Harpua wrote:
1. Lagat 12:54
2. Merga 12:54
3. Farah 12:55
4. Kenya 12:56
5. Bekele 12:57
5. Rupp 12:58
6. Solinsky 12:58
7. Kenya 12:59
Teg 13:04
I'd like to amend my post.
1. Lagat 12:56
2. Merga 12:56
3. Alimerew 12:57
4. Farah 12:58
5. Bekele 12:58
6. Kenya 12:59
7. Rupp 12:59
8. Solinsky 13:02
9. Kenya 13:04
10. Tegenkamp 13:07
11. Mottram 13:09
Pace goes out quite fast (1:30 for 600) but the rabbit slows to 62+s and they go through 3k in 7:47 (much to our, the viewing audience's, frustration.)
At this point the rabbit drops, no one wants to lead, and people realize sub 12:50 is off and wait for the kick. 4k is reached in 10:30 and the pack bunches until 500m to go. Lagat and Merga have the finishing speed and the pack is left in their wake. Rupp and Farah close well but don't have it the last 200. Solinsky suffers the same fate, but a little more severely. Teg doesn't have the fitness to hang the last 600m.
7 guys still break 13 but this race proves two things. A) Lagat is the class of the field. B) Breaking 12:50 is a special, and rare thing.