Fast finishers can catch up Kiprop in Olympic 1500m final

Asbel Kiprop may be the defending Olympic champion and reigning world champion, but he looks at risk from the last-lap speedsters this time in the final of the 1500m.

Kiprop is the favourite to defend his title at 15/8 and he will be tough to beat if the early pace is quick, given that his personal best is the fastest in the field.

However, the fact that the Olympic record is only 3:32.07secs shows that tactics often take precedence in finals and this is a time well within the compass of the majority of the field.

Kiprop would be in more danger if the pace is set up for a fast finisher and at the prices, he is worth opposing.

Silas Kiplagat beat Kiprop in the Kenyan trials and that makes him a threat at 4/1, but he is another who may lack the true speed over the final 400m.

Toufik Makloufi is certainly one that did not suffer in this department and has been reinstated to take part after initially being thrown out for failing to give his all in the 800m heats.

Makloufi is arguably the fastest finisher in the field and 7/2 is a big price if the early laps are slow.

Matt Centrowitz from the US has one of the slowest personal bests in the field, but he could be the pick of the each-way options at 40/1.

Centrowitz almost always finds himself in the optimum position and is likely to be in contention entering the home straight, as he was when taking third behind Kiprop at the last World Championships.

The same can be said for New Zealand’s Nick Willis, but he is far shorter in the Olympics odds at 5/1.

Morocco’s Abdalaati Iguider ran a season’s best to win his semi final fairly comfortably and is another worthy of consideration at 9/2.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.