There are 5 guys who could potentially win this Saturday...
Cheserek is obviously the favorite and has the ability to win no matter how they race is run. But several other people in this field have the leg speed to match him in the last 100m IF they run the race to put themselves in position to do so.
Trying to run step for step with Cheserek WILL NOT WIN Footlocker. He is good enough to go as fast as you want to go... and lets just say it won't end well for whoever tries that. If McGorty or anyone does do that, they will only be diminishing their chances of beating him. No one is going to outrun Cheserek.
The way to beat Cheserek I think would be to lure him into a false sense of security. Hang back to where he can't feel the competition, but always be in striking distance. The closer someone is to him, the faster he's going to run. Anyone close with 400 to go is going to have one shot to surprise him and match his speed in the last 150 or so... We've seen quite a few guys in this field with A LOT of finishing speed. Thomson and McGorty especially. Considering that Thomson dropped the hammer on Jacob Burcham. Then McGorty was able to edge out Thomson at Great American...
This does not diminish the speed of Cheserek either though and I'm sure he will have that extra gear, too. Its all about who has a good day and is really feeling it in that last 150m.
Hopefully one of the American born guys is feeling it in the last 200m like Galen in the 10k in London! ;)
Look for McGorty, Thomson, and Leingang in the last 100.
I'd love to see a race as good as last year's.
Top contenders for the NATIONAL CHAMPION crown:
1. Cheserek
2. McGorty
3. Thomson
4. Leingang