LabTech wrote:
WOW, you remember all the way back to 2011, I'm impressed.
1 --- So, who running today, that WASN'T in the race, would in your expert opinion, have MADE it a strong field?
2 --- As far as I know, you only need to beat the people who ARE in the race; and over a season, only the folks still competing.
Ok. I've separated your statements. The 1st statement is related to our discussion. The 2nd statement has nothing to do with our discussion. Why did you say that?
Regarding your first statement (since it's the only relevant one), it's not just about who is in or not in the field. It's also about the shape they are in. Gebremeskel was in the race but was out of it somewhere by 8k I think. He would have made the field a bit stronger had he showed up in his sub 27 shape.
So, in my opinion, anyone in sub 26:40-26:45 shape would have been a strong competitor. There might not have been anyone in that shape including Farah today. His last lap was only a 54.
Other runners from 2009-2011 that would have been strong competitors:
Bekele, Sihine, the Tadesse brothers, and the several Kenyans who were in good shape around that time.
I don't know how you can even dispute this. Are you really claiming that the field today was as strong as 2004-2009? Really?