Is Kejelcha or Mo a better runner?

I wrote this:

I agree that time is not the only metric that should be considered when it comes to determining who is "better" between two runners.

You responded with this:

You really don't seem to get it. PB's don't decide who is the better runner.

We are saying the same thing and yet you continue to argue. Why?

You are misrepresenting the thread. The OP asked who was the better runner. He then listed some of their PRs. Then many posters pointed out that his incomplete list of PRs isn’t sufficient to truly evaluate who is the better runner. This is not the same as asking which runner has the better PRs, and you can’t seem to understand that.

The OP asked who was the better runner and then listed their PBs. I have already acknowledged that judging who is better between two athletes based solely on PBs is not useful, but I answered the question based on the OP's chosen metric anyway. Kejelcha is faster than Mo in more events, so by the OP's chosen metric (which all of us agree does not tell the whole story) he is better. That's all there is to it. That's why I stated earlier that this thread should have died a long time ago.

Yes head to heads rule over all else in athletics. Even over medals. We have two athletes who raced many times and one beat the other consistently.

bewildered observer wrote:

I wrote this:

I agree that time is not the only metric that should be considered when it comes to determining who is "better" between two runners.

You responded with this:

You really don't seem to get it. PB's don't decide who is the better runner.

We are saying the same thing and yet you continue to argue. Why?

"Regardless, why not just look at their PBs and say which of them you think is better? It doesn't paint the whole picture by any means but it's what is being asked.".

It isn't what is being asked. The question posed is simply, of Mo and Kejelcha, who is the better runner. I don't accept your or anyone else's assertion that PB's settle that question. So we aren't saying the same thing at all.

You acknowledge that PB's aren't the "full metric" for deciding who is better - and yet you continue to require answer to the question of superiority based solely on their PB's. You are thus seeking to maintain two contradictory positions - which you can't do. You may hold to one or the other, but not both.

Regardless of what you think the OP or anyone else says, PB's do not establish who is the "better" runner, only that one runner may have faster PB's. So when you say that PB's are not the full measure, and then insist that we should accept the assertion they are - if only for the sake of argument - well, that is perverse. And wrong.

In my view, a much wider basis of comparison is needed than simply relying on PB's, including major race victories. Until Kejelcha wins multiple titles as Farah has he is still behind in the race.

Tftfvttygggg wrote:

Just thought I would update:

Kejelcha

...

Mile 3:48.46i (fastest mile since 2014 in/out)

...

Update2:

Kejelcha

1500m: 3:31.58i (3rd fastest indoor time ever)

...

He is still slower than Mo at 1500m, but he is certainly getting closer.

He is however now faster than Bekele and Geb at that distance.

Hshshshhs wrote:

Tftfvttygggg wrote:

Just thought I would update:

Kejelcha

...

Mile 3:48.46i (fastest mile since 2014 in/out)

...

Update2:

Kejelcha

1500m: 3:31.58i (3rd fastest indoor time ever)

...

He is still slower than Mo at 1500m, but he is certainly getting closer.

He is however now faster than Bekele and Geb at that distance.

You forgot that he lost. Like the 12:46 race.

whoopsies wrote:

Hshshshhs wrote:

Update2:

Kejelcha

1500m: 3:31.58i (3rd fastest indoor time ever)

...

He is still slower than Mo at 1500m, but he is certainly getting closer.

He is however now faster than Bekele and Geb at that distance.

You forgot that he lost. Like the 12:46 race.

I hope people are starting to understand my point about why Farah didn’t try to set super fast times or break WRs.

Hshshshhs wrote:

Tftfvttygggg wrote:

Just thought I would update:

Kejelcha

...

Mile 3:48.46i (fastest mile since 2014 in/out)

...

Update2:

Kejelcha

1500m: 3:31.58i (3rd fastest indoor time ever)

...

He is still slower than Mo at 1500m, but he is certainly getting closer.

He is however now faster than Bekele and Geb at that distance.

Update 3

Kejelcha

...

1500m 3:31.25i (3rd fastest indoor ever)

MIle: 3:47.02i WR

...

...

Mile 3:47.02i WR (9th fastest ever in/out)

...

Hhhhh wrote:

Update 3

Kejelcha

...

1500m 3:31.25i (3rd fastest indoor ever)

MIle: 3:47.02i WR

...

Update 4

10000m: 26:49.99 (slower than Mo’s best by 3 seconds), But in Kejelcha’s defence, it was his first crack at the event and he is only 21 y.o., so... (fastest first 10000m ever?)

Kejelcha:

3:31.25i

3:47.01i WR

7:28.00

12:46 (3rd place)

26:49.99 (3rd place)

59:17

2 Indoor 3k golds, golds at U20 and U18, and two fourths at senior World Champs in the 5000m

Farah:

3:28.81

3:56.49

7:32

12:53

26:46

59:32

2011 Silver/Gold

2012 Gold/Gold

2013 Gold/Gold

2015 Gold/Gold

2016 Gold/Gold

2017 Gold/Silver

Given Farah's range and 1500m best, you have to wonder whether he was actually capable of hammering low 12:40s and 26:20s if he had the inclination. After all, he handed it to a lot of 12:40 guys, including Kejelcha, GWet, and others.

Gggggggg wrote:

Hhhhh wrote:

Update 3

Kejelcha

...

1500m 3:31.25i (3rd fastest indoor ever)

MIle: 3:47.02i WR

...

Update 4

10000m: 26:49.99 (slower than Mo’s best by 3 seconds), But in Kejelcha’s defence, it was his first crack at the event and he is only 21 y.o., so... (fastest first 10000m ever?)

Try 26:30.03 for fastest debut.

Nicolas Kemboi

Neigh wrote:

Gggggggg wrote:

Update 4

10000m: 26:49.99 (slower than Mo’s best by 3 seconds), But in Kejelcha’s defence, it was his first crack at the event and he is only 21 y.o., so... (fastest first 10000m ever?)

Try 26:30.03 for fastest debut.

Nicolas Kemboi

Correction, this was kemboi's second race, he ran his debut 8 weeks earlier.

I don't understand your thinking here. Why would out-kicking someone in a slow race be any indication that you could beat them in a fast race? FWIW I think Mo could have run high 12:40s.

Mo can’t time trial. EOD.

Bump for the Kejelcha hype team.

Lol, timely bump. Expect crickets.

Tale of two takes wrote:

Lol, timely bump. Expect crickets.

Wait did I miss the WCs or are we ranking Diamond League finals titles above medals AND PRs now?

Glad the season is over. What a roller coaster of emotions.

The season isn't over, though. Yomif is still going to get smoked at Doha.