Well, if he wasn't planning on running 8:34, then the only way to win is slow it down, right? So he attempted to slow it down to give himself a shot? Doesn't that sound reasonable?
And to say he doesn't think he can run with German is just plain stupid. Luke attempted (albeit failed as well) to run the 2 mile at Pre. So, there is no lack of desire to run 8:34 or faster there.
It seems either way Luke was doing what he wanted to do in order to try and win. Try and slow it down to give himself a better shot and if that doesn't work, sit on him and hold on to see if he could pull it out. A lot of people are forgetting the part about this being a national championship two mile as well - not a German Fernandez time trial.
I will give my respect though. He is an awesome runner to watch. So controlled and so strong. And to the guy who is comparing Ritz's 8:44 to this: Puuuuhleeeeeease. You have got to be kidding, right? If you don't consider this running by himself, then look a few weeks back to his 8:34 3200 or his 4:00 1600. Also, to say this wasn't the most anticipated race in high school track is ridiculous. Ok, I'll give you that there can't be ONE race that is the most anticipated, but this is ONE OF FEW. It had all the implications of breaking the hallowed, 29-year-old 2 mile record - because he had already had a day equivalent to it, for all intents and purposes. He had run the equivalent time in the 3200 AFTER his 4:00 1600. There was massive expectation for the record to go down - it would be a failure if it didn't. Sure, Ritz had an "outside shot" at the record - but this was it, it was EXPECTED. And your argument for the 2000 FLN race - sure there were 3 Olympians in there, but who is to say this race didn't have those future Olympians in there? There were 9 guys who went sub-9? Lowe and Puskedra and Finnerty (4:01 mile) could all have that potential. Also, go back to this years FLN and you can add in there 13:55 early-season guy Derrick. You have to be realistic here - this year has one of, if not the best potential to be the greatest high school distance running class.