800 Solomon (1:42.8), Symmonds (1:42.95), Jock (1:44.7)
1500 Centrowitz (3:31), Rupp (3:50.9i), Wheating (3:30.8)
steeple Jager (8:08), Cabral (8:18?), Huling (8:14)
5000 Rupp (12:58?), Lagat (12:53), Lomong (13:07?i)
10000 Derrick (13:12/27:31?), Ritz (12:56/27:22), Teg (27:2x)
If Jock trains with Johnny Gray's group, which should suit him as a speed 800m guy, he should make a leap forward. Otherwise, you can see Andrews in this spot or possibly Wheating.
At 1500m, Centro is very hard to beat in sit and kick and now has the pr to run the fast races as well, a great racer. Wheating healthy would be a force. And I have Rupp here because once you have great success at your shortest distance, it is hard to go back. He medaled at 10000m, but I think he may just be going after the American record at the mile and 1500m outdoors.
At 5, Rupp's kick of 51.5 at USA Nationals last year was incredible and there's more to come now with 3:50.9i speed. Lagat closed slightly faster and will have a shot and Lomong is going to be hard for the likes of Torrence, Bumbi, and others to beat.
At 10, True seems well suited to the event and just got 6th in the world, but it is xc, he does not have a time close to the top guys yet and he might actually be well suited to the steeple, given the strength he showed to handle the hills and the bumps on the course. This is his year but I can't predict a podium finish against this field. Curtis at 27:24 is going to be there but last year he didn't have it at nationals. Solinsky may surprise a lot of people but nationals will be too soon for him to have the speed work to go low 4 in the last mile, I would think. Derrick is vastly improved and had a great shot at Ritz last year. Ritz cannot finish very fast and that hurts him with Teg, but Teg is not the man he was, confidence wise or strength, when he ran 12:58, finished fourth at world's in the 5k, and so he can be beat by Ritz in a faster race. Rupp will win of course if he competes at this event. I'd like to see Ritz hit his sub 27 potential at this distance and this might be the year if he is not just doing quasi-marathon training but does a serious outdoor track campaign.