On the broadcast for the 2004 5000m, Marty Liquori on call says that Bekele could accelerate extremely quickly and might try to beat El Guerrouj by getting the jump on him. Thats what it looked like Hago was trying to do
Gebrhiwet obviously wasn't there. He didn't "go too early," he was already wiped out on the backstretch less than 400m after going to the front. That would not have happened if he was fit off that pace.
He probably has too much class to say he was sick though. Off day on the wrong day. If he'd gone out fast and bombed they would say that was the wrong tactic. If he had waited until the bell he'd have been outkicked and they'd say that was wrong. But tactics had nothing to do with it.
On the broadcast for the 2004 5000m, Marty Liquori on call says that Bekele could accelerate extremely quickly and might try to beat El Guerrouj by getting the jump on him. Thats what it looked like Hago was trying to do
3 straight global finals where the same thing happens:
- Jakob leads the 1500 from the front - doesn't work
- Jakob lets others lead in the 5K then kicks - works
I don't think it would work as well in the 1500 but I'm also not *positive* he couldn't win the 1500 in a kickers race. While he doesn't have the best top-end speed, overall fitness still matters
I dunno. I watched that 5000m final, saw a guy win easily against the best in the world, and then stand there like it was a walk to the shops. Not tired, not out of breath. And pretty much every other runner in the race too. Apparently racing a hard 5K in the Olympics final is easy. Weird, isn't it?
3 straight global finals where the same thing happens:
- Jakob leads the 1500 from the front - doesn't work
- Jakob lets others lead in the 5K then kicks - works
I don't think it would work as well in the 1500 but I'm also not *positive* he couldn't win the 1500 in a kickers race. While he doesn't have the best top-end speed, overall fitness still matters
Jakob lead to 3:28
but the Ethiopians lead to 13:15
It would have worked even for Grijalva at this pace.
Something that really stood out to me was how relaxed and composed he looked on the start line, compared to the 1500m where it was obvious how on edge and nervous he was. That was a truly dominant run by him even with questionable tactics over the last two laps, specifically when Hagos took off with 600m to go and he was badly boxed by the Kenyans but somehow found a way out. He didn’t even look like he was struggling at all even though he closed in 26 mid for the last 200m
Race would have had to be different but..: if hocker was in that race could have got 2 golds!
Uhhhh do you not remember how Hocker bombed the 5000m at USA’s in a similar type of race to the final today? Hocker’s 1500m gold was legendary and well deserved, but he doesn’t have the recovery and turn-around abilities that Jakob has that are necessary to double in the 15/5 and be contenders in both.
He's unbeatable over 5000. I'm a bit annoyed as I had Kwemoi at 35/1 but the field just played into Jakob's hands. He should move up and do the 5/10 double. He has Farah's skillset and would dominate
If he was unbeatable he'd own the world record or even be close to breaking it. There was no real competition for him. Y'all fanboys are ridiculous. When he owns the world record then he'll be considered unbeatable. Jogging all but the final 800 meters isn't impressive at all. Let's see him go 12:35 or faster if he's so good.