From novice fans to running diehards, there was something for everyone (except perhaps Brits and Norwegians) to enjoy about one of the greatest middle distance races ever run.

Almost no one who emerged from the repechage made the final in Paris. World Athletics president Seb Coe admits, "It was an IOC creation. It wasn’t something that we chose ourselves."

Was this the best Olympic track & field competition ever? Why did the US men run so well? Plus the greatest unanswered questions from Paris 2024 and why Jakob Ingebrigtsen should not abandon the 1500m.

Hassan set an Olympic record of 2:22:55 just 37 hours after earning bronze in the 10,000. Hellen Obiri took bronze as Dakotah Lindwurm was top American in 12th (2:26:44).

Chebet edged Italy's Nadia Battocletti by .10 to win a tactical 10k, Benjamin blew away Karsten Warholm in the home straight, and the US women won 4x100 gold but the men faltered at the Olympics again.

Wilson said he was not 100% and credited his teammates for propping him up, while Hoppel is full of confidence and ready for a big PR in the final.

SML did it again with WR #6, running 50.37 to win the 400 hurdles as Femke Bol got bronze. Letsile Tebogo ripped a 19.46 for 200m gold as a COVID-stricken Noah Lyles was 3rd.

The top four broke the Olympic record as Josh Kerr took silver, Yared Nuguse bronze, and Jakob Ingebrigtsen was 4th. Hocker and Nuguse (3:27.80) both smashed the American record.

Keely Hodgkinson executed a brilliant front-run to win 800 gold in a negative-split 1:56.72 while Beatrice Chebet outkicked Faith Kipyegon in the final 100 to win the 5k.

Alfred (10.72) buried the field with a great start and drive phase, while Richardson, who started poorly, took the silver in 10.87 with the US's Melissa Jefferson 3rd in 10.92.

Cheptegei set an Olympic record of 26:43.14 as the top six all finished within a second and the top 13 all broke 27:00 -- easily the most ever in one race.

All 3 Americans advanced in the 1500 while Sha'Carri Richardson made it through in the 100m prelims.

Seb Coe said WA is exploring a joint proposal to have cross country and cyclocross share a course at the 2030 Winter Olympics in France. Plus Coe shares his thoughts on Grand Slam Track.

We have boots on the ground in Paris and Jonathan Gault's first two days in Paris included trips to see Simone Biles, Carlos Alcaraz, and Léon Marchand and offered a reminder of how fans can elevate the Olympic experience. Jonathan writes about the loudest sporting event he's ever attended. *MB: Boots on the ground in Paris: Jonathan Gault just attended the loudest sporting event of his life at the Olympics .

In Tokyo, we had two races for the ages. Will history repeat itself in 2024? McLaughlin-Levrone comes in off a world record at the US Olympic Trials, while Benjamin is 2-0 vs Warholm since losing at Worlds last year.

Ingebrigtsen is trying to join Seb Coe as the only men to win two Olympic 1500 titles. Americans Cole Hocker and Yared Nuguse both have legit shots at a medal.

Oh baby, we can't wait for this one. Kipchoge vs Bekele on an epic course as he seeks a historic 3-peat. Plus how will the field handle one of the toughest courses in professional marathoning history and could the runners be running sub-4 pace after mile 19 as it's so downhill?

WA told LetsRun: "Following a thorough analysis of athletes intending to participate in more than one event -- it was determined that the quota would allow for some additional athletes to participate in the marathon."

Twenty years after his first Olympic gold and 12 years after his last Olympic appearance, Bekele will return to face Eliud Kipchoge on the sport's biggest stage in Paris.

Eliud Kipchoge will go for unprecedented third straight gold. Brigid Kosgei was stunningly given the final women's spot over Sharon Lokedi.