We all know the course is net 27 feet down. But how much were the runners aideed?
The wind was a side wind according to the weather report at that hour(ENE).
The winner of the NYRR men's race immediately prior to the pro races said in his post race interview he actually thought it was a head wind part of the way.
The uphill 2nd quarter is a bitch.
On a track, wind in your face takes more out of you than wind at your back helps you. If you run track, you know that to be true. Likewise, the uphill 2nd quarter hurts you more than the 27 foot overall drop helps you.
These times, whatever your opinion of how aided they were, added up to the fastest 1-2-3 finish in the 36 year history of the race. A race which sees Olympians and world class milers run it every year.
After. 3rd place, there is no reason to believe that those guys can't run those times especially without having to run turns and in a pack with elbows flying.
Centro was pushed to his max. He has run 3:50 on a tight indoor track. I am tired of hearing what Colby Alexander can't do as he continues to prove he is as good as any miler in America on any given day. Jenkins is totally untapped in this event. Who is to say what he can or cannot do in the mile? What we all do know is that he's a stud. After 3rd place every guy ran a time he's either already run or is totally capable of.
Was it a fast course? Yes, especially because it was straight with no one having to run extra distance. But was it significantly fast to the point where these were unrealistic times. No. These are our absolute best athletes. And they got after it from the get go with a lot of bonus money being thrown around for fast times.
And bottom line is many, many of history's best milers have run this same course and have not run the times Eric, Centro and Colby have. Those are top 5, top 10 times in the history of the race. They just plain ran their arses off. Give 'em credit.