1) most of the runners faster than them won’t actually be there because the Olympics limits entries per country. There won’t be 30 faster Kenyans, just 3.

2) my recollection is that a lot of Africans slow down and conserve energy for the next race once they realize they won’t medal. Clayton might empty the tank for 7th. But a lot of world class runners would rather be 25th and able to race sooner than 7th and more broken down and still without a medal.