Does anyone realize Ben True could win the Diamond League today?

This is an incredibly tight race. Any of the other 5 guys contending with him could win it. I only see two or three of them showing up, though.

I take that back. They're all there except Mo. Should be a hell of a race.

Shoebacca wrote:

I take that back. They're all there except Mo. Should be a hell of a race.

I agree - I hope it is an honest pace though. I don't think True will get the DL title, but I am hoping for him to break 13 for the first time.

5 DL 5ks this year, 5 winners. That's crazy. I hope True wins it. If he wins he will have, at minimum, a share of the DL title. Cray.

Forgive me, 6 DL 5k races this year and 6 winners. Even crazier.

Unfortunately, history tells us they never go for good times in the 5, and especially not tired after world's with a DL title on the line. I'd love to see it, though, and Rupp has the ability to follow the pacers and make it happen. He started to do that in Stockholm once but backed off.

My concern for the pace is that most of these top guys are not known for their strength.

The funny thing to consider is that Rupp has probably the most incentive of any of them to follow the pacers. He's not in the points race. He has more reason to go for a PR than his competitors even if it means risking a loss. I'd like to see him ask for something like a sub-13 pace that puts him in contention to set a PR with the knowledge that a fast final lap or two would put him in range of the AR. I don't know that Rupp and Salazar will have a say in the pacing here, though, because his PR is not the strongest. Plus the conditions and his health will have to be Rupp-certified for him to go for it from the gun.

Ben True is a wild card here. The worse the conditions, the better his odds.

This race will probably be faster than 13:20, so I can't see Ryan Hill being a factor.

Won't be a factor? His PR is 13:14 soo how could he not be a factor?

pleeeeease do it wrote:

If he wins the 5k today he will have 8 points. Depending on how the rest of the field shakes out he could end up with more points than anyone else. How crazy would that be?

Points here:

http://www.diamondleague.com/diamond-race/

Does anyone read the extensive previews we write for you?

LRC wrote:

With eight points for a victory, the entire field has a shot to win the Diamond League title, though only the seven men listed above can guarantee the DL title with a win (the rest of the field would need a win and some help).

In other news, does anyone realize that I could win the PowerBall lottery this week? How crazy would that be?

Shoebacca wrote:

My concern for the pace is that most of these top guys are not known for their strength.

The funny thing to consider is that Rupp has probably the most incentive of any of them to follow the pacers. He's not in the points race. He has more reason to go for a PR than his competitors even if it means risking a loss. I'd like to see him ask for something like a sub-13 pace that puts him in contention to set a PR with the knowledge that a fast final lap or two would put him in range of the AR. I don't know that Rupp and Salazar will have a say in the pacing here, though, because his PR is not the strongest..

Rupp has asked for it and I'm sure given his connections he'll get it. The meet director said yesterday that Rupp is going for the AR.

All of these DL races have pacers to make it sub-13:00. Just normally no one goes with them. I virtually guarantee you rupp will go with it today.

factor deez wrote:

Won't be a factor? His PR is 13:14 soo how could he not be a factor?

because 13:20 is too close to his max current ability to be able to kick really well. He's known as a kicker, which gets him int the WCs but doesn't make him a favorite in anything faster than a 13:30 race.

True Rojo, that was an awesome pre race preview, I totally forgot the DL finals were worth double points. That REALLY makes things interesting.

Here are results from the 2013 Van Damme 5k, held soon after the Moscow WCs:

1 Yenew Alamirew ETH 12:58.75

2 Bernard Lagat USA 12:58.99

3 Hagos Gebrhiwet ETH 12:59.33

4 Edwin Soi KEN 13:01.00

5 Galen Rupp USA 13:01.37

6 Thomas Longosiwa KEN 13:01.74

7 Albert Rop BRN 13:02.31

8 Evan Jager USA 13:02.40

9 Isiah Koech KEN 13:03.98

10 Muktar Edris ETH 13:06.44

11 Chris Derrick USA 13:08.04

12 Ben St. Lawrence AUS 13:23.87

13 Tasama Dame ETH 13:33.05

14 Abdelhadi El Hachimi BEL 13:34.95

15 Ryan Hill USA 13:43.14

16 Collis Birmingham AUS 13:44.27