Boy Wonder wrote:
I'm not denying that he does not have many years left at this level, but age is not the issue for his race today as the OP seemed to imply.
Thanks for predicting what I was implying! I wasn't implying very much actually.
Of course it's early season and one wouldn't expect Lagat to be at his best, but the manner of the defeat, i.e. his lack of turn of pace which he is renowned for, is a signal that he is getting old. You cannot expect a 35 year old to have the same speed as when he was 25.
When an athlete gets to this age they can't run fast times and win week in week out like they did in their prime. It takes longer to get to a peak and they don't have that last explosive kick. Ovett lost it, Aouita, Coe, Morceli, etc. It's inevitable.
Four years ago Lagat would have won from his position with 200m to go.