Did he just give up? Tired legs after that 1500m and then needless 4:00 in his prelim?
He certainly didn’t give up. He closed in 59.1 and never allowed a huge gap from the 3rd spot until after 800m to go. But yeah every single guy in the field ahead of him besides Grant ~ a 12:46 guy was running on fresh legs. He’d run 3 hard rounds of the 1500 including a lifetime best performance.
This post was edited 29 seconds after it was posted.
I don't think a couple 1:43s are enough reason for Kessler to focus on the 800. We're still talking about a guy that ran 3:34 at 18. Between Monaco, Olympics, and the later DL meets I'd bet he finishes this season with a PR under 3:30. Decent shot to make the final in Paris if he runs well too.
Kessler should take that 800m speed to the 1500. There’s a raw power to the 800 that he might not have (I’m talking Olympic medal standards here, he’s obviously incredible).
Kessler should take that 800m speed to the 1500. There’s a raw power to the 800 that he might not have (I’m talking Olympic medal standards here, he’s obviously incredible).
That's where things get weird, because Kessler has a reasonable medal chance in the 800. But, he has a better chance of making the final in the 1500 where his medal chance would be close to zero (he'd need at least 5 men to have an off day). Though doubling compromises his chances in both events. So it depends what his goals are. Plus, there is a chance he ends up in a repechage for one of the events (possibly both). It's tough. It's a shame the 800 wasn't up first
How many of the 1500m runners can run 1:43.6 in the 800m? Kerr, Wightman (uninjured)... I don't think Hocker or Ingebrigtsen can. So, I tend to agree - Kessler *can* medal now. His 3:31 was good, but that 800m showed that he can do more than that.
How many of the 1500m runners can run 1:43.6 in the 800m? Kerr, Wightman (uninjured)... I don't think Hocker or Ingebrigtsen can. So, I tend to agree - Kessler *can* medal now. His 3:31 was good, but that 800m showed that he can do more than that.
In what world can Kerr run 1:43.6? He was struggling to run 1:46, best he can do is 1:44 high. Also Kessler was probably 1:43 flat shape (or maybe even better) coming into the trials given he ran two 1:43s after doing the 1500 rounds and an 800 round.
Not sure why Hocker ran the 5k at Trials. Not a great deal of upside to it. It was obviously very taxing on him. Probably an effort he would have been better off not making. You only have so many big efforts in a season.
Just like Kessler, Hocker is on the speed side of 1500m, and beat him by a second in the 1500m final. The Olympics, of course, are ultra competitive, and of the two, Hocker has the best chance of medaling, which would be in the 15. Countless Olympians have successfully completed the 800/1500m double, and Kessler doesn’t need to “focus” on either race.
Teare could have had a good chance of making the 5000m team, but for whatever reason, his fitness for the trials was lacking.
I don't think a couple 1:43s are enough reason for Kessler to focus on the 800. We're still talking about a guy that ran 3:34 at 18. Between Monaco, Olympics, and the later DL meets I'd bet he finishes this season with a PR under 3:30. Decent shot to make the final in Paris if he runs well too.
I don't know... Kessler did say the 800 final felt easier, and the 1500 is deep this year. The only thing that would worry me is the lack of experience Hobbs has in the 8.
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