Nobody cares about heats and champs medals.
I know you care, on a thread about USOT (though few Americans have any chance at a medal anyhow) but the educated, sophisticated track fan does not. Don't be nobody.
12:54 may be better than almost every other American, but in global terms it is absolutely nothing. You luck your way into a sit and kick race and win a medal, so what? Nothing was proved to anyone who knows much about distance running. The best are the ones who can throw down times near the WR, and that's not 12:54, and certainly not 13:10.
It will hurt to read this. I understand. But at some point, you will complain about a sit and kick 5000 screwing your favorite runner and remember it then. You already know it's true.