID he ran 7:32.8 indoors in the 3000 this season and his listed age even if a few years off is 20 (his progression is impressive either way). He has the speed/potential to go under 8.
Faith Kipyegon - I suspect she sets the 1000m WR in a week. I think she can beat Hassan in the 1500 and potentially run 3:50-3:52. She wasn't fully healthy last season, and is still getting better.
Daniel Roberts - He ran 13.00 last season and then there were a series of misfortunes at Doha. That being said I think he can podium in Tokyo and with no clear favorite that medal could be gold.
Revisiting my old picks. The first two have blossomed into Gold Medal favorites. Faith hasn't raced as much, but definitely feel good about her. Daniel Roberts unfortunately looks like a shell of himself to some degree. Hopefully that changes.
If I had to add some new Americans to the mix:
Fred Kerley: Seeing his 100m performances this year, I'm starting to wonder if this is the year he puts it all together. Is the 200/400 double not doable? I think there's a chance he could run 43.4 and 19.5 this year, and pull off a big upset.
Shamier Little: Overshadowed by McLaughlin, Felix and Muhammad, but she is in supreme form. I think she will be in WR shape for the 400 hurdles soon.
Shotputter Ryan Crouser.
Three of the top ten throws all time and consistently closing in on one of the oldest and dirtiest world records there is.
Kerley was a 20.24 guy who might of ran undef 20 if he raced more. If he ran 19.5 while training for the 400m saying he could run 42.8 wouldn't be crazy. A .7 sec 200m pr and only a .2 sec 400m would be strange.
I say he runs 19.8 and 43.1 or better.
Lb314 wrote:
Faith Kipyegon.
Always thought this. Always.
John Wesley Harding wrote:
Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas
-Ran 43.48 (#6 AT) to become 2019 world champ and win by a significant .67 seconds
-Went undefeated over 400 in 2019 including 7 runs under 45”
-Owns a 19.75 200m PB, essentially on par with Van Niekerk (19.84) and Norman (19.70)
-Recorded 19.96 200m/31.83 300m wins in July of 2020
-Is still just 24 years old
Objectively it seems like he should be marginally favored for Tokyo 400 gold and it won’t be surprising if he moves to top-3 on the all time list, but I think people are sleeping on him. He’s just somebody that LetsRunners have largely chosen to ignore.
I really haven’t considered this prompt too deeply, so I look forward to reading your answers.
Why didn’t I pick him for gold in the prediction contest???
Passant wrote:
Overhyped:
Eliud Kipchoge
Cool take Passant!
marileidy paulino of the dominican republic.she won olympic silver,in the 400.
Passant wrote:
Muktar Edriss (double world champion 2017/2019 5000m)
Selemon Barega (despite having won IAAF Best Rising Youth Athlete
Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda)
Sifan Hassan (she always referred unfairly for dopage)
Overhyped:
Eliud Kipchoge
Hindsight is 20/20 n all, but Hassan underhyped and Kipchoge overhyped is an amusing take to look at after two weeks straight of near daily World Athletics social media posts on Hassan and Eliud absolutely bossing that marathon. (not saying Hassan is overhyped, but that since 2019 she has been *the* singular big name in women's distance/middle distance running while people have continued to somehow sleep on Kipyegon).