Hocker Calls Checkmate In the Most Exciting 48 Hours of Track and Field in Recent Memory
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Hocker makes the final move
We’ve got a section dedicated to the US Olympic Trials which you can read below, but given all the hype that preceded the race, the men’s 1500m final needed a heading all of its own. The prospect of reigning Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz up against the 20 year old collegiate phenomenon, Cole Hocker, was mouthwatering. It was a race that didn’t dissapoint.
It looked for a long while that Hocker was just a touch off the pace. For much of the race aside from the last 300m, he was towards the back of the pack and mostly boxed in. It looked like he wasn’t going to be able to unleash his famous kick. Meanwhile, Centro’s experience showed as he controlled the race from the start. He gambled, perhaps trying to run Hocker’s kick out of him and going into the last lap, he eased into the lead with 200 to go and kicked hard for home at 150. It was a gamble that didn’t pay off as they exited from the bend, Hocker had made his move and was closing on Centro, fast. He had timed his move to perfection, as he glided past the leader, Centro couldn’t respond and Hocker took the win in 3:35.28, a tenth of a second ahead of Bowerman TC athlete, Centrowitz.
Yared Nuguse finished 3rd to claim the final Olympic spot. Although it’s not certain that Hocker will go to the Olympics as he’s yet to run the time, he has managed to accrue sufficient world ranking points to make his selection almost inevitable.
In his typical fiery fashion, Centro gave us some brilliant post-race quotes: “When I beat Lagat, and he was over 30, everyone was saying wow look at Lagat, still mixing it up with the young ones. Now I’m 31, and I get crap for beating the 20 year olds. I can’t win.” And on making his 3rd US Olympic Team, he said often sounding exasperated, “I’ve not finished outside the top 2 in the last decade. I know it’s blunt, but I’m just being honest. I have not felt in the last few years that I couldn’t make the team...Confidence is something I definitely don’t lack.”
He was particularly complimentary of the victor, however, of Cole Hocker, he said, “The guy is an animal, he doesn’t care if he’s racing the world record holder. I don’t know if he’s had a bad race. I’m just impressed with everything.”
Hocker’s post-race interview was less fiery and a full 10 minutes SHORTER than Centro’s. There’s been much talk of the ‘sushing’ movement he made at the end of the race, and he quickly dispelled any rumours that it was about anything other than an instinctive reaction: “Honestly, it was just an in the moment thing”, he says laughing, “last year I was nowhere near this level and I felt this year I’ve been proving myself to the world. There was a lot of negative talk out there so maybe I just wanted to silence some people out there.”
Sydney McLaughlin Breaks 400m Hurdles World Record
Sunday wasn’t just about the men’s 1500m there were other stellar performances too. Particularly in the women’s 400m hurdles which on both the men’s and women’s side at the moment is just pure fire. In this race, Sydney McLaughlin put on a race for the ages, winning the 400m hurdles final in 51.90, setting a new world record in the process and becoming the first woman in history to run under 52 seconds. Despite many previous attempts, she finally outraced her fierce competitor Daliliah Mohammed who will now be looking to get revenge in what is undoubtedly one of the match-ups of the Olympic Games.
Bump in the Road for Donovan Brazier
The US Olympic Trials also saw the downfall of arguably the favourite for Olympic Gold in the 800m. Donovan Brazier tightened up in the final 200m to miss out on the qualifying spot for the Olympic Games. The world champion who has a PB of 1:42.34 to win the Champs in Doha in 2019 was pretty sanguine after the event. He’ll be back, no doubt, with a point to prove.
US Olympic Trials Review
We’ve set out above some of the highlights of the US Trials but the reality is, it’s been a majestic week and a bit of athletics. From Grant Fisher and Woody Kincaid taking the victory in the 10,000m with the fairytale story of Joe Klecker, on the first night right through to the drama of last night.
There have been some monumental performances, too many to list here. Some of our stand-out moments include 2016 Olympic silver medallist, Paul Chelimo’s victory in the 5000m in which he admitted to pushing Fisher and Kincaid out to Lane 4 as part of his race tactics. It was disappointment for Oregon Duck, Cooper Teare, who finished 4th despite a thoroughly brilliant season.
Athing Mu cemented her status as one of the most exciting young talents in the entire sport after she demolished the women’s 800m field whilst coming within a sniff of the US record. Her finishing time of 1:56.04 was a hugely impressive race and there’s little doubt, she’s going to be dangerous in Tokyo. Gabby Thomas ran the fastest time in the world this year to win the 200m with only the late Florence Griffith Joyner ever running faster. Emily Sisson closed in 15:14 to win the 10,000m title whilst Grant Holloway ran the 2nd fastest time ever for the 110m hurdles (12.81) during the semis.
