was funny how he said cheriyout ruined the race though ha
And he ruined Tim’s. Classic game theory situation. If Jake lets Tim lead he makes it a 3:30-3:31 race with a 40 second last 300. Who knows maybe he wins that like he’s done many a time. But both guys fighting so hard opened the door wide open for Jake
Yes, bad mistake by Jakob. He should have learned his lesson from Tokyo—as long as others are willing to set a fast pace, and the Kenyans looked like they were—let them do it and win over the last lap. Jakob was also visibly sucking wind/huffing and puffing from very early on, basically from the time he took the lead. I’ve never seen that from him. Check the replay. He’s still strong enough to run 3:29, but it left him mighty vulnerable on the last lap and with no kick.
Exactly. He looked uncomfortable for most of the race as if he was forcing things rather than just flowing. Maybe he is too in his head and in his hype. Or it could be the hipster tattoos? This defeat may just be the humbling he needs to deflate the hype.
A pathetic useless POS on these worthless boards calls someone a "loser" oh the irony.. the MODS need to eliminate these losers and worthless POS from the boards (if not life itself)
Are the Mussibinis per chance related to the Mussolinis?
He also spent a lot of the first 800m in lane 2, running some extra distance off of a quick pace. I know he likes to hang back off the gun, but with these races getting taken out in 55 its tough to run extra distance getting back to the lead that fast.
I think this was the first mistake, the second may have been not letting the Kenyans lead longer, but he had to do a lot of work 100-800. It was a great race, he lost, that's why you run them. That's why this sport is so much better than the like of figure skating, where judges decide it.
Wightman jumped into the lead and broke in front of Jakob before the bend, forcing Jakob to run extra distance, which was decisive. Jakob needed to hold position at that point to win the race as he did not have much of a kick, just a steady pace the whole way. 248 was honest. Maybe 246 was necessary, but he might have won as well had he drafted to 1100, instead of jumping ahead of an honest pace for the third lap.
Wightman also went out wide 2x. But he cut in across Ingebrigtsen, whom was forced to go wide when he was in form from leading the middle 800 and just going into his final stride. Slowed him a half step, which is all Wightman needed.
I think Kipsang and Tim might’ve kep that thing going. Would he have been better served playing if like Wightman and turning the screws later in the race? I do think his strategy worked in burning off Tim/Kipsang who wasted energy jockeying and making failed moves.
I understand why he made that move. I thought maybe he should have waited a little longer- maybe down the backstretch, with 700 to go?
He opened a little gap but they closed and at that point I thought he might lose.
Great race!! We need this. I hope some non-track fans in the US were watching.
was funny how he said cheriyout ruined the race though ha
And he ruined Tim’s. Classic game theory situation. If Jake lets Tim lead he makes it a 3:30-3:31 race with a 40 second last 300. Who knows maybe he wins that like he’s done many a time. But both guys fighting so hard opened the door wide open for Jake
This is a great explanation. Add in getting his stride checked while running all-out while really tired-- that slight disruption can be enough to end one's day.
First, hats off to Wightman - gutsy race. I do think Jacob took the lead 200m too soon; leading for that long is just hard to do in a field like that.
I do think Wightman cut in a little too soon at the start of the curve right after he took the lead; it didn't cost Jacob much, but it cost him something, and might have helped make the difference.
Here’s the NBC replay. Jake ran great tactics, picking good times to move up to stay with the leaders, and staying locked on the rail otherwise. Jakob wasted a good amount of energy running three curves in lane two (that alone would have won him the race) and leading with no one to break the wind for another 1.5 laps. You have to be at least a second faster than someone who ran like Jake to still win with that extra distance and effort.
I agree with this. Seems like the stars aligned perfectly for Wightman. From the beginning of the race, he got himself into just about the perfect position; inside against the rail and right behind the leaders. He was able to tuck in and hold this position for most of the race, maintaining a steady effort as most of the other major players expended extra efforts surging to the lead and running in lane 2 at various points of the race. Wightman timed his own surges perfectly and kudos to him for having the fitness and strength to hold his lead all the way to the finish line.
These fast 1500 championship races sure don't disappoint! With 7-8 guys coming into the race with the ability to break 3:30 it takes optimal tactics in order to win. Moving forward, Jakob is either going to have to learn to position himself better and save his surges for when it counts, or get himself into WR shape so that he can run these races in 3:28 and put it out of reach for these guys who can stretch to peak at 3:29.
First, hats off to Wightman - gutsy race. I do think Jacob took the lead 200m too soon; leading for that long is just hard to do in a field like that.
I do think Wightman cut in a little too soon at the start of the curve right after he took the lead; it didn't cost Jacob much, but it cost him something, and might have helped make the difference.
Glad to see someone pointing out that Wightman cut in a little too soon on that final curve.
That was also my initial reaction after watching a replay of the race.
Wightman did indeed run a gutsy race. It will be remembered for a long time.
His first mistake was taking the lead too soon. Second mistake was letting wightman run around him on the final curve and then slow his momentum down when he got back in front when the whole field started kicking. That’s classic high school stuff, usually guys can bounce back around and get back in front but You could see his power output plummet immediately and a part of him probably panicked. he should’ve led a little later and then relied on his strength fast last lap to carry him through probably would’ve won handily
I thought it was a pretty good race too, with only little tactical errors. I think he would have benefitted from being on the rail in the early going (he was in lane 2 for most of the first 700) and he maybe took the lead a little too early. Truth is, Weightman was fit, got a bit of luck with positioning, and ran with near perfect tactics--a hard combo to beat.
