Say it with me: Cole Hocker's kick is overrated.

There is a parameter that a lot of people neglect. The physiology of a runner change between 18/19/20/21.

Some age well, others not.

I agree with you.

His kick was superior for the level of competition he has been going up against, but perhaps only a little better than average at the next level. With that said, it is way better to have a little better than average kick than no kick at all. Hocker will be fine.

If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, it probably is a duck...so sick of watching these horrible form US runners -- Hunter, Hocker, Teare...Beamish, a hair flowing, chest out a la John W was a thing of beauty.

Why does anyone worry about Hocker's kick? Worry is like trying to predic the future and avoid nasty surprises. None of you ha control over how fast Hocker kicks or doesn't. Maybe if you just agonize over if Hocker's a legi kicker long enough, just think through every possibility, or read every opinion online, you’ll find a solution and be able to control the outcome next time he's in a race. Good luck with that. Unfortunately, none of this works.

Let the boy run, and while he's practicing for his summer kick, instead of everyone engaging in futile efforts to gain control over the uncontrollable, let yourselves experience the discomfort of uncertainty.

THOUGHTSLEADER wrote:

Great — another moronic troll. Hocker is 20 years old, and could improve those personal bests. Maybe that hasn't struck you. Perhaps you could also find out where Matt Centrowitz ranks on your list and look up where he ranks on the list of Olympic Gold medalists.

Nobody says Hocker is a threat to the top 2 yet. They say he has a great kick, which he does. Foolish trolls then argue being able to shift gears or hit a very high top end speed is useless, or that kicks don't even matter. Kind of makes you wonder if the only race they've ever watched was the 2021 Olympics 1500m final.

Can you name the top 5 international competitions where he outkicked world class runners? Oh wait.

People who hail Cole Hocker as they do in here makes me wonder if the only races they watch is NCAA races.

But I guess number 7-8 in coming Diamond League events gonna have to practice their kick, so can the elite of the elite focus on running fast 1500m races..

He is good and he might become a lot better. But let him run against the worlds best a few times first.

LarsL9 wrote:

THOUGHTSLEADER wrote:

Great — another moronic troll. Hocker is 20 years old, and could improve those personal bests. Maybe that hasn't struck you. Perhaps you could also find out where Matt Centrowitz ranks on your list and look up where he ranks on the list of Olympic Gold medalists.

Nobody says Hocker is a threat to the top 2 yet. They say he has a great kick, which he does. Foolish trolls then argue being able to shift gears or hit a very high top end speed is useless, or that kicks don't even matter. Kind of makes you wonder if the only race they've ever watched was the 2021 Olympics 1500m final.

Can you name the top 5 international competitions where he outkicked world class runners? Oh wait.

Tokyo final, placed ahead of McSweyn, Heyward, Wightman, Hoare. Tokyo semi-final, kicked ahead of Cheruiyot, Hoare and Simotwo. Tokyo first round, kicked ahead of Kerr. That was three competitions in four days.

Mo' Better Blues wrote:

LarsL9 wrote:

Can you name the top 5 international competitions where he outkicked world class runners? Oh wait.

Tokyo final, placed ahead of McSweyn, Heyward, Wightman, Hoare. Tokyo semi-final, kicked ahead of Cheruiyot, Hoare and Simotwo. Tokyo first round, kicked ahead of Kerr. That was three competitions in four days.

And you seen what Josh did when it actually mattered.

say it again. wrote:

Mo' Better Blues wrote:

Tokyo final, placed ahead of McSweyn, Heyward, Wightman, Hoare. Tokyo semi-final, kicked ahead of Cheruiyot, Hoare and Simotwo. Tokyo first round, kicked ahead of Kerr. That was three competitions in four days.

And you seen what Josh did when it actually mattered.

Lovely how fellas be moving the goal posts. That wasn't the question.

Can Hocker, in world-class races, out-kick world-class runners? Emphatically, yes.

A continuous cycle of negative thoughts and posts cause damage to the hippocampus. This gets damaged and you have some trouble with the part of the brain used for problem-solving and cognitive functioning. Be kind to yourselves, people. Stop the whinging. Let the boy run.

Mo' Better Blues wrote:

say it again. wrote:

And you seen what Josh did when it actually mattered.

Lovely how fellas be moving the goal posts. That wasn't the question.

