I'm not sure why the hocker fan girls are acting all surprised that people are talking sh*t. It's almost as though if you provoke others and are always in everyone's business(including that of an olympic gold medalist) you'll get sh*t thrown back? Who would have known?
I like Hocker, but I don’t disagree with Scott Fauble, and I don’t buy the injury excuse. If he was injured, like someone already mentioned, why was Cooper Teare so shocked? And why is he taking the lead for 95% of the race? I’m far from a championship runner, but I would assume that anybody who takes the lead probably feels the strongest.
Looking at the last 100, I think Cole may have just eased off the gas too much, and by the time he realized, it was too late. And I feel like that goes back to racing tactics. Don’t ease up even if you think you’ve got it in the bag; don’t take the lead if you’re not feeling like you can hold it the entire race.
He raced real races in 2022 at USA Indoors (twice), Millrose, Oxy and Pre. Yes it would've been great to see him at Portland Track Festival (he likely scratched due to injury) or Sound Running Meet (he already had gotten his 5k time). Barely any US distance runners went overseas for races, so that'd be an aggressive knock on just him. I'd like to see more showdowns in the US, but find me the 1,500 runner who was racing to your satisfaction.
If only he had discussed race strategy with you. If he had last year’s fitness, he would have easily qualified with just about any strategy of off such a slow pace. That he has recently been hindered by injury is very believable.
You say you’re not a championship runner but yet you provide detailed analysis of his last 100m buttressed with your spot on mind reading skills.
I like Hocker, but I don’t disagree with Scott Fauble, and I don’t buy the injury excuse. If he was injured, like someone already mentioned, why was Cooper Teare so shocked? And why is he taking the lead for 95% of the race? I’m far from a championship runner, but I would assume that anybody who takes the lead probably feels the strongest.
Looking at the last 100, I think Cole may have just eased off the gas too much, and by the time he realized, it was too late. And I feel like that goes back to racing tactics. Don’t ease up even if you think you’ve got it in the bag; don’t take the lead if you’re not feeling like you can hold it the entire race.
Did we watch the same race? He didnt "ease off the gas too much" he pretty clearly tied up over the final 100m.
He raced real races in 2022 at USA Indoors (twice), Millrose, Oxy and Pre. Yes it would've been great to see him at Portland Track Festival (he likely scratched due to injury) or Sound Running Meet (he already had gotten his 5k time). Barely any US distance runners went overseas for races, so that'd be an aggressive knock on just him. I'd like to see more showdowns in the US, but find me the 1,500 runner who was racing to your satisfaction.
Wow...2 real outdoor races?
You realize that USATF championships are basically the BEGINNING of the pro season, not the end of the season, right? All of the biggest races are over the summer. The best opportunity to run a good 1500 is at Monaco, which is in 47 days.
I don't think you give an injury report before hand. don't let the competition know you have a weakness, or they will hit you where it hurts.
They do this in all major professional sports. Brazier just did it an won his heat. Once the racing starts it doesn’t matter. I guess in pro football Lawrence Taylor used to specifically target Montana’s most recent injury, but this is T&F for Pete’s sake.
Exactly.
Make injury report just like other professional sports. No one is banned from superbowl/world series/n.b.a. championship for lying on injury report. Teams are fined. No one should be banned from Olympics &/or W.C. for lying on injury report but coaches and athletes should be fined. If an athlete represents an Underdeveloped Country, fined $5000 per week for lying on injury report. If an athlete represents one of 25 wealthiest countries in the world, an athlete should be fined $50,000 every week they lie on injury report. I believe New England Patriots lied on injury report and I believe N.F.L. fined them for doing so.
You realize that USATF championships are basically the BEGINNING of the pro season, not the end of the season, right? All of the biggest races are over the summer. The best opportunity to run a good 1500 is at Monaco, which is in 47 days.
You realize that people are going to remember them skipping Valentine for a time trial, skipping Penn for a time trial, pacing each other for a 2.5 person 5000m, pacing each other at Oregon Relays...
Not everyone is going to be a fan of that. I'm not saying that it has to bother you, I'm saying you must understand why it bothers some.
Name a US athlete that ran 4+. Hocker was going to run 3 before this injury. He paced Teare to a qualifier, and ran a 5k qualifier when there weren't exactly a ton of high-level chances to run one. The dearth of racing is not a Hocker phenomenon, it's pretty much any runner 1500 and up not named Abel Kipsang.
I like Hocker, but I don’t disagree with Scott Fauble, and I don’t buy the injury excuse. If he was injured, like someone already mentioned, why was Cooper Teare so shocked? And why is he taking the lead for 95% of the race? I’m far from a championship runner, but I would assume that anybody who takes the lead probably feels the strongest.
Looking at the last 100, I think Cole may have just eased off the gas too much, and by the time he realized, it was too late. And I feel like that goes back to racing tactics. Don’t ease up even if you think you’ve got it in the bag; don’t take the lead if you’re not feeling like you can hold it the entire race.
Did we watch the same race? He didnt "ease off the gas too much" he pretty clearly tied up over the final 100m.
Actually, I just rewatched the race, you’re right. I think around 60m to go, Hocker looks over and seems surprised that Holt is next to him, and clearly tries to push harder (which is when I say he realized he was in trouble). I was wrong to say he eased off the gas, it seems like he just didn’t have that extra gear when everyone else in the race did.
Did I miss something? What's the injury? Maybe I missed it, but why the need to announce the injury, but conceal what the injury is?
In every other pro sport, when someone is sidelined by injury, they announce what it is ("hamstring" "Turf toe" etc) and list their status, "injured reserve," "day to day," etc.
Even Kipchoge, after his 8th place a few years ago at London, quickly disclosed his ear issue. There's no tactical reason to keep the injury secret after the race is over. What's the reason in this case?