In making a prediction here, two things must be factored in. First, the weather--the temperature looks as if it will be perfect, but it looks as if it will be somewhat windy, 12-14 mph, from the north. Second, six of the twelve finalists don't have the "A" standard, and I think three of them--Sherer, Jennings, and Lukezic--are real contenders for the top three. However, I can't imagine any of them pushing the pace early. If the pack goes out at 2:00, for one of those three to make it he'll have to run 1:36.60 for the last 700. Not impossible, but it's 1:51 (800) pace, so it's unrealistic at best. They'll have to hope that it's 1:58 at worst at 800 to have a chance. The real wild card as I see it is Webb. Does he decide to make it, as Abdi put it, a man's race, and take it out at 1:55-56. That's exactly what Webb did last year at Nationals. In fact, Webb's coach and Lagat's coach talked before last year's race about sharing and early fast pace. If Webb is confident, wind notwithstanding, that's what I think he'll try to do. Lagat seems like the only sure thing, but even he might be tired from all the races this week. I see the top three coming from Webb, Lagat, Jennings, and Lukezic, in that order, with Jennings making the standard. If he and Lukezic don't make the standard, Meyers makes the team on time.