I just watched a replay myself.
Gebremeskel was right behind Farah as Farah made his move with 700 to go.
Then he kept letting people get between him and Farah.
Then he would surge up. And fall back. And surge up.
With one lap to go, a number of runners rushed by Gebremeskel as he was slow to react.
On the last backstretch, Gebremeskel weaved his way past a bunch of runners.
He was third as they started to come out of the turn and was lined up inside the Kenyan. Then he moved out to pass into second.
As he chased after Farah he could not make up ground over the last 50 and then he eased up, accepting second place.
In the meantime, the Morocan 1500 medalist moved into third on the inside with 350 to go. He held the position for 200m and was in perfect position to win on the oustide of the two leaders with 150m to go.
But he has nothing left. Lagat swings by him and then Iguider totally blows up and fades to 5th in the end.
The two Kenyans were positioned well with a lap to go.
Longosiwa was matching Farah step for step. He tried with every stride to pass Farah but just could not get by him.
In the end he succumbed to the fatigue as Gebremeskel passed him.
Koech was in 4th on the backstretch and he just didn't have the gas to get by and could do nothing about Gebrmeskel and Lagat passing him.
And then there was Lagat who started the last lap in 9th and quickly passed the clueless Gebremeskel who got him right back on the backstretch.
Lagat followed Gebremeskel through the turn.
the key to Lagat missing a medal came at 110m to go as the two of them split to pass the fading Morocan, Gebremeskel on the inside, Lagat on the outside, with a stumble.
That was it. Lagat lost too much ground on that move and could not catch anyone for a medal and settled for 4th.
Boring, I know.