Is Hocker a sleeper pick for 1500m Gold?

no

Hocker would never even be in the conversation if he were not a US runner. He is not even “the next guy” in this field.

Yeah probably true. 6th in Olympics last time tho pretty good.

No, he's not a winner. Silver is his ceiling, could be like Leo just never truly going for it but hard charging at the end to pick off those who did.

I think Hobbs is more of a sleeper pick now. Since the 1500m final at the trials Hobbs took another step forward with the two best 800 meter races of his life. Hocker had a rough final in the 5,000m. I think that momentum can and will carry to the olympics. Hocker was beat down, Hobbs was on the up-swing. Hobbs is now a 1:43 guy who had a 3:31 PR before that. Maybe he's now a 3:30 flat guy. If the race is halfway tactical, he could maybe run the fastest last 600 meters.

He absolutely is a sleeper - isn't the definition of a "sleeper" in this context someone that you don't believe is a true threat under the premise of how you believe the race will play out (exactly what Hocker is right now) but that could come from nowhere if the race plays out wildly different? Of course that is Cole Hocker.

I know replies to this are going to be "but Jakob will never let it happen like this" - but then that's not the narrative of the question/thread - we have to imagine a crazy scenario where it's not Jakob going 56,56,55.5 - does Jakob somehow get badly boxed, does he freak out, does he fall - who knows, but imagine if the race goes old school 1.58 at 800m and 2.54 at 1200m - then Hocker is your perfect sleeper. He's not the fastest guy over 800m or the strongest over 5000m, but I just feel like he has an power and leg speed edge over the field in the event it comes down to a final 300m sprint. And then it's a total crapshoot/toss-up of who has positioned themselves well and there is no reason why it couldn't be him. He the "bowling ball" of the field - strong kid, solidly built - I have no doubt there is a plausible (doesn't have to be likely) race scenario where he would be the guy best suited for it - that makes him a sleeper pick to win.

He's won back to back US trials - he beat the reigning Olympic Champion in one of them and American record holder in the mile in the other.

Definitely not a winner yeah.

With his kick I would call him an outside favorite, not a sleeper.

If I’m going to burn money on an American middle distance runner I’ll do it on Hoppel at 40 to 1 not Hocker at 14 to 1.

I do think Hocker was a bit overrated in past years, but even with how tough the field is right now, 3:30 closing in 52.6 gives him a solid shot at bronze for sure. He's clearly improved and is right up there.

He has no chance for as long as he is rocking the man bun ponytail thing. If he wants to take his running career seriously, he will chop off that abomination.

I would pencil Hocker in as a dark horse. One thing he has going for him is his intelligence. Timing and positioning is very important in these competitive races. I'd say solid chance to medal, outside chance for gold. If Ingebrigtsen and Kerr are both at their best, I expect the two of them to run away from the pack.

Oh man. A lot of people being set up to be Old Takes Exposed in this thread. Bookmarking this for sure.

Hocker peaked too early, he won’t even make top 5

Hocker would have to stick his nose in it, but he won’t. He needs to be top three at the bell to have a chance, otherwise he kicks for third.

Hocker is the “bowling ball” of the field? Now you’re just making stuff up. Hocker is a real long shot, someone who would not win more than 5 times if the race were held 100 times.

I do think Hocker will make the Final. Like I would be surprised if he did not. But I think his chances of not making the Final are greater than his chances of winning Gold.