Since the mods don't want to see the elephant in the room, is it only injury that explains Hocker's dramatic decline from 2020? He is simply not the same runner.
Okay we can agree to disagree on that - I'm fine with difference of opinion, no offense taken.
For me, I see a guy who has made his living off rolling guys in the last 200m and while I so get your logic, I just don't buy making a fundamental change of tactics because of "injury". But that's just me and my experience. I would think it's easier to run 26.5 for the last 200 rather than expending more energy both physically and mentally taking it out which appeared to happen - but that's just me and my experience.
Either way it was poorly executed - if you are aerobically way fitter then you need to be considerably faster than 58,1.58 and 2.58 because well over half that field can easily handle that pace.
His problem in the race was the obvious depth of talent who were incentivised to outkick the famous kicker.
His problem before the race was the stupid training that got him injured.
Agree on both points. But realistically how many of those guys in the prelims of the nationals are doing that (outkicking Hocker). Remember Hocker is a guy who has run 3.35 closing in under 25.5 seconds and there are not many in sport that can do this (certainly nobody in the US). So then why would you take this out of your arsenal because again there aren't many in the sport that can lead from the front at any decent pace (and a sub 58 first lap is decent) and then unleash a wicked finish. He may not have been fully healthy but he clearly wasn't hobbled - he still ran 3.39. So for me if I'm Cole Hocker I simply have to back myself at even 90% full fitness to outkick the majority of that field and finish at worst 3rd. Except for some reason he didn't.