wanjiru returns to Chicago

The question is then how long will it be until Hall pulls out?

I wonder if Haile is going to run Dubai in 2011, although he might not since he plans on taking Tadese's WR in the Half Marathon in 2011 in Lisbon, so he might not be able to whip up two successful world record attempts only two months apart (Tadese obviously was not able to pull that off very well).

he is toast.

It will be interesting to see what happens.

I am predicting 2:08 for 5th place, and I predict that Ryan Hall beats him.

It is surely unlikely that Wanjiru's Nike sponsorship had anything whatsoever to do with his return to Chicago.

Hope Hall breaks the 2:05:38 AR. Wanjiru will be tough to beat but the Kenyans are not unbeatable.

Like I said, i'm getting that guy to Stanleys on Sunday night for some live band karaoke!!

Hall is confident.

"Sammy Wanjiru will now defend his title against @ryanhall3 in Chicago:

http://bit.ly/9FTtHP

>Glad to have the company!"

I think Wanjiru will not be fit enough in Chicago.I predict a DNF.I reckon he is there to collect appearance fees.Wanjiru is currently unfit and been distracted for a long time.He still has the talent but it might require a miracle for him to regain his hither-to focus.

interesting! i can't wait to see and wanjiru go at it; hopefully no dnfs from either one

Wanjiru is famous for setting a fast marathon pace from the start and then just hanging on the best he can. It'll be interesting if Wanjiru attempts that same strategy since he knows he not in peak shape. If he does go out too fast, and Hall doesn't attempt to go with Wanjiru's crazy pace, I predict Hall will pass him in the last 10K and beat him.

I'm surprised people are surprised by this. The Defending champ usually goes back to where he won. The money is usually better but with Wanjiru he can get paid wherever he goes.

There are exceptions of course.

Geb is in NY this year so he can't pull out of a showdown with Wanjiru.

Sam W has pulled out of or lost badly in every race he has run since Chicago. He may be washed up in he early 20s and you take a shot at a guy not far from 40. Year after year he took on all comers at all distances, even running injured and at distances he wasn't young enough for (10k-Beijing). I guess once a statement is made it is easy just to repeat it without analysis.

Hall might beat Wanjiru but he is not going to win.

Hall can't win Chicago but neither can Wanjiru. That 2:06 in the heat in 2008 took a lot out of him. He should take a year off...no races....just high base mileage and try to get the Mojo back in the World Champs 2011. He is so young still and the marathon destoys anyone who runs too many , too fast, without much rest. The marathon destroys the mind, not just the body

www.teampennington.net wrote:

Hope Hall breaks the 2:05:38 AR. Wanjiru will be tough to beat but the Kenyans are not unbeatable.

I'd love for that to happen, but I don't believe it. I think that Hall ran the race of his life with his 2:06 and that he's actually a 2:08-2:09 marathoner (nothing wrong with that - he's very consistent at that level).

Wanjiru has DNFed his last two-to-three races if I'm not mistaken?

London this year as well as the road race in Italy last month.

I sure hope it's just a bad year for him and he'll return to form by next year.

Hall will beat him because Hall will finish while Sammy DNFs again. That's my prediction.