Answer:
Because any runner worth a damn respects these shoulders he stands on:
1a Lucas Verzbicas 8:29.46 2011
1b German Fernandez 8:34.23 2008
1c 8:36.3 Jeff Nelson Burbank CA '79
2 8:40.0i Gerry Lindgren Rogers, Spokane, WA '64
3 8:40.9 Craig Virgin Lebanon IL '73
4a 8:41.5 Steve Prefontaine Marshfield. Coos Bay, OR '69
4b Matthew Centrowitz, Jr. 8:41.55 2007
5 8:43.2i Dave Merrick Lincoln-Way. New Lenox, IL '71
6 8:44.0 Eric Reynolds Camarillo CA '83
7 8:44.03 Alan Scharsu Fitch HS, Austintown OH '78
8 8:44.12+ Dathan Ritzenhein Rockford (8:41.1-3.2k) MI '00
9 8:44.53+ John Trautmann Mon.-Wood. Cen.Val.(8:05.8-3k) NY '86
10 8:44.6 Eric Hulst Laguna Beach CA '76
11 8:45.19i Alan Webb Reston VA '01
12 8:45.2 Thom Hunt Henry, San Diego. CA '76 13 8:45.9 Ralph Serna Loara, Anahaim CA '75 14 8:45.92+ Donald Sage Elmhurst York (8:42.89-3.2k) IL '00
15 8:46.44c Chris Solinksy Stevens Point WI '03 16 8:46.47+ Eric Mastalir Jesuit Carmichael (8:07.60-3k) CA '86
17 8:46.5 Richard Kimball (LaSalle. Concord, CA '74
18 8:46.87 Bobby Beck Salmen. Slidell. LA '79 19 8:46.99 Brent Steiner Shawnee Mission S. Overland Park, KS '79
20 8:47.02+ Scott Fry Perkins. Sandusky (8:08.1-3k) OH '85
21 8:47.77 Jim Hill Oakton, Vienna VA '79
22 8:48.3 Rick Riley Ferris, Spokane WA '66
23 8:48.8 Curtis Beck Santa Monica CA '72
24 8:48.8c Brent Vaughn, Brent Smoky Hill CO '03
25 8:49.1i Mark Dani Valhalla, El Cajon CA '86 26 8:49.4+ Rickey Pittman East Tech, Cleveland OH '80
27 8:49.53+ Galen Rupp Central Catholic, Portland, (8:10.42 - 3k) OR '03
28 8:49.60i Franklin Sanchez LYNN VOKE TECH HS MA '99
29 8:49.66+ Mark Mastalir Jesuit, Carmichael (8:10.54-3k) CA '86
30 8:49.86+ Jon Butler Edison Huntington Beach(8:46.78-3.2k) CA '81
31 8:49.91+ Eric Logsdon Canby (8:10.66-3k) OR '00
32 8:50.29i Andy Powell OLIVER AMES/NO. EASTON MA '99
33 8:50.7 John Gregorek St Anthony Smithtown NY '78
34 8:50.9 Bill McChesney South Eugene OR '76 35 8:51.0 George Watts Edison Alexandria VA '75
36 8:51.0 Rudy Chapa Hammond IN '75
37 8:51.1 Bill St. John Mater Dei High School,Santa Ana, CA '76
38 8:51.24c Carl Moe Auburn-Riv WA '03
39 8:51.59c Bobby Curtis St. Xavier Louis KY '03
40 8:51.8 Ron Craker York, Elmhurst IL '75
41 8:51.9 Tom Graves Sandburg Orland Park IL '77
42 8:52.15 Charles Logan Bernards, Banardsville NJ '79
43 8:52.2+ Jeff Adkins Woodrow Wilson Beckley WV '79
44 8:52.2+ John Zishka Lancaster OH '79
45 8:52.4 Chuck Assumma Eisenhower Rialto CA '79
46 8:52.6 Don Moses Crescents Valley, La Cresccnta CA '76
47 8:52.6c Bret Schoolmeester Christian Denver CO '02
48 8:52.8 Tim Keough Hammond High Hammond IN '75
49 8:52.9 Frank Assumma Eisenhower Rialto CA '77
50 8:53.0 Bill Weidenbach Grosse Pointe North MI '77
... Solomon Haile 8:56.08 2007
...Graham Bazell 8:56:65 2009