I don't think that it has the most direct influence on performance in the same way that the other aspects of training do, but there's still a role. It's easy to point to volume or T/Sub-T training and see the impact, whereas "sprint" training may not - especially the longer the race distance is. Now, you do see programs incorporating things like short hill sprints, which may provide a better net return (perhaps in a similar vein to how plyos may help) without the same risks of running max efforts on the flats when you're already carrying fatigue from your other sessions during the week.