Can Hocker, in world-class races, out-kick world-class runners? Emphatically, yes.

No he can't, can outkick slow NCAA but not when it matters.

say it again. wrote:

Mo' Better Blues wrote:

Lovely how fellas be moving the goal posts. That wasn't the question.

Can Hocker, in world-class races, out-kick world-class runners? Emphatically, yes.

No he can't, can outkick slow NCAA but not when it matters.

He beat Centro, the defending gold medalist, at the trials. Then he made it through multiple rounds at the Olympics and onto the final.

I already know your comeback is going to be something about Centro not having a good kick. Re-watch the Rio Olympic final last lap. Then please delete your internet.

say it again. wrote:

Mo' Better Blues wrote:

Lovely how fellas be moving the goal posts. That wasn't the question.

Can Hocker, in world-class races, out-kick world-class runners? Emphatically, yes.

No he can't, can outkick slow NCAA but not when it matters.

When it mattered, Hocker kicked his way into his first international semi final.

When it mattered, Hocker kicked his way into his first-ever international final.

When it mattered, Hocker's 13.9 was enough to elevate him to 6th in said final.

Stop deluding yourself.

Hocker exceeded my expectations. This was his first race. Sub-7:40 is indeed fast for the first race. But surprise for me was Cooper's kick. Not surprised that Beamish won. He has a world class kick for sure. He'll be a major player in Worlds this year - unless he has peaked.

Mo' Better Blues wrote:

LarsL9 wrote:

Can you name the top 5 international competitions where he outkicked world class runners? Oh wait.

Tokyo final, placed ahead of McSweyn, Heyward, Wightman, Hoare. Tokyo semi-final, kicked ahead of Cheruiyot, Hoare and Simotwo. Tokyo first round, kicked ahead of Kerr. That was three competitions in four days.

So you couldn't. Tim, Kerr, Hoare, Simotwo letting him run when it didnt matter is a moot point.

We will see this season 😊 his season opener doesn't bode well.

Shorter Than Frank wrote:

Hocker exceeded my expectations. This was his first race. Sub-7:40 is indeed fast for the first race. But surprise for me was Cooper's kick. Not surprised that Beamish won. He has a world class kick for sure. He'll be a major player in Worlds this year - unless he has peaked.

Because he beat Hocker (!) he suddenly is ranked in the top?

The season will be long with a lot of surprises and it started by the exploit of the twenty years old son of Tigray.

LarsL9 wrote:

Mo' Better Blues wrote:

Tokyo final, placed ahead of McSweyn, Heyward, Wightman, Hoare. Tokyo semi-final, kicked ahead of Cheruiyot, Hoare and Simotwo. Tokyo first round, kicked ahead of Kerr. That was three competitions in four days.

So you couldn't. Tim, Kerr, Hoare, Simotwo letting him run when it didnt matter is a moot point.

We will see this season 😊 his season opener doesn't bode well.

You're incredulous. Kerr almost didn't make that final. "Let him run when it didn't matter"?? Ok.

I'm sure somebody has already posted this, but indoor tracks are a different world than outdoor. The turns are tighter and the opportunities to pass are few and far between. There are no weather conditions so a competitor doesn't not lose as much leading a race.

With that said, Cole was forced wide, trying to pass on the turn and just after. Because BOTH Cooper and Cole were running wider and focused on eachother, Geordie got to stay right on the rail the whole last 100, scooting right past them running the least amount of distance.

You cannot accurately judge a finish kick off of this. Geordie has LETHAL speed, just as lethal as Hocker's, so it just comes down to tactics and Beamish was very fortunate to slip under the radar in that final push.

Mo' Better Blues wrote:

You're incredulous. Kerr almost didn't make that final. "Let him run when it didn't matter"?? Ok.

You dont really think Hocker had won if Tim had cared to best him in that race?

Anyway, the point is Hocker have little to show for on the world stage, this season is going to be interesting. I hear that he has a world class kick and is an incredible runner, so I'm expecting him to consistently be a podium contender.

Cooper Teare also had low 26 speed last year. Hocker has the ability to close in 25s at his best but he needs to be sharp a long time from now. A 20 year old male does not usually get worse when he turns 21. He'll do it if he stays healthy. This guy ran 3:31 that young. When's the last time an American was that good at this age? Jim Ryun was the only one and Centro was close, slower in time trials, but already a medalist at Oregon before his senior? year.