College athlete, Isaiah Jewett held off seasoned professionals to finish second in the 800m by Clayton Murphy (1:43.17) whilst Elle Purrier St Pierre PB’d to win the womens’ 1500m in 3:58.03. Karsten Warholm will have been looking on nervously as Rai Benjamin ran the second fastest time ever for the 400m hurdles. His 46.83 is 5 one hundredths of a second slower than Kevin Young’s world record and now, surely, it’s just a matter of time before Benjamin or Warholm break the record.
Allyson Felix qualified another Olympics whilst Michael Norman carried on his 100% record to win the men’s 400m. It would be remiss of us not to mention 17-year-old teenage sprint sensation Erriyon Knighton who ran 19.84, smashing Usain Bolt’s U20 World Record of 19.93 and who now looks set to medal in Tokyo. And of course, Ryan Crouser’s shot put world record (23.37 metres).
For the full lists of results from the US Olympic Trials. Click here.
British Championships Review
All the action wasn’t just taking place in the USA as this weekend also saw the British Championships take place in Manchester. Just like the US Trials the men’s 1500m drew particular attention because it included 2 Edinburgh AC clubmates, 3:29 runner Jake Wightman and the person who’s ran the fastest 1500m ever on US soil, Josh Kerr.
The race was arguably the race of the weekend even though it went pretty much as expected, meaningful challenges from Charlie Grice and Jake Heyward failed to materialise which left Wightman and Kerr to battle it out for themselves. An incredible sprint finish in the final 100m, during which it looked like either athlete might take it, was the final act in a mesmerising 51 second last lap! Eventually Kerr just had that little bit extra and he won by 5 one hundredths of a second in 3:40.72, having run a final 300 in 37.8 seconds. In a sign of the confidence of British middle distance athletes, Kerr said, “I managed to dip him at the line today but we’re on pretty much the same level. Myself and Wightman are ready to medal and I think it’s pretty evident we’re in a great position.”
The men’s 800m final was undoubtedly the one most people had been looking forward to. Aside from perhaps Kenya, Great Britain has the most depth at 800m in the world right now and it showed in what was a stacked field. In Giles, Dustin, Rowden, Webb there were 4 likely winners but it was a race that was almost impossible to predict. Dustin had the run the quickest time in the world this year whilst Giles was the second fastest man in history over 800m indoors. It turned out to be a spectacular race, with Josh Lay leading the field throughout most of the race, Giles and Rowden grabbed the initiative with 150 to go and as they exited the final bend, it was Oliver Dustin who seemed to be making up the most ground. It was neck and neck between all 3 athletes for the majority of the home straight until the final few steps as Rowden faded slightly and Giles and Dustin dipped for the line. For everyone watching at home, it looked like Dustin had got it, with the famous one-arm high dip but as it happens Giles just got there 1 hundredth of a second earlier. Literally, he was like an extra bench press rep away from the win. It was a thrilling race. In Giles, Dustin and Rowden, GB has one of the most competitive men’s 800m teams in the world.
Keely Hodgkinson won the British Championships for the second year in a row. She powered to victory in a hugely impressive display to beat world-class, experienced athletes, Jemma Reekie and Laura Muir. A super-quick last lap of 57 seconds saw her finish in 1:59.61. Just as in the men’s race, Keely, Reekie and Muir go into the 800m Olympics with a genuine chance of medaling at the Olympics.
Adam Gemili will be going to his third Olympics after he won the 200m in 20.63
The full results can be found here.
Outbreak of ‘Dever Fever’ In Manchester
As if we’ve not already had our fill of infectious diseases, it seems that there is officially no cure for ‘Dever Fever’.
Paddy Dever, Deh-ver not Dee-ver, (before anyone says, I know Deh-ver doesn’t rhyme with ‘fever’ but just roll with it) as he pointed out during our latest podcast recording followed up his insanely brilliant victory in the NCAA 10,000m title with a win in the British 5,000m Championships in Manchester this weekend. Dever stuck with favourite Andy Butchart despite Butchart running a sub-60 second penultimate lap and wouldn’t be shaken off as Butchart kicked for home down the back straight. Dever outkicked Butchart in the final 100m to complete a 55 second final lap and a nauseatingly quick 2:26 last KM.
