I think Kipsang and Tim might’ve kep that thing going. Would he have been better served playing if like Wightman and turning the screws later in the race? I do think his strategy worked in burning off Tim/Kipsang who wasted energy jockeying and making failed moves.
What could Jakob have done differently to win? That's what I've been thinking about since the race ended.
Maybe the era of him and Cheruiyot far surpassing the rest is done? Maybe these other guys with sub-3:30 PRs have the confidence (and some far superior kicks) than Jakob.
We know its hard for him to push that last lap super hard -- if there are guys who can close in 26/27, he is in some danger.
He sat and kicked off a fast pace in the Olympics and won. I think it was a bad move to take the lead. I think he could have done what Wightman did and gone for the lead with 250 to go
Yes, bad mistake by Jakob. He should have learned his lesson from Tokyo—as long as others are willing to set a fast pace, and the Kenyans looked like they were—let them do it and win over the last lap. Jakob was also visibly sucking wind/huffing and puffing from very early on, basically from the time he took the lead. I’ve never seen that from him. Check the replay. He’s still strong enough to run 3:29, but it left him mighty vulnerable on the last lap and with no kick.
Jakob underestimated Wightman, and why not? He beat him by 4 seconds in Oslo and the guy was 10th in Tokyo. Today, he pulled the Laura Muir tactics of sitting on the shoulder of the leaders, only Wightman had enough to go past for the win. Once he went past, I knew he'd hold it, Wightman is a 1:44 800m guy, but I was still looking for Kerr kicking through.
Having watched the race back, it was also extremely tactical. We're in an era of tactical races where you need to run 3:29 for a medal. Big challenge for anyone coming up.
He also spent a lot of the first 800m in lane 2, running some extra distance off of a quick pace. I know he likes to hang back off the gun, but with these races getting taken out in 55 its tough to run extra distance getting back to the lead that fast.
From the post race interview Jakob thinks he should have run harder in the middle part to tire out competitors even more, his brother thinks that it was an impossible task to front run for so long.
What could Jakob have done differently to win? That's what I've been thinking about since the race ended.
Maybe the era of him and Cheruiyot far surpassing the rest is done? Maybe these other guys with sub-3:30 PRs have the confidence (and some far superior kicks) than Jakob.
We know its hard for him to push that last lap super hard -- if there are guys who can close in 26/27, he is in some danger.
3:27s ahead perhaps?
Some great posts here! This one I think is definite - yes that era is over. Mario Garcia Romo and Cole Hocker could be the next versions of Wightman e.g. able to run 3:29 but also with serious kicks. Kerr’s a little bit different style but it’s effective when he’s fully fit. He was a tad short this season. It looks like Jakob will face the El G conundrum now. Tim will, too. If they want a fast race that will be enough unless they get lucky enough that someone pushes it until the last 250.
From the post race interview Jakob thinks he should have run harder in the middle part to tire out competitors even more, his brother thinks that it was an impossible task to front run for so long.
Interesting…it’s not like he let it go slow or anything but I guess he could’ve saved up less and hit the bell in 2:33? I think his brother is correct that is crazy stuff.
He sat and kicked off a fast pace in the Olympics and won. I think it was a bad move to take the lead. I think he could have done what Wightman did and gone for the lead with 250 to go
From the post race interview Jakob thinks he should have run harder in the middle part to tire out competitors even more, his brother thinks that it was an impossible task to front run for so long.
Interesting…it’s not like he let it go slow or anything but I guess he could’ve saved up less and hit the bell in 2:33? I think his brother is correct that is crazy stuff.
Will be super interesting if he maintains that view or if it was just his adrenaline talking. Seems like super unnessesary to take the lead that early but I guess in the moment he felt he had to (and since he took the lead he should have stepped on it harder, but I doubt he had it in him?). Agree that his brother probably is correct....
I don't think Jakob ran a tactically bad race. He doesn't have the speed to sit and kick. He needed to have strung the field out by the time he hit the last 200m. He tried. He couldn't do it. Second in such a race is still pretty good but Wightman's tactics, staying close throughout, taking the lead at the top bend and having the strength to hold on in the straight weren't going to be beaten today. Not by Jakob. Or anyone else. The Africans were buried. A bit of a surprise there. Unlike the women's events, their winning is no longer a foregone conclusion.
Stewie was MIA up the front, that's what fecked things up for Jakob.
Also, Wightman ran a smart race, pushed his way out past Kipsang coming of the bend with 300 to go then moved in front of Jakob with 200 to go, nothing illegal but close enough to put him off his stride and break his momentum, he then had to work hard to try to get back up there, which didn't happen.
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