If there's anyone to beat Girma (or El Bakkali) in the steeple, it's JI.
Is this a Viking or Valhalla arrogance
well girma isn't great on barriers and Jakob is faster on the 3000m. Jakob also did run some 3000st when younger. So I do think Jakob would beat girma in the steeple.
Honestly contrary to the results of the polls here before the meet I expected this one and not the other 2. That insane indoor 3000m which he backed up in his debut outdoors this year is quite a bit faster than others who specialize in the steeple have gone over the flat distance, I thought this one was in the bag.
7:23.81 Indoor by Girma stacks up pretty well against that 7:24.00 split I'd say. Hopefully they go head to head for the WR
Jakob ran 7:21 for the last 3000m of his 2-mile WR. Gotta think he could go 7:18 if the race was 3000m. 7:23.81 is great but it does not 'stacks up pretty well'.