You would probably be right if it was a xc[/quote]
A lot has happened since Geoffrey and Bedan won gold and silver at the world cross country champs and the two athletes are in way better shape than they were on that day. And though I am with you in perception that doing well in cross country does not mean that you will automatically do well in track, Geoffrey, Bedan and Paul Tanui have proved that they are just as good on the track or even better! Lets not forget that the three of them just ran the three fastest times ever at altitude, with Geoffrey beating the old record by a whooping 15 seconds! Now some people out here argue that their running is more adapted to altitude, meaning they will run about as fast at sea level. This is obviously not true for everyone and not for the three. Paul's and Geoffrey's times in Eugene back in June are proof of this. Paul also ran a sub 13' about four days later. We can debate all day whole week but the truth will come out on that day in Beijing. Geoffrey Kamworor's only goal after his world cross country victory was another victory in the same city in September. That goal is pretty much on course! This is the best team ever Kenya has had and Kenya could sweep all the three medals.[/quote]
No you are right and they are capable of running faster at sea level than at altitude. They just manage it a lot better than Westerners
The question is have they got the balls to take it out. I noticed Farah struggled a bit with the pace on his last 3,000m taking it out is definitely the way to beat him - other than hoping someone else finally gets lucky on a sprint.
The top dog stays at the top longer than he is physically capable of staying at the top. That's because the others are scared to take him on.
I would actually like to see him challenged to make the race more interesting