Cam Levins is a gold medal threat in the London 10k

Not yet, but he's definitely an exciting runner to follow

So yes, Cam closed in 55 to run a 27:27 but lets be real here for a minute: he didn't start kicking until 200m to go. I seriously believe he had a 52-53 in him had he moved with 400m to go, all out. Can't tell me that's something to disregard completely. Now winning gold, probably a stretch, but this kid will be in it.

Tell that to Matthew MF Centrowitz ;)

I'd be willing to put up $20bil on those odds.

Hes a good kid with talent and a hard worker.

He has zero experience at an international championship elite level 10k on the track. The surges , team tactics , pushing , elbows etc.

London will be a good experience for him , Brazil will be his time.

He's more of a medal threat than Haile AMIRITE!??

3/10 looks like you caught a lot of people on your troll attempt.

But clearly this guy has no chance of beating Galen Rupp let alone Farah and the rest of the field

American Levins Fan wrote:

His strength is as good as anyone, and he has shown he can close in the last few races. That 27:27 10k he ran at Stanford - he wasn't even pushed. Ran away with it the last 200. He could very well win gold in London

No, not a gold medal threat. We are talking about people who run 27:20 and close in 27 for the last 200m. We are talking about people who run 2640 and close in 27 for the last 200. Rupp is much more of a gold medal threat, but I have a hard time calling him that either.

Let's not overhype what has been accomplished. I hope Levins does well in London and will cheer for him to finish as high as possible. It is just unfair to put this title on him based on his credentials from this season.

If it is tactical, it means Cam better be ready run the second half in under 13 minutes. Does the dude have a chance at doing that?

If it is fast can he run under 27?

Not a MFing chance

Keeping this prediction alive from previous thread...

Cam will drop a 26.42 and finish third in the Olympic 10k. He will be one of the inspirational stories of the Olympics. However, when people realize that his extreme mileage led to the spontaneous growth of a sixth toe on each foot he will be disgraced as a cheater but embraced with a lifetime sponsorship deal by Vibram. Later he will be the subject of Chris McVibram's next novel, "Not Born to Run (but I ran so frickin' much that it looks like I was)"

Anyone know if he's running the 5k and 10k?

Cam is like a lottery ticket, EXTREMELY slim chance of winnning but a chance is a chance.. will be fun to watch anyway.

He will do both 5 and 10 in London.

MIZZOU Runnerman wrote:

If it is fast can he run under 27?

Not a MFing chance

Bullshit. He can run sub27 in 2012. 26 last 200 in 27:27 in April.

He's a threat to break into the vault and steal the medal you mean? Quick...somebody notify the authorities to be on high alert!

Ain't happening. Top 10 at the outside. There's a big difference in beating up on college runners during the NCAA season and then going up against others bringing their "A" game to Europe in the summer. Maybe a medal in 2016--if his body can tolerate the training regime over the long term.

My crystal ball doesn't show the clear reults at this point.

It basically said to wait for the races to find out what happens.

maybe I'm ignorant, but pretty sure most of the elite kenyans, ethiopians, esc. (eastern africans) run 27:10 in regular road races in flats. Toss them some 2012 olympic exclusive matumbos and boom, obviously the will then go 26:50s. Cam Levins can't touch that.

I'll bet Rupp finishes higher than Cam!

MIZZOU Runnerman wrote:

If it is tactical, it means Cam better be ready run the second half in under 13 minutes. Does the dude have a chance at doing that?

Has that ever happened besides in the 2003 world championships, when Bekele and Gebrselassie did it?

Pretty sure Bekele, Jeilan, and Farah have far superior strength... Bekele was able to kick a 55 second last lap and slowed down immensely the last 50, probably would've been 53 high, off of a sub 27 10k in a championship race (WC 09). Farah closed hard in his 10K at Pre last year, and Jeilan was able to reel him in at Daegu. Don't forget Bekele's bro Tariku, who is now moving up to the longer distances. The contingent of East Africans is too strong. It's not gonna be a really slow race; the Africans are aware that anyone can kick a 53 off of a slow pace and won't just leave it to luck. I can personally guarantee that this year it'll be at least 27:10 MINIMUM because the field is much stronger this year.