Jakob's well ahead of El Guerrouj at this age. 12:48 to go with 3:28.32 in an Olympic final, plus an Olympic gold and a silver, at 21 years old and just got started at the top last year, make him quite comparable to El Guerrouj, actually. He won't be 22 until after the season. In 1995, he won silver at world's, his first medal at 20, nearly 21. In 1996, El G turned 22 in September, and he fell in the Olympics that year and didn't medal. In 1997, at nearly 23, he ran 3:28.91. Jakob ran 3:28 at 20. In 2000, he lost to Ngeny. In 2004, at close to 30, he finally won double gold, though he barely beat Lagat in the 1500. At World's, he won for the first time in 1997 at about 23. He won his first medal at the 5000m only in 2003, at 28, nearly 29. His 5000m pr was slower than Jakob's at 12:50 (he ran 12:52 in the 2003 race). He also ran 7:23 at nearly 25 in 1999. Jakob ran 7:27 at 20.
Jakob
1500 3:28.68 at 19, 3:28.32/3:47.24 at 20, 3:29.47/3:46.46 at 21, Olympic gold at 20, World silver at 21
3000 7:27.05 at 19 just before 20
5000 12:48.45 at 20
Honors:
1500 Olympic Gold at 20, World Silver at 21, 2nd at World Junior at 17
5000 3nd, World Junior at 17
El G
1500 3:28.91 at 22 near 23, 3:26.00 world record/3:43.12 world record, 4xworld gold, 1xworld silver, 1xOlympic gold, 1xOlympic silver
3000 7:23.09 #2 all-time at 24 near 25
5000 12:50 at 28 near 29, 1xOlympic gold, 1xWorld Silver