at race time what was the headwind speed? Rojo posted that it was 14 mph gusting to 22 mph before the race.
the formula I am using for wind resistance is \vec{F} = C_d \frac{1}{2} \rho \vec{v}^2 {S}
My first run at this (and I'd be glad to see anyone else's)shows a significant difference over even 200 meters at windspeed of 14 mph, until I can input the correct windspeed though it is all speculation (and even the result is somewhat speculative because of the various drafting effects and the different size of runners (can only estimate frontal area of each runner resisting wind))it definitely seems tactically that drafting in this race was effective to a significant point, and a better wind profile Lagat had an added advantage. My rough estimate is that some runners probably had about a 2 meter finish advantage just by their wind profile. Which in this race made a difference for Webb and others, and Lomong beats Manzano in this race all things equal without wind.
And for the obsessive, something to ponder: at 14 mph adding a pencil to the wind profile of a runner moving at 10 mph(they are actually running faster,but trying to be conservative)therefore total windspeed =24mph. over the course of 1500 elimintating the drag of the pencil would add give one a 2.74 meter advantage versus running with the drag of the pencil, seconds to a runner's time (increasing the speed increases the drag and would add additional time to a runner's time - although can be offset by application of greater force). Also keep in mind that the runners were not running into a constant headwind so the difference would be less, and if we say by 1/2 then we are looking at 1.37 meters (again for a pencil)
Last minimal thought: the winners all resented minimal wind profiles right down to their heads
Lagat - shaved
Manzano - short and tight
Lomong - shaved
For clarity, I think the best runners won, I am just saying that the wind would have favored the fittest runners and those with the best form and wind profiles.