So, I watched all of Jakob's post interviews and I found him a tad bit classless, I am not sure if anyone agrees. Perhaps this is just the mindset a champion needs. Rather than just admit he got beat today (we all lose one), he states that he only lost because he did not speed up more at 700, or used up his energy the wrong way. He also said that Wightman also know this, which I thought was a little sour grapes. None of it a big deal, or a big story, but I like to hear what Wightman thinks of these comments. Great race, great story.
Ingebrigtsen was keying off of Cheruiyot in the first part, and running in lane 2 to do it. He should have found a place to tuck in, but the pack was too tight. When he sensed it was going too slow, he took it out. That was smart, but he didn't count on the multiple challenges by Cheruiyot that tired them both out. Wightman ran a perfect race, staying right behind them and saved energy by staying out of the drama until the end. Ingebrigtsen ran the race he wanted, but he was worried about Cheruiyot instead of thinking about the entire field.
Jakob's slow 800 race confirmed that he's slow among the elites. The strategy to race him is stick with him from the start and win with speed at the end. He's gotten away with it until now because he's very strong and the intimidation factor.
Just rewatched: Jakob made a couple mistakes I think he correctly pointed out. He fought somewhat hard to get the lead at 800 when maybe should’ve waited until 600. Then he worked really hard to fend off multiple attacks from Tim/Kipsang. While this was a good tactic to beat them evidently, it left him vulnerable to a late attack from Wightman who stayed out of the mix-ups. But you can’t really blame Jakob because nobody expected that out of Wightman being able to throw 2 surges at Jakob on the backstretch on a 3:29 race.
This is the best analysis so far! From an african perspective, Jacob messed up big time! He raced thinking of 3people instead of respecting the whole field! He somehow knew McSweny was going to take it hard so had to find a way to control midrace!
Tim knowing he is not that strong this year, he ran this race exactly how Jacob has been winning his races! Meaning when the gun goes off, you don’t sprint to go in front, you gradually easing up to the front and once you get there you either push the pace or stay patient preparing your kick!
This actually messed Jacob’s head as he didn’t know what to think of the duo Tim/Kipsang tactics while Kipsang was pushing it!
Whenever you start panicking then you become vulnerable!
This was a very good race! Those dissing the africans, you should understand Tim/Kipsang didn’t race to get second, they wanted to beat Jacob so bad, they could care less about silver or bronze! This was a good test! Now they know how to get him!
In all of this, I give credit to McSweny to have this kind of races! Athletes respect him and it’s always fast when him in it! Who dislikes an honest race pace? Wightman was smart tho’, stayed patient the whole time and when 300 to go he started moving real quick but he only needs one more tactic, if you pass people like that don’t stay near the rail make them go wide and wider as they cover more distance than you! So then answer to the question of OP, Jake was not too good, he was just smart and patient!
Just rewatched: Jakob made a couple mistakes I think he correctly pointed out. He fought somewhat hard to get the lead at 800 when maybe should’ve waited until 600. Then he worked really hard to fend off multiple attacks from Tim/Kipsang. While this was a good tactic to beat them evidently, it left him vulnerable to a late attack from Wightman who stayed out of the mix-ups. But you can’t really blame Jakob because nobody expected that out of Wightman being able to throw 2 surges at Jakob on the backstretch on a 3:29 race.
This is the best analysis so far! From an african perspective, Jacob messed up big time! He raced thinking of 3people instead of respecting the whole field! He somehow knew McSweny was going to take it hard so had to find a way to control midrace!
Tim knowing he is not that strong this year, he ran this race exactly how Jacob has been winning his races! Meaning when the gun goes off, you don’t sprint to go in front, you gradually easing up to the front and once you get there you either push the pace or stay patient preparing your kick!
This actually messed Jacob’s head as he didn’t know what to think of the duo Tim/Kipsang tactics while Kipsang was pushing it!
Whenever you start panicking then you become vulnerable!
This was a very good race! Those dissing the africans, you should understand Tim/Kipsang didn’t race to get second, they wanted to beat Jacob so bad, they could care less about silver or bronze! This was a good test! Now they know how to get him!
In all of this, I give credit to McSweny to have this kind of races! Athletes respect him and it’s always fast when him in it! Who dislikes an honest race pace? Wightman was smart tho’, stayed patient the whole time and when 300 to go he started moving real quick but he only needs one more tactic, if you pass people like that don’t stay near the rail make them go wide and wider as they cover more distance than you! So then answer to the question of OP, Jake was not too good, he was just smart and patient!
Did we watch the same race? McSweyn never touched the lead.
There is simply too little margin of error in championship race, and sometimes other runners can sabotage your race too by making aggressive moves. Someone mentioned earlier that Jakob has a huge target on his back and that’s true. it’s no wonder he’s not getting bumped and cut off the whole race. Lots of class by the field for not doing that and great move by wightman at 180 to go. Jakob learning the hard way lucky to walk away with silver tbh