Cold Hocker is the next El Guerrouj

Jgt11 wrote:

I think Hockers erratic form is a result of his massive improvement. He went from being a 3:59 runner to a 3:48 runner in a year. Running economy takes a while to improve and as time goes on he will look more comfortable at that 55-57 second 400 pace.

Yet imagine the uproar on here if a Kenyan showed that improvement who's only been tested once in his career.

To be fair, hobbyjogging the first half or 3 quarters of a race is ingrained into american mid distance culture. So there's more potential for people to set huge PRs.

KaareV wrote:

Internationally it is only going to be faster. It is not about the kick any longer.

Bravo. Those two sentences should have been prominently plastered at every American track and field venue and training site for the past five decades. I pay absolutely no attention to American stretch runners. The style they learn to win NCAAs and trials is not applicable at international level. Consequently they do nothing but sadly fool themselves and waste their careers. The exceptions are dwarfed by the examples.

The Billy Mills and Dave Wottle tapes should have been burned and banished. Any runner who savored them was suckered by them.

Salvitore Stitchmo wrote:

OozmaKappa wrote:

Damn the Hocker fanboys are out in full force today

I'm sorry why wouldn't a fan of American distance running be a fan of Cole Hocker? He's probably the most talented American born miler you have had since Jim Ryun.

I'm not even American and I think his talent is exceptional.

He shows no indication of being more talented than Alan Webb. I am not arguing who will have the better career as Hocker very well might.

Awsi Dooger wrote:

KaareV wrote:

Internationally it is only going to be faster. It is not about the kick any longer.

Bravo. Those two sentences should have been prominently plastered at every American track and field venue and training site for the past five decades. I pay absolutely no attention to American stretch runners. The style they learn to win NCAAs and trials is not applicable at international level. Consequently they do nothing but sadly fool themselves and waste their careers. The exceptions are dwarfed by the examples.

The Billy Mills and Dave Wottle tapes should have been burned and banished. Any runner who savored them was suckered by them.

Exactly

I predict Hocker will shock the world and beat Jakob in 2024. He will run a 3:26 by then. I think 3:26.22 in 2023 Monaco. He will be even better than El g because he will eventually win a 5000 gold as well.

runfast.. wrote:

I predict Hocker will shock the world and beat Jakob in 2024. He will run a 3:26 by then. I think 3:26.22 in 2023 Monaco. He will be even better than El g because he will eventually win a 5000 gold as well.

Ignorant post. Beyond ignorant. ElG won a 5000m gold. What is your point?

I agree with earlier posts that for Hocker to maximize his talent he needs big form improvement. Not saying he won’t get that at some point, but it needs to happen. At 3:30 pace Hocker looks like he’s punching that wall, while Jakob looks like he’s running easily. There’s no comparison.

El G ran sub 3:30 something like 30 times in his career. Lets wait for Hocker to do it once before having this discussion.

Salvitore Stitchmo wrote:

OozmaKappa wrote:

Damn the Hocker fanboys are out in full force today

I'm sorry why wouldn't a fan of American distance running be a fan of Cole Hocker? He's probably the most talented American born miler you have had since Jim Ryun.

I'm not even American and I think his talent is exceptional.

Don’t even try and understand Americans. It will hurt your brain. Curiously, they eat their own.

Cadiz wrote:

Salvitore Stitchmo wrote:

I'm sorry why wouldn't a fan of American distance running be a fan of Cole Hocker? He's probably the most talented American born miler you have had since Jim Ryun.

I'm not even American and I think his talent is exceptional.

Don’t even try and understand Americans. It will hurt your brain. Curiously, they eat their own.

Excuse me? Do you have a strong argument against cannibalism?

Nah, he'll get a doping violation long before he gains ATG level achievements.

SDSU Aztec wrote:

"sub-max running form"

I've never heard of that before. Did you read that somewhere or just make it up?

Oh my god you again? Really - you want to do this?

It doesn't take anyone with much of a brain - and I know you don't from all the times to try and pick fights and end up looking stupid, to simply deduce that what I mean is "running form at less than ones maximum pace".

So if Hocker can run a 400m in 48 seconds all-out, what is his form like/how efficient is he when he runs at speeds below this (sub-maximal) pace.

Now seriously, GOOO AWWWWAAAAYYY you absolute twit.

Jimmkner wrote:

He shows no indication of being more talented than Alan Webb. I am not arguing who will have the better career as Hocker very well might.

Well he already has better tactical and racing acumen for one. Because in one season as a pro he already has a better result at major championship level than Webb ever did. Secondly I never saw Alan Webb ever run close to what Hocker has done off slow paces so that's an entire skill-set he never had.

So yeah, I'm going to say that some really strong indication. Oh, also, Hocker ran 3.31.40 at the age of 20, Webb didn't break 3.32 until he was 24.

Quick one - did you even think about any basis for your statement before you made it? Because that was almost laughably easy. I swear some of you guys are so incredibly stupid with your flippant statements it defies belief.

Oh wait I need to make a correction. That season where he had a better lifetime major result than Webb had and ever will have - he wasn't yet a pro.... Yep, still at college. You're welcome.

Before the Olympics everyone was saying he would never be better than a 3:35 guy. He keeps proving the doubters wrong.

Thread is useless without lucs

If you were smarter you would recognize that Webb would have likely run a 3:44 mile in today’s spikes and a 3:51 in high school. You made an ignorant assertion. I schooled you and you remained recalcitrant in your unusual combo of ignorance and arrogance. Webb also ran 1:43 and Hocker likely never will. Please educate yourself grasshopper.

Hot Potato wrote:

Right, not the 20 year old that just ran 3:28 to win an Olympic gold.

To be El G you got to fail at winning the Olympic gold a few times first.

I hope there are more Lagats that race forever than El Gs that retire early. El G is 3 months older than Lagat