Is Sage Hurta BETTER than Joe Klecker?

Yes and by a large margin.

Second in the diamond league standings has to count for something.

Has Hurta ran a 5000 faster than 13:15? Has she ran a 1500 faster than 3:40?

This is an interesting question.

Comparatively, it’s close. Sage’s 4:01 is a slightly stronger performance then Klecker’s 3:37 in my opinion and her 800 1:57 is much better than Joe’s current 800 PR which is listed on world athletics at 1:55. (Although I assume he could probably run 1:49). I would say a 1:57 puts her in the ~1:45 ish range comparatively.

On the other hand Joes 5K at 13:04 is significantly better than Sages 16:30.

They are completely different athletes, one being Mid D one being Long D. If we take their best events which I’m guessing would be 800 vs 5000 I would say they are pretty even. In the current season 1:57 is gonna place you a lot better than 13:04, but to be fair this year has had an insane amount of sub 13s.

So rank wise im giving the nod to Sage, but I’d personally rather have Kleckers range from 1500 up

I think the one who understands what an easy run is will have the better career when it’s all said and done.

It is advantage Joe for making the WC team. But Sage really improved in the last couple of months.

Joe’s rankings 2022
3K – 14th fastest in the world
5k – 25th fastest
10k – 40th fastest

Sage’s rankings 2022
800 - 8th fastest
1500 – 25th fastest

Sage finished the year by make the DL final, finishing 3rd and beating the WC and Olympic Silver medalist. Her DL performances should easily get her into top meets next year. Advantage Sage. Overall: Sage had a better year and I think has a higher ceiling.

Could Klecker make the DL final in any event? No

Would he finish top 3 in a DL event? No

Boulder bro

Joe does have a US title and made a world and olympic team. Sage is more competitive at the international level.

Either way, this is a good problem (if it is one) to have.

Joe Klecker is from Minnesota and will therefore always be Superior to Sage. She, however, has had a better season than him. Minus missing the Worlds team, it was a big breakthrough season. My only fear for her is that she may be a tweener. While 1:58 is time trial races is nothing to disrespect, that's not going to put her on championship podiums. That said, I don't see her as a 1500 specialist as I haven't seen her be able to shift the gears like you need to for top level racing in that event.

No disrespect to Sage. She can continue to run professionally in the 800 for some time. Joe needs to figure out the limiting factors that are causing him to fail in his ability to translate great workouts to great races. My take, based the repeated comments about how fast he runs on mileage days is that he either 1)Needs to slow down his mileage days, or 2) Reduce the frequency and intensity of the workout days and focus on (what I believe is his strength) being an aerobic monster.

My two cents. Joe Klecker would thrive on the Norwegian threshold system. Think 26:35 10k, Joe.

On a world stage Hurta is actually more similar to Fisher. I know it sounds stupid but US 800 women is the most competitive in the world. She can place anywhere from 2nd to 7th in any final like Fisher. Klecker is not placing in DL events.

This ^

Joe is a workout king. I'm sure that's part of his system, but blasting everything, having odd injuries, then blasting again makes Klecker a dull boy. I'm afraid next time Morgs pulls it together and they're on the same starting line Joe is going to to have deva vu'.

I think the bigger issue here is that another NCAA class graduates next spring, and there will be another 5-6 folks arriving who might push a few to the background. Heck, NP seems to have a few fast guys in the wild.

Joe seems--or seemed to be the "face" of OAC and it seemed like he was put out as the premier athlete when the club first started, and it kind of seems like from their early media, he was instrumental in working with Dathan and ON to get the club up and running and bringing the idea of it to Boulder etc. I almost wonder if he is a partner in the club. But I don't think he is the most talented. Sage is doing so well this season in her events! I'm really happy for her! And honestly, yeah, I do think she is more talented and I hope she is sitting around contemplating that fact. I hope someone says that out loud to her: "yo. You are super, super good lady. Don't stand in your man's shadow."

Ollie has also had some really great races. Geordie has a lot of potential and on paper has a better history than Joe. And. I mean, let's be honest: again, on paper, Morgan McDonald should be an absolute monster. I cannot figure out what is going on with him.

I like Joe Klecker--like he seems like a super hard worker and I love that he has such a "go for it" attitude, but no. He is not the most talented person on that team. There is most likely no denying that he has a vison for the team and is a contributor to it's coming together though.

It is wild how after Kate Grace's huge DL season last year she drops of the radar completely only to be perfectly replaced by Sage.
Sage has an opportunity to make her place on the U.S. team for a year or two before the wunderkinder take over in time for Paris '24. Will even Mu withstand the triple onslaught of Willis, Whitakker and Gorarrian?

The women's 800 is consistently the most inspiring U.S. event.

I think Klex Mex has a much BETTER mustache than Hurta, so I'm going to go with him. That's not to take anything away from Sage though she realistically had more of a breakout 2022 than Joe.

I think she had a bad case of covid turning into long covid.

The US is much deeper in the women's 800/1500 than the men's 5K/10K, so depends on how you ask the question:

Who's better on the US stage? Joe

Who's better on the world stage? Sage