Photo by Howard Lao of Jakob Ingebrigtsen leading Yared Nuguse to an American Record as he said he would, last year in the Bowerman Mile.
Boom Boom. Turn Out The (Pacing) Lights.
God willing, barring dropouts and a rising creek, there will be a race for the ages on Saturday. In all honesty, I don’t even care what it will mean for Paris. It being what it is, is spectacular.
In the 2016 Wanamaker Mile, Matthew Centrowitz and Nick Willis went head to head, coming through halfway in 1:58. Announcer Tim Hutchings called it: “way, way too slow for this middle section of the race” as the pacer, Kyle Merber towed them along. Through the second half, their calculations and maneuvers against each other were so riveting I didn’t look at the splits once, assuming that the 1:58 time hadn’t set them up for anything special time-wise and choosing instead to ignore the numerical subtitles and watch the race to the line unfold. It was back and forth, hard fought and closely decided, with Centro edging Willis to take a big W in a marquee event.
The winning time that flashed across the screen: 3:50.63. In 2016, when the WR was 3:49, one of the fastest times ever run indoors. It was a result of the race to the line and not the goal itself.
The time stood as a description of the effort it took to defeat the opponent. It’s a narrative device. This sport, first and foremost is about personality, will and strength.
Wanamaker and the Bowerman Mile are arguably the 2 most distinguished regular season races in the sport.
In the Bowerman Mile this weekend, it seems that darn near every man on the line has a shot, and everyone is so full of piss and vinegar from the slights thrown around over the past year that if they’re elbowed around a turn, they might explode into the lower bowl of the stadium.
Three men in the field, Ingebrigtsen, Kerr and Wightman have won the past 3 global titles.
Ingebrigtsen said he could beat Kerr blindfolded. Kerr said: “no comment” in a way that conveyed many.
Nuguse has beaten Kerr in a Diamond League meeting.
Ingebrigtsen told Nuguse to “stick with him as long as he can and he’ll get him the American record” before the two ran the 3rd and 4th fastest times ever at last year’s Bowerman Mile.
Hocker wants to beat Nuguse to be the top American once again.
Centrowitz wants to beat Hocker to shush the crowd whether he actually makes the gesture or not.
Hobbs Kessler is just plain dangerous. His youth makes him a moving target from month to month. There’s no telling when he might leap forward again.
Geordie Beamish is lethal when he’s close. And why wouldn’t he test himself by staying in touch when there’s absolutely nothing to lose and all the bragging rights in the world to collect?
Olli Hoare is back and climbing, having had to sit on the bench and watch as words and results were traded over the past year.
Jake Wightman is getting no respect. Like Hoare, he was injured last year and the world moved on to new talking points. But the 2022 World Champion is back in 1:44 800m form.
The field is sneering, angsty, boisterous and bubbling. It’s a powder keg ready to explode. They’ve been writing checks with their mouths over the past year and now is the time to cash them with their feet. Those who have been keeping their mouths shut will likely not want to miss the opportunity to silence the talkers. Any comment touting this race as practice or a tune-up will not pass muster.
Whoever wins will carry license to talk until Paris, the next time they get another shot at the crown in a field this stacked.
And even then, there are no guarantees in this sport that we get a field of this calibre assembled. A win here is as good as any.
The time, a product of the tactics and strategies of the men chasing the line will be secondary… but if remarkable, it will be made all the more because it will be the result of the drive and desire to win over such a talented field.
The clock is always blindfolded. It’s hands do not move faster or slower depending on what is said about it. It does not care if it wins or loses or if you do. But you can look your competitors in the eyes when you turn around after you cross the finish line.
Right now, we don’t know who is the best in the world. After Saturday, there will be no doubt.
Tune in on NBC: 4-6pm ET
We’ll be in the splash zone trackside
I’m warming up to the idea of 4 majors a year where a field like this get’s together for all the marbles until the next one.
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