No. He actually ran better times this season than last season before with Olympic Gold and Olympic Record. If he won the 1500m final then you could not make that argument. The DQ is unfortunate but bot a result of his fitness. Just poor 1 dimensional rail running tactics. It finally caught up with him. You just can't do that sh!t every time. So we really don't know. There is still the 5000m.
That's true, I forgot. He won a couple minor meets then flopped the whol season. Was he injured?
Yes...
"Centrowitz battled post-viral pericarditis — a swelling of the fluid-filled pericardium, a sac surrounding the heart — as well as an adductor injury for most of the season"
Ran 7:23, won the USA 5k. There's probably worse seasons out there......
So he ran 6 seconds slower than the world record in the 3000m and beat some pedestrians in a 13:26 5000m? I don't think your counter argument is as compelling as you think
Ran 7:23, won the USA 5k. There's probably worse seasons out there......
So he ran 6 seconds slower than the world record in the 3000m and beat some pedestrians in a 13:26 5000m? I don't think your counter argument is as compelling as you think
Ran 7:23, won the USA 5k. There's probably worse seasons out there......
So he ran 6 seconds slower than the world record in the 3000m and beat some pedestrians in a 13:26 5000m? I don't think your counter argument is as compelling as you think
Agreed cheater shoes make his time not that impressive anymore 7:23 ain't like komens 7:20, get out of here with that absolute nonsense
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A good act does not wash out the bad, nor a bad act the good
Don’t forget, his season isn’t over yet. He still has the 5k, and tbh now he might be my pick for gold. His legs won’t be tired from a sub-3:30 race, and if there’s anything we’ve learned from the last 3 5k finals, it’s that it’s not actually a 5k race, it’s a tempo to get into position for 4600m, then a 400m race. I think Hocker’s 7:23i/12:57i fitness will get him to when the kicking starts, and he’ll kick like Jakob has been for the last few years.
I’ll add the caveat that this might be the time Jakob tries to push it from far out (if he makes it). No way he leaves it down to a kick with Hocker if he thinks he’s strong enough to push from 1-2k out. I know people say that about the Ethiopians every year, but the difference is Jakob has shown, to the point of stubbornness, that he’ll take the pace and see who can hang on.
Ran 7:23, won the USA 5k. There's probably worse seasons out there......
1988 Olympic men’s 1500m gold medalist Peter Rono went to NCAA mid-major Mt St Mary’s college in 1989, and failed to win a single NCAA title, even indoors.
Rashid Ramzi was busted for CERA after winning gold in ‘08, and banned from competition in 2009.
After David Rudisha repeated as Olympic 800 champ in 2016, he only ran 1:44.90 the next year and that was it for his career.
Noah Ngeny’s 2001 was a similar caliber to Hocker’s 2025, maybe a little worse (way worse if Hocker medals in the 5k).
Sebastian Coe didn’t win any international races in 1985; that year was the Cram/Aouita show.
Point is, it’s common to have a comparatively lackluster year after winning Olympic gold. Singling out Hocker’s 2025 season is talking out of your ass.