I'm sorry Jonathan Gault is wrong, Centro didn't go too early - he just got beat

Centro didn't quite take an L in my book... this is not a definitive race. He had to qualify, and it looked like with 10m to go that Centro wasn't interested in straining further - that was where Hocker drew alongside and it was only then that he would have been aware the momentum Hocker had.

Centro made his move with Hocker - and everyone - way behind him and knew he had qualified if he held it; Hocker made his when there was about a 3m gap from Centro to everyone else, and knowing that he had to wring the sponge, so had more momentum for a few metres. That's all.

In their heat, you could tell that each were conscious of beating the other but it wasn't distracting either of them from just making sure they placed. Neither seemed particularly concerned in the Heat either, despite what was visibly said. That was all secondary. The Olympics proper will tell a tale.

Hocker should actually be thankful to Nuguse for letting him out of the box with 120 to go.

Watch the race video. Inexplicably, Nuguse runs wider than he needs to at 120, drifting away from Prakel’s shoulder, and allowing an entire body-width gap to open, which Hocker takes full advantage of; the gap is so big, Hocker is able to step through clearly, with no contact or shouldering. Nuguse could easily have stayed glued to Prakel’s shoulder, and Hocker would have needed to brake, let Nuguse pass, and go wide.

America's fury wrote:

rojo wrote:

This is the perfect example of a writer wanting to craft a nice narrativeeven if the facts don't match up.

BURRITO!!!

Exactly. Gault went off the rails with his pro-Burrito article.

Correct.

He just got beat.

I did note that Centro spent the first two laps in lane 2 while Hocker was on the rail conserving more energy, running a shorter distance.

But Hocker out-raced him and may simply be fitter.

quote post wrote:

trailer wrote:

Some would say this is a description of every article you write.

lol yup

Like that embarrassment he put out a few weeks back on the new spikes.

Agree with jcaban. Centro knew that all he needed at OT was to advance and then save it for Tokyo. Mission accomplished at no risk. He knows his craft well enough. But there are faster milers out there waiting for the Olympic final to do their thing.

You’re move, Gault!

Runner10287 wrote:

quote post wrote:

lol yup

Like that embarrassment he put out a few weeks back on the new spikes.

lol yup

Or what about when he said seeing a Cicada was a sign that Cheptegei would beat the 3000m world record. WTF?

You can’t get more Centro apologist than this take. He ran a tactically seamless race and simply got outclassed. He can say post race he went too early but hindsight is 20/20 and in everyone’s heart of hearts we all know he just got beat.

Rojo is correct. Centro just got beat. He was at full speed, he didn't slow down. As posters are saying, Centro hit top speed too late if anything. He went at 125 to go and maybe if he drops the hammer at more like 175 or 150 to go, Hocker runs out of room. As it stood he ran a near-perfect race tactically, Hocker just has a gear he does not.

I don't think Centro hit 100% all-out in the last 100m, if he knew Hocker was coming he could have hit his final gear.

John Wesley Harding wrote:

Like others are saying, he went too late. Should have run the last 300m as fast as possible instead of keeping the lid on until the final 100.

That was my take as well when watching the race. He can't match Hocker's flailing speed and needed a longer, slightly slower finishing kick to have a chance at winning that. If Hocker hadn't been boxed, I don't think there's any way Centro could have beaten him.

Star wrote:

Correct.

He just got beat.

I did note that Centro spent the first two laps in lane 2 while Hocker was on the rail conserving more energy, running a shorter distance.

But Hocker out-raced him and may simply be fitter.

So wrong....Centro is probably in 3:30 or better shape. Look how relaxed he is. He could probably run mid 12:50 right now too. Centro is peaking at exactly the right time and would put Hocker into the dirt in a sub 3:35 race

Let's be clear, the only thing that mattered to Centro about this meet, above, all else, what's to make the Olympic team.

The best way for him, was to both stay out of trouble and stay out of getting boxed.

Well when, might have been nice, and he wanted to win, he just missed it by making sure he stayed out of trouble and had the safest smartest shot to make the team.

Defending Olympic champ, now an Olympian again, what is a chance to defend his title, and itself one of the larger long shocks and sports, but nonetheless he's got a chance at it now.

I agree after watching the video. I actually think being aware of hocker's speed, centro should push lap 3. He didn't go to early, he went too late.

jcaban wrote:

Centro still looked like he was smirking at the line—like he didn’t care that Hocker beat him. Maybe it’s just that his running style is so smooth that it makes him look casual, but idk, his face as he crossed the line didn’t look to me like someone who was just upstaged. I got the feeling that he’s focused on winning in Tokyo, not at the trials.

Assuredly, it is this.

Central has been relevant in the national 1500 meter what now 10 years 11?

We don't know much about his turning blocks, and where he is in his schedule for Tokyo.

He didn't seem particularly bothered, he probably figured Cole was going to be right there at the end.

How much copium are the centro fanboys smoking these days? This is hilarious. First it was Hocker could never beat centro. Now it’s “oh centro let him win he’s got bigger things”. Just accept that Hocker waxed him it’s okay Centro fans!

WonderBread wrote:

So wrong....Centro is probably in 3:30 or better shape. Look how relaxed he is. He could probably run mid 12:50 right now too. Centro is peaking at exactly the right time and would put Hocker into the dirt in a sub 3:35 race

Centro ALWAYS looks relaxed. Go watch the Rio video. He's kickign for Olympic gold and it looks like he's doing a pre-stride warmup.

The difference between Tokyo and USAs is there likely will be even more guys still in it coming off the final turn. Instead of finding some space 100 meters out, you may not find it utnil 75 meters out.

It's crazy how many guys are right there with 150 to go in both Rio and last night.

Centro ran a well-judged race, with good positioning. He was well clear coming into the home straight. I dont think he expected a steam train in the form of Hocker to suddenly appear outside him in the last 30 meters. Probably no one did. Maybe he would have taken Hocker's legs from him if he had applied a more sustained finish earlier - say 300m out. But I'm guessing he figured he was home free when he was well in front going into the home straight. Hocker ambushed him. As an Olympic qualifying race, I doubt that it will bother him too much.

Hocker will always be dangerous in a slow race but over several rounds at Tokyo I'd be surprised if he could repeat the feat we saw at the trials. Even a race run 2-3 secs faster could see him finding it much harder to produce that kind of kick. In a sub-3.30 race I can't see any of the Americans figuring at the finish.