Anyone who knows anything about distance training will know that the way select teams did the pre-Christmas 5000 qualifying race is far easier on athletes. They come out of NCAA cross country and are highly fit, they take a light week, they do one preparatory workout before Boston, then go and race. Once they are done then they can relax and train for three months without really focusing on racing and then got to NCAA Indoor and compete. Its far, far better than trying to come back after Christmas and race their way into nationals. And the previous poster is right, this has made it a lot harder for anyone else to qualify given their will be no high quality 5000's available. None of the athletes who ran fast at Boston or JDL will go to Washington to race over 5000 (maybe some will try a 3000) so the depth of the field will be down. And with Washington not allowing post-collegiate athletes into their meets this diminishes the quality even more. Those that know anything will know that PreChristmas 5000 distance races have been going on for a quarter of a century. But now, more high-end athletes are doing them. And yes, just as Nuttycombe, PreNCAA in cross country, and Bryan Clay in outdoor track, Boston and JDL will become the "MUST" races on a distance programs schedule.