One could say that 1st place only won because some random factor favored him. But one could just as easily say that 2nd place was only so close because some ran

One could say that 1st place only won because some random factor favored him. But one could just as easily say that 2nd place was only so close because some random factor favored him. If there is no way to measure or control a factor, there is no way to know whom it favored. So race organizers try to make things as fair as possible, but everything beyond that is just “part of the game.” The athletes accept that, and spectators should as well.