Apparently he’s still really quick despite shaving his moustache off. He’s also not got many Instagram followers so go give him a follow: @_Patrickdever
Sha’Carri Richardson Becomes a Global Superstar
Sha’Carri Richardson is now the world’s most famous competing athlete after she dominated the US Olympic trials running an insanely quick 10.64 in the semi-finals, which remarkably and incidentally isn’t even the quickest time in the world this year thanks to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s incredible longevity.
Her Instagram has gone crazy this week rocketing up to a mind-boggling, 1.3 million followers which is more than double-double Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah (1.1 million) and the likelihood is it’s only going to get bigger. She’s still got some way to go to top Usain Bolt though who’s sitting pretty at over 10 million.
Her global star status has seemingly come within the space of a few days after the world watched her run up the stairs of Heyward Field to embrace her beloved Grandmother. It even earned her a personal message from former First Lady Michelle Obama. For what it’s worth, her brilliant personality is exactly what the sport needs. I mean just look at this photo. Sass.
Transfer news
This week has been huge for transfer news, with On Running, in particular making waves right across the sport. First, though, perhaps the biggest transfer news of the week is 18-year-old Hobbs Kessler, the USA U20 1500m record holder (3:34.36), has turned professional and signed with Adidas. He was due to attend North Arizona University and run in the NCAA collegiate system, but it now appears that he will only join NAU as a student and will instead compete professionally for Adidas. On signing for Adidas, he said, “The 3:34 was the turning point in all this. I’m in a position now where I don’t know if I’ll be in later so I’m jumping on the opportunity that I have now and riding my momentum forward.”
From one teenage sensation to another, in 19 year old, Athing Mu. The NCAA athlete from Texas A&M has been all-conquering in the NCAA this season, including running a 49.57 in the 400m (the fourth fastest in the world this year) and she can now look forward to the Olympics after she came within half a second of the US 800m record to take victory at the US Olympic Trials. This week, Athing signed for Nike. Rumours are that her contract with Nike is likely to include a base salary of around $500,000 (surely, not?). In a typical Nike’y sort of post, she explained a bit about it on her instagram.
It’s not just Nike and Adidas snapping up the talent this week, On Running, the up and coming running company has been heavily investing in athletes and influencers alike in order to grow their brand. This week saw arguably their biggest step forward in athletics world as they signed up world class athletes including, Australian, Morgan McDonald, Spanish athlete and former Oregon Duck Carmela Cardama Baez and Sage Hurta. All 3 athletes will link up with Olympian and trailblazer Joe Klecker at the OAC (On Athletics Club).
Nike Does It Again
Just when you think that Adidas and New Balance have finally got their act together to firmly challenge the overwhelming dominance of Nike, Nike pull out a marketing campaign that once again demonstrates why they have been and will, in all likelihood, continue to be the dominant brand in sport. That and the Air Zoom Victory in all white, without branding, just look sexy af.
In the Blockbuster Film that is Sir Mo Farah’s Career, have we seen the final act?
You could almost hear the collective sigh of the nation on Friday as the four-time Olympic Champion, national icon, and arguably one of the greatest championship racers of all time, Mo Farah was finally dethroned at the feet of the 10,000m Olympic qualifying standard. Having failed to qualify 3 weeks previously in Birmingham, Sir Mo was going after the time again and whilst he was looking strong at halfway thanks to excellent pacing work of Ryan Gregson and Bashir Abdi but once he was alone on the track, he was unable to maintain the pace and within a few laps of the pacers dropping off, it was becoming increasingly clear that he wasn’t going to be able to make the time.
Having finished 2nd at the 10,000m championships, he just needed to run sub-27:28 to qualify. It proved a feat too far, even for the great man who will now not be able to defend his 10,000m title in Tokyo.
Judging by some of his words at the end, it appears as though this could now be the end of what has been a stellar career. “Thank you for everyone who has come out. Oh my goodness, I don’t know what to say. You go out there and give it your all. I’ve been lucky enough to have the long career I’ve had. I’m very grateful but that’s all I had today.”
If this is the end (it’s certainly the end of his track career), then he will go knowing that few sportspeople in British history will have captured the hearts and imaginations of the people like Mo did, particularly in 2012 on the now dubbed ‘Super Saturday’. Only Andy Murray’s first Wimbledon triumph or Kelly Holmes Olympic gold in Athens in 2004 (which I watched back (here) to write this and genuinely nearly cried) compare (I’m sure there are others).
He’s often overlooked in the pantheon of the greats, despite his double double, because save for the odd European record here or there, he’s never ran the fastest times. That’s true, but don’t forget the aim of this sport is simple, to win the race you’re in and when it mattered, when the rubber hit the track, there were few, if any, who could match him.