A generation ago, when the Mile was the track event that everyone watched, Americans were thrilled on many occasions when American Jim Ryun would go into the last lap in the middle of the pack, then turn on the afterburners and win by a nose. It made track exciting.
When they quit running the Mile, I lost all interest. Anyone can understand the challenge of a four-minute mile, but 1500 meters? Who gives a shit? Same with the hundred yard dash. Everyone understood that only the fastest runners could to a 10-second 100, but a hundred meters? WGAS?