Oh, I was confused by your posting his “updated” ten several separate times in your replies in recent days and weeks. Seemed like with such emphasis and labeling, it was the current discussion. It was my mistake. Appreciate your perspective on which performances need backing up. I find it more intriguing why some apparently faster runners become slower at the Olympics, or absent at the start and/or finish line, thereby falling to “back up” performances recorded with less pressure, less testing, or less competition. If Mr. Harding’s careful list is from within a year preceding the event, and he is a respected analyst of the sport, the fact that only one of his ten named best ten women marathoners finished in the top three in the actual race, is an extraordinary disconnect. I am certainly not an expert, so I don’t know precisely why ardent students of women’s marathoning see it differently than it actually occurs. Few sporting events, even within track and field, unfold that way. Perhaps it’s just easier to keep making predictions on some things than it is to assess them after the facts are known. It’s certainly more fun. Enjoy.
I admire your diligence on race and runner previews. Thank you.