Cole Hocker's Chances at Worlds....

Is he even going to worlds? He said in his interview after the 3000 that he’s undecided.

Well, everyone at worlds will also have cheat shoes so probably not good.

It will be run at a proper pace,so no chance.

Given Kerr and Jakob are there, he will be fighting for 3rd-5th.

Had no idea who was showing up before entering this thread.

If Yakob and Kerr are there, Hocker has no chance competing with them. This is a mismatch. It would be more interesting to discuss who would win between Hocker and Teare as theyre closer in ability, yet Americans insist on comparing Hocker to runners in a whole different league.

He's been outkicked by Cooper Teare twice this season and is slower than everyone else. Chances for anything above 3rd place are quite low.

Jakob and Kerr are in great shape right now, so I'd give them the #1 and #2 spots. A bronze would be realistic goal for Hocker. Should be a good battle with Hoare. Mechaal will probably run the 3000m, but he could be a solid competitor as well.

Is there any info on the Kenyan team ie: Cheruyiot, Kipsang and Simotwo ? If they show up it really changes things. Also I'm guessing McSweyn won't run indoors.

Kerr is not running. He did not run at the British champs.

My guess is that hocker will not go to worlds.

well slow pace, in good position he has a 50/50 chance. Lets not forget on the anniversary of Eamon breaking 3:50 indoor on a 10 lap to mile wooden track he never (win/place/show) in the 1500 and he was in good position each time. So you never know.

I believe he meant he was undecided if he was going to run the 1500 and/or the 3000. I'd expect he's running one of them, the question is which, and if he is doubling.

IF the Worlds aren´t cancelled and IF hocker is running I think he is a clear medal contender in the 1500m.

I have in another thread set up this list of the best milers this season:

"
If we convert the best 1500m runners´ times this season to mile times (by x 1.08) we get the following top 10:
1. Jakob 3:47.45
2. Josh 3:48.87
3. Teare 3: 50.17
4. Hocker 3:50.35
5. Tefera 3:50.80
6- Hoare 3:50.83
7. Kipsang 3:51.74
8. Beadlesc. 3:52.03
9. Mechaal 3:52.52
10. Proceviat 3:52.54"

Since no 2 Josh Kerr and no 3 Cooper Teare haven´t qualified Hocker on paper is the next favorite.

If Jakob doubles the 3000m/ 1500m and Hocker only runs the 1500m Hocker might even take the gold. (the 3000m final is run at noon the last day and the 1500m final later the same day!)

Hocker??? Gold???

Haha,way to try and make the Yank a favourite,not a chance.

Hocker finished sixth in the Tokyo Olympic Men's 1500m Final held in 2021 (last year). That was in the same league, indeed the same race, as Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Timothy Cheruiyot and Josh Kerr.

Why are you stuck in an obnoxious hyperbole mode?

I am - as stated before - from Europe but I can still see when the facts point on an American as the next favorite in the 1500m. I also think it is rational to think that Jakob might get troubles to beat Hocker in the 1500m final if Jakob has run the 3000m final some few hours before the 1500m and if Hocker only runs the latter.

If you don´t think "the Yank" kan win gold please tell me who - apart from Jakob - can beat Hocker.

He was over 2 seconds behind the medallists. Those are two different leagues. Hocker is G League. Your attempt to aggrandize Hocker by saying his name in the same sentence as the medallists' just because he participated in the same race is comical.

I guess we're just handing out participation trophies now. No, you have to perform at a certain level if you want the credit. You gotta either run 3:28s or win global medals if you want that credit.

If you're telling me that Jakob is running, then of course he's the favorite. If he's not, Hocker is a co-favorite with Kipsang and/or Hoare. Hoare in an unpaced race, I'm going to be honest I think is easy pickings for both Kipsang and Hocker. All well and good to talk about pushing the pace when you have pacers. Hoare trying to sap Hocker/Kipsang's kick probably is going to be futile.

Stop it with the G league analogy non sense. Hocker is like the Ja morant of track and field, Both are very young and have shown great potential to reach the top at their respective sports.

So I actually hope for his sake he doesn't go to the World Indoors. It's really easy when you are young and in shape to just want to race any and everything but the reality is it's all cumulative on the body. That dude raced soooo much last year in particular (huge indoor and outdoor season) he just doesn't need to do this. He showed at USA's his form is right where it needs to be - shut it down, get back into base and focus on outdoors. In the event that he goes? He has the ability to medal - anyone that says he doesn't has no idea what they are talking about. I think the ballpark of that medal is bronze but with upside to silver depending on how races unfold (which can be extremely unpredictable indoors).

I don't understand the undertone of hate for Hocker and how his abilities are underestimated. He ran 3.31.40 for 6th in the Olympic final at age 20. Prior to that at NCAAs and Trials he ran 3.35 with sub 53 second last laps that when matched up with major championship finals of the past run in similar fashion would put him firmly inside the top 3. Yes he is best off a slower pace but so what - a decade ago that would have meant he was a threat to win any championship 1500m race on the planet it's just that right now the best guys in the world aren't messing around even in finals.

This kid is really good. Hoping he doesn't bother with world indoors but if he does I'll say he takes bronze ("show")

I think you are right on the money. I wouldn't be as concerned about him racing at Worlds, but I get that once you sum it up it has been a reasonably active indoor season (Millrose 3K, Chicago mile/800 workout, US Indoors 3K/1500 double). We know Pre and USAs are going to be his big meets outdoors. It's kind of a shame that the way the season lines up running outdoors in Europe is almost certainly not going to happen until after Worlds.