Cole Hocker’s redemption in the 5000m was handed to him on a silver platter, but he was not going to be denied

© Copyright – 2025 – Athletics Illustrated

There is so much to unpack from the men’s 5000 metre race at the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships. The fact that American runner Cole Hocker won in a time of 12:58.30 is incredible, while finishing less than two seconds in front of five other athletes as they kicked their way to the finish.

The top Kenyan was Mathew Kipchumba Kipsang, who finished more than five seconds back in 13:03.67, and likely pre-race favourite Jakob Ingebrigtsen finished 10th in 13:02.00, one position in front of Kipsang.

Cole Hocker is making his case as one of the better American distance runners of all time

A 52 second last lap to take the world title after a controversial DQ in the 1500 earlier in the meet. Unbelievable stuff

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— Kellen Bulger (@spopadraic) September 21, 2025

Hocker set his 5000m personal best in February in an indoor meet in Boston at 12:57.82, a performance likely worth two more seconds on a fast outdoor track.

Hocker was disqualified during the 1500m race. It was determined that when he split two runners, he impeded one of them. The question is, would Hocker have won 5000m gold if he had medalled in the 1500m event?

How it played out

The answer may be in the finish times. They are fast, but no personal bests were set. Meaning that, going into the final lap, final 200m and beyond, Kimeli of Belgium, Gressier of France, Robinson of Australia, Mehary of Ethiopia and Young of the US, gave Hocker space to unleash his patented kick and take the win. Perhaps that was a tactical error, and running much faster over the first 11 or 12 laps of the race may have taken the sting out of Hocker’s kick.

Hocker took the lead early, then smartly backed off. He led for 500m, then settled and let the rest of the field decide what they wanted to do. As the qualification heats were slow at around 13:13, the athletes had much left, and Hocker knew it. Interestingly, it was Ethiopian Gebrhiwet who led for one and a half minutes from 5:46 to 7:19; he finished in 13th spot, nine seconds back of Hocker.

Ingebrigtsen looked as though he was ready to redeem himself in the 5000m after his death-march 1500m. The Norwegian led from 9:44 to 11:50; it was a bold, late race effort but in effect killed his own forthcoming kick. With a lap to go, Kimeli tried in vain, but no one was going to outsprint Hocker, and he blew past everyone.

No Wavelights, no pacers, no teamwork, or inclement weather and no amount of cheering or jeering were going to affect Hocker’s apparent rage-kick over the final 100 metres and through the line. He wanted it more than the other 15 athletes and had the tools to do so.

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