James Temp. writes: <<<<<< Non-paced championship races are soooooo different from paced GP races it isn't funny. >>>>>> While this is CLEARLY true ... the top PLACERS in a strategic championship race and the fast-from-the-gun, rabitted ones on the Euro circuit are usually not too different. Looking at the Sydney races (which were mostly VERY slow/strategic), you had a very slow 800m ... with a surprise winner ... but the other medallists were those that excelled in the 1:43 races over the whole summer on the circuit. The 1500 mostly resembled a GP race that was a little slower than normal, and El G faded from where we are used to seeing him finish. But the top-six were not surprising .. and only El G upset the expected order. The Steeple was ultra-slow, yet the top-six were not any surprise, neither was the order. Again, in the 5k, it was SO SLOW that Wolde likely would not have won in a sub-13:05 race, but Saidi-Seif and Lahlafi were the fastest and most consistent 3k and 5k runners on the circuit in that final (Mourhit was the only other). They were both medal favorites in a fast race. A 3:51 1500m final is proportionately slower than an 8:20 Steeple and a 13:35 5k .. so really skewed results should be expected when the early pace is that slow. Add the vagaries of racing on the smaller, tighter track and it makes it even tougher. -Brian McEwen
