As for the race, this was a strong field and with rabbits so it strung out largely single file quickly.
Will hung out in the middle and near the front for most of the race. Webb was in the back 5th from last at 800m, but less than a second behind Willis as it wasn't that spread out. (1:53.35 for the rabbits probably 1:55.1 for Webb)
The final rabbit hit 1200m in 2:52.08 and dropped out. He was .5 clear of the rest of the field. Diego Ruiz was then in the lead. Willis was in 4th, World Champ Kamel in 6th, Webb 8th. Ruiz head the lead till 150 to go when Demma Daba BIKILA came to the front. Heading into the final 100m Willis was biding his place in 4th and starting to go wide on the straight and Kamel was behind him.
Willis got the lead probably 60m from the finish and won comfortably. Ruiz who looked dead with 150 to go, had a good kick the last 100m and came back up for 2nd and Kamel moved up the entire last stretch but was 3rd.
Webb had started to go wide about 80m from the finish but then saw space on the inside and just stayed on the rail moving up to finish 5th.
Webb and Willis both have to be pleased with that run. Webb for once in his life can lose races and people are really psyched about it.
300m 41.4
700m 1:38.7 (57.31)
800m 1:53.35
1100m 2:37 (58.32)
1200 2:52.08 rabbit drops out (Willis 4th, Webb 8th)
1500 3:35 (58.13)
1. 34 Nick WILLIS 1983 3'35.17
2. 27 Diego RUIZ 1982 3'35.47
3. 24 Yusuf Saad KAMEL 1983 3'35.70
4. 26 Demma Daba BIKILA 1989 3'36.14
5. 30 Alan WEBB 1983 3'36.21
6. 36 Hillary MAIYO 1993 3'36.42
7. 28 Collins BIRMINGHAM 1984 3'36.53
8. 29 Oleksandr BORYSYUK 1985 3'37.31
9. 25 Mitch KEALEY 1984 3'37.96
10. 31 Goran NAVA 1981 3'38.04
11. 32 Kristof VAN MALDEREN 1983 3'38.27
12. 33 Johannes RAABE 1987 3'43.12
RIT. 35 Yoann KOWAL 1987 RIT
RIT. 37 Benson ESHO 1987 RIT
RIT. 38 Vickson POLONET 1985 RIT