El Bakkali has owned the steeplechase in recent years and is better than ever in 2023, but is he even the favorite for Worlds?

David Monti recaps the mid-d and distance events for you including the women's 5000 where world xc champ Beatrice Chebet used a 59-second final lap to dominate the 5000.

Nuguse closed very well but Ingebrigtsen was too good and won in 3:32. El Bakkali’s time was the fastest steeple since 2012 and puts him 8th all-time.

Some picks were easy (Eliud Kipchoge in the marathon), others were impossible. Here's where we ranked the world's best distance runners in 2022.

There's been a clear 1-2 in the steeple this year, but reigning world champ Conseslus Kipruto, finally healthy, could be a factor once again. *MB: 2022 World men's steeplechase preview: Who you got - Girma, El Bakkali, Kipruto? Does an American factor?

El Bakkali held off Lamecha Girma to win the steeple as both men broke 8:00, but disaster struck in the 400 hurdles as Warholm said after the race he believes he tore his hamstring.

• MB: Official 2022 Rabat DL Discussion Thread
• MB: Karsten Warholm pulls up in Rabat -- grabs right hamstring after first hurdle
• MB: Katir is the most obvious doper of all time
• MB: Avinash Sable, INDIA runs monster 8:12.48 steeple in Rabat, behind Bakkali (7:58.28), and Girma (7:59.24).

Karsten Warholm opens up his 2022 season and the men's steeple and 800s are LOADED. We can't wait. *MB: Official 2022 Rabat DL Discussion Thread (2-4 pm ET Sunday, CNBC)

The Kenyan men had won every steeple they competed in at the Olympics since man first walked on the moon. No longer.

This was a World Championships final for the ages won by .01 by Conseslus Kipruto.

Getnet Wale edged Soufiane El Bakkali in the steeple and was judged not to have obstructed him as Timothy Cheruiyot won his third straight DL 1500 crown. Lyles (19.74) and Norman (44.26) made it a US sweep in the sprints.

Two final regular season DL of the season looks like a dandy as two Olympic champs will return to the DL after a long hiatus. Plus will Jakob or Filip Ingebrigtsen win their first DL 1500?

While handing out our steeple rankings, we take a detour and give out some free advice to Evan Jager.

An American-born man has NEVER won a gold medal in a mid-d/distance event at the IAAF World Championships. That may change thanks to Evan Jager.

Will South African Luvo Manyonga, perhaps the hottest athlete in the world right now, break the long jump world record? How will Asbel Kiprop look in his first DL race since finishing last at Pre?

We highly praise Conseslus Kipruto who unseated the GOAT, Ezekiel Kemboi, at the Olympics, and had one of the greatest years in steeplechase history. At just 22 years old, Kipruto could stay at the top for some time. We also give out accolades for the amazing career that Paul Kipsiele Koech enjoyed.