First 1500m/Mile Power Rankings of 2023 (Only guys who have competed)

Jake Wightman I know is injured. McSweyn is doing World XC relay.

Any reasoning on some of those other big names who have not competed? Just skipping indoors?

Cheruiyot never does Indoors. He does some XC. Abel Kipsang was in the mix for Kenya's World XC Relay, but I think he came up a bit short to make it (some conflicting word that he might still be in the mix). Heyward, I just looked at his IG and it was a BTS of him recovering from an injury, so that explains that.

One more name to watching might be Raynold Cheruiyot (World Junior Champ-1500). He is running the U20 at World XC. He ran 3:34.0 last year and nearly made the Kenyan senior team. Runs very aggressively but if he finishes top 3 in the Junior Race or even wins, he might become a factor at the senior ranks soon enough.

Azeddine Habz has already two 3'35" indoors to his name this year, with a win and a second place behind Jacob, and none at BU (i.e. not carried away by a train of runners to the finish line in a fast time).

I would put him in the Top 10.

I thought about him but 3:35 is not so fast. Can’t really justify it considering they’ve been pretty standard variety (eg no 52 second last 400s or whatever)

Great list. My only critique of the order is that I’d give Tanner full ownership of the #10 spot until Teare runs a 1500/mile, but that’s very minor. Katir/Ingebrigtsen is close, but if I lean toward Jakob I think it’s because it’s hard to fully shut out past seasons’ results. I’ll also say that if Katir is #2 and Kerr #4 based primarily on impressive 3ks, then maybe Girma deserves some serious consideration even if his 1500 PR is only 3:33.77 and he hasn’t raced it since 2020…he just went ~3:43.2/3:40.6.

Also, what’s the deal with “Ingebridsten”?

I understand that Girma wouldn’t really be eligible for your list BUT if the world’s best were to line up for a 1500m next week I would find it difficult to believe that a guy who averaged just under 3:42 in his 3000m wouldn’t be a threat to run 3:30 and therefore be in the mix for the top 4.

OK I see you discussed Girma also. And to add to that, when Girma ran that 3:33 he was listed as 19 years old. He likely has a 3:30xx in him now, because if he doesn’t, then we do know he has 12:40 in him.

That’s not how it works. Just because Girma beat Komen’s indoor record doesn’t mean he’s going to have the same line Komen did. Wale essentially tied the record two years ago and he’s nowhere close to 3:29 or 12:39. Let’s wait and see.

To THOUGHTSLEADER, I like the list for the most part, but Romo needs to be ahead of Bartelsmeyer imo.

Actually it is how it works. I NEVER contended that Girma will run 12:40. What I asserted is that for Girma to run 7:23.81, he either has roughly 3:30, 12:50 capability or if he is only a 3:33 runner, he has 12:40 ability. This is true whether you agree or not, although one can quibble with the specific numbers slightly. This is not tantamount to asserting that Girma will run those times.

Good comments all. I’d agree Girma merits consideration. I wonder if he plans to run one. Fisher is running the 1500 in Madrid, for instance. On Mario vs Amos et al. I suspect he’ll pass them with a better performance in Madrid. Still credit where credit is due on a 3:50 mile for me.

Also Ingebrigtsen or I’ll just say Jakob

I have completely forgotten Anass Essayi until I have seen him mentioned in the official FRMA.
Looks like he is coming back to his progress of 2021 (I think the change of environment in 2022 influenced his work).

He has a smooth stride and appears to be quite talented. Wondering now that he's acclimated if he can have a Mario Garcia Romo type NCAA/pro transition. Would be nice if he looks to join a US group because it doesn't seem like Moroccan-based groups are a robust option compared to if Union Athletics/ON et al are looking to add.

Girma is only 22 (even a month younger than Jacob).
I have always thought that a lot of East African runners have their place in the mile.

Someone like Girma has big pool of endurance and can be extremely resistant in high paced miles.

We shall see this year how El Bakkali has progressed in speed, a year where he will focus more on improving his times.

Anass Essayi is still 21, he lost a year of acclimatation but right now he is doing good progressive results.

Ethiopia has had their share of 1500/milers, but without the same success as Kenya. The problem for most of them has been while strong as all heck (sub-13:10 pre-Superspikes capable at least), they've lacked the necessary finishing quality to get onto the podium. Tefera seems to have more of an issue navigating rounds, as indoors/on the circuit he is able to flash solid speed. Runners past and present like Wote, Gebremehdin, and Lemi are good runners but seem doomed to losing out in the final stages to better kickers. In this new era, maybe that is less of an issue if an Ethiopian runner can achieve sub-3:30 fitness. The one 1500 guy historically who I recall was an Ethiopian with stellar finishing abilities was Deresse Mekonnen who was essentially the Ethiopian Leo Manzano.

As far as how Girma projects, he does have a pretty good finish so if he were to move to the 1500 I could see him being quite competitive and better than most of the runners I listed. He has experience kicking guys down in the 3,000, which while somewhat easier than in the 1,500 is not a given (have to call out McSweyn).

Girma likely won’t have both, but it’s very likely he’s in something like 3:30 1500m -7:23 3k-12:45 5k shape. Not quite as fast as Komen at either distance but still really strong

WTF? George Mills has ran 3:35 twice, but doesn't even get close to making your list?.

Coevett, I thought he looked great his first race. 3:35.88 by the way, but then he lost and ran .04 slower in a competitive race. Habz has the head-to-head win and Waskom has a time that converts to a second faster. Rest of the guys in here outside of Teare (3:50low PB/7:34 3k), Kerr (obvious reasons) and Katir (7:24 3k) have run significantly quicker or have major advantages in their CV.

THOUGHTSLEADER, why are you even trying to do such a list when you don't even know the most important criterium: Brit, yes or no?

Definitely going with Inglebriggaddier as my pick. What’s wrong, too lazy or too incompetent to get the spelling correct..?