The pre-race buzz around the men’s two mile centered on whether anyone could challenge Josh Kerr’s world record. When Fisher scratched just hours before the start due to illness, the entire dynamic shifted.
Eric Jenkins: “Genuinely the worst news you can get... If one guy scratches from the two mile—you hope it’s literally anyone but Grant Fisher. As soon as Grant Fisher’s out, they go, ‘Well, time’s out the window.’”
What unfolded was a tactical chess match that showcased the race IQ of 5000m World champion Cole Hocker. Rather than chasing pacer Ben Allen‘s early hot pace, Hocker sat back and dictated a tempo that was fast enough to hurt but slow enough to preserve his devastating kick—all from the front.
Kyle Merber: “Cole sat right off and he didn’t go. He made sure he goes, ‘I am not going to just be the one to go at this insane pace.’ I’m going to sit back. He’s so good at doing just fast enough that no one’s going to go around him, but slow enough that he’s going to have the best kick.”
Aisha Praught-Leer: “When you hit that icky in-between pace, it doesn’t feel comfortable, but you see the time on the clock psychologically. If I’m Ethan Strand, I’m thinking like, ‘Hey, we’re going slower than I thought we were, but it still really hurts. I’m uncomfortable. I’m not sure what to do.’ Cole did it right and it started building that doubt in your competitors. It’s a brilliant, brilliant move to do.”
Hocker ultimately won in 8:07.31 with Kerr taking second in 8:07.68. Parker Wolfe ran tough for third place in 8:07.83. 3000m steeplechase World champion George Beamish charged to 10th place with 400m to go to 5th after sitting nearly last for much of the race.
Extra kudos to pacer Ben Allen, who adjusted his strategy on the fly when Hocker didn’t immediately attach.
Kyle Merber: “Ben Allen did such an unbelievable job pacing. He allowed them to settle a little and then cut in and take the pace, which allowed Cole to immediately latch on. At some point, it became clear to him that Cole was not on top of him. He does little look-backs over the shoulder, which is allowed and encouraged if you’re the rabbit, and he stepped out on the turn a little bit, got on the outside of the lane, and slowed it down just a hair—nothing dramatic, but just enough to allow Cole to reattach. Without him, this becomes a totally different 8:15 race.”
🎥 Watch the full post-race show here: https://youtu.be/RWcntefA9PA?si=7s5qBTu-hIefGq7T
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