epicTCK wrote:
Not sure why you are referencing Noah ngeny as if he hasn’t run 3:43.4 right behind El G - it’s not like he was a Lewandowski type where he couldn’t keep with a crazy hot pace up front
Ngeny was definitely more FT than El Guerrouj. He had the stronger kick on the last 100m. Both were fit (and potentially on drugs/EPO), but Ngeny definitely had more speed and El Guerrouj more duration.
1:44 vs 1:47
2:11 vs 2:16
3:28 vs 3:26
4:50 vs 4:44
7:35 vs 7:23
See the pattern? I can create an Excel sheet based of the PR comparisons. Yes, the 800 and 1000 times of El G are from early of his career and probably not his lifetime potential, but since Bideau was referring them as well I might just also do so. Olympics 2000 final, El G big favorite:
1st place, gold medalist(s) 11 Noah Ngeny Kenya 3:32.07 OR
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1 Hicham El Guerrouj Morocco 3:32.32
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 Bernard Lagat Kenya 3:32.44
Why? Race was slow, and Ngeny destroyed him on the last 100m. From 1996-2003, in like 50+ races, this was the only time El Guerrouj lost to someone in a 1500m.
Think about Cheruiyot - hard to imagine someone beating him in the next 3-5 years in a 1500m race, he could be developing a similar racing record as El Guerrouj once did. If Jakob and McSweyn, who are both a lot slower/more slow-twitch and Lewandowski, who is getting old and struggles in races that are very fast from the get-go are his main competitors, I don't see him get challenged in 1500m races anytime soon.