Here are the credentials of the 1983 World Championship men's 5000m field:
For context, the world record was David Moorcroft 13:00.41 1982. Maree two years later came close with 13:01 and Aouita first broke 13 with 12:58 in 1987. This was a strong field but not arguably weaker than the 1500m. On the other hand, the 1500m runners did not typically have better 5000m credentials at the time.
1. Eamonn Coghlan 1:47.8/3:36/3:49.8i/7:37.6/13:19
2. Werner Schildhauer 3:38/7:50/13:12/27:24
3. Martti Vainio 3:41/7:46/13:20/27:30
4. Dimitriy Dimitriev 1:47.7/3:36/7:42/13:17
5. Doug Padilla 3:37.95/7:35.84! (July 9, 1983)/13:15
6. Thomas Wessinghage 1:46/3:31/7:36/13:12
7. Wodajo Bulti (ETH) 3:40/7:40/13:07.29/27:29/2:08:44
8. Dietmar Millonig 3:38/7:43/13:15/27:42
9. Paul Kipkoech (KEN) 3:41/7:39/13:14/27:38 (27:31 road in Bali (prob an inaccurate course)
10. Antonio Leitao 3:41/7:39/13:07.7/8:26 steeple
11. Valeriy Abramov 1:47.9/3:36.8/7:46.8/13:11.99/27:55
12. Markus Ryffel 3:38/7:41/13:07.54/27:54
13. Salvatore Antibo 3:43/7:43/13:05.59 1990 /27:16.50 1989 His pr's were way after this race
14. Julian Goater 7:48/13:15/27:34/43:05 15KM
15. Anatoliy Krokmalayuk 7:48/13:21