Leading as Szabo likes to do is not easy. You ask yourself questions. You begin to focus on the person behind you rather than on the track in front of you. If Sonia can stay close to Szabo and put her under pressure as she did when she beat her to win the European Championships two years ago, then Sonia can win this race with her trade mark strike at the finish. Gete Wami may use her Ethiopian team mate, Worku, to set a fast pace in order to upset both O'Sullivan and Szabo.
African nations have a history of sacrificing the slower athlete for the good of the team.
Wami is not short of finishing speed herself but as a 10,000 metre runner she is likely to prefer a stronger test of stamina. She holds the fastest time for 5,000 metres this year. Similarly the Kenyan pair will feel a stronger test of stamina is to their advantage. The Africans are likely to set a strong pace in an effort to sap the finishing kicks of O'Sullivan and Szabo and to avoid the race being decided by a burn-up over the last lap. The dark horses of the race are the Russian duo.