After a long four year wait, the track world finally gets to watch Mo Farah go after another fast 10K this Friday at the Prefontaine Classic. Although the double Olympic champion has raced several championship-level 10,000m races since 2011, he has not been in a paced-out 25-lapper since he ran 26:46 at the 2011 Pre Classic to set the European record. That race was the deepest 10K in history, as a record nine men broke 27 minutes. 

 

Farah has done pretty good for himself since that effort, winning a combined five Olympic/World gold medals to establish himself as the best distance runner of this generation. In retrospect, the 10,000m at Hayward Field on June 3rd, 2011 was the first sign that the Mo-Bot would soon become the most feared man over 5K/10K in the world. Remember, Farah had never won an international medal at that point in his career. 

 

Many of Mo Farah’s races since the 26:46 have been sit-and-kick affairs, as the 32-year-old still has the best closing speed in the world, but the few glimpses of Mo running in “all-out” races over the last few years have generally been very memorable performances. Here’s a look at Farah’s success in “from-the-gun” races after his 10K PB:

 

2011: 1st- Monaco 5K (12:53.11)

2012: 2nd- Birmingham 2-Mile(i) (8:08.07)

2012: 1st- Prefontaine 5K (12:56.98)

2013: 2nd- Prefontaine 5K (13:05.88)
2013: 2nd- Monaco 1500 (3:28.81)

2014: 1st- Birmingham 2-Mile(o) (8:07.85)

2015: 1st- Birmingham 2-Mile(i) (8:03.40)

 

Farah’s improved 1500m speed (3:28, 2013), and half-marathon strength (59:32, 2015) since 2011 suggest that a very quick time could be coming on Friday night, perhaps something in the neighborhood of 26:35. 

 

Only six men in history have run under 26:36, but given the rare opportunity to run a fast 10K, Mo Farah should be the next man to do it. Yes, he didn’t look great in his last outing where he was beaten in the Doha 3K by Hagos Gebrhiwet, but that was likely nothing more than a tune-up for this Friday’s big test in Eugene. And what a test it will be, as six other men who have broken 27 minutes will line up next to Farah, as well as 2015 World XC champion Geoffrey Kamworor. 

 

Even with the pacing expected to be geared toward Farah’s interests, he should have plenty of company over the last mile, which is exactly how Galen Rupp was able to set the American record (26:44) just last year at the Pre Classic. No way does Rupp run a 4:05 last 1600m without having to race the three Kenyans like he did, a factor which will obviously be vital to Farah running very fast as well. In case Farah’s loss in Doha is making you skeptical, remember that Rupp was beaten in the Oxy 5K just two weeks prior to Pre last year, so there is no reason to believe that his teammate won’t be ready to duplicate his success. 

Can Mo Farah replicate his teammate's success in the Pre Classic 10K?

Rupp ran his 2-Mile PB (8:07.41) in January 2014, while Farah just ran a World record (8:03.40) in the same distance this past February. Given how fast Rupp would end up running just four months later at Pre, Farah should understandably be expected to go much faster than his training partner given the same conditions. Jumping from 26:44 for Rupp to 26:35 for Farah is just an estimation, yes, but it’s reasonable knowing the gold medalist’s superior strength and closing speed. 

With fast 10,000m races being harder to find these days, Mo Farah is not going to waste the opportunity to do something spectacular on Friday night in Eugene.