Would Samuel Wanjiru have beaten Mo Farah in a 10,000 right now in his prime?

Farah wouldn't have known what to do. If my memory is correct, he ran that 26:41 as an 18 yr old chasing Bekele. He DIED and still ran 26:41. That means he was possibly good for about 26:30 that day if he ran his own pace.

Sammy would have beaten Mo even if he wore a 25 lbs backpack.

What if Bekele is not hampered by injury ? what if dejen gebremeskel was not boxed in at the London 5k Olympics ? what if Haile Gebrselassie were 20 yrs younger ?

What if Daniel Komen didn't weight 250 pounds right now ?

What if the Kenyans and Ethiopians runners worked as team in the last 3 World championships n the London Olympics??

What if Mo Farah didn't have that venomous kick?

What if ? what if ? what if ? what if ? what if ? what if ?

what if ? what if ?

Poorly structured subject most ever?

Wanjiru=Fearless

Farah=Prudent chamionship racer

The 2008 Olympics taught me never to bet against Wanjiru. Championship or not.

I don't know as much about Sammy as I do a Bekele or Haile or El Guerrouj, but yes, I think Wanjiru could've beaten Farah. Loved his front-running style, which Farah would have a hard time competing against. It'd be somewhat close, though.

Wangeeruu wrote:

He DIED and still ran 26:41. .

I am betting that's a world record for a dead person.

Wangeeruu wrote:

Farah wouldn't have known what to do. If my memory is correct, he ran that 26:41 as an 18 yr old chasing Bekele. He DIED and still ran 26:41. That means he was possibly good for about 26:30 that day if he ran his own pace.

To mention the age of an EA is a joke

Mo Farah would sit on Wanjiru's shoulder and then blow his doors off in the last 200, just like he does to everyone else.

Critical Thinking wrote:

Mo Farah would sit on Wanjiru's shoulder and then blow his doors off in the last 200, just like he does to everyone else.

Farah wouldn't be anywhere near Wanjiru's shoulder.

"What if" was never at any point used in the post. If that bothered you then you must have some serious issues that need to be addressed. But, I had no idea Wanjiru was ballsy enough to go out and chase KB at his peak era of performances. That speaks to his toughness, and also his pride. I feel like Mo seems to be pampered, and very white collar for a professional. Whereas Wanjiru seemed to be a very blue collar guy in terms of the professional scene.

Easier to be tough and "fearless" when you are doped to the point of senselessness. The lionization of a Kenyan drunk and womanizer (who put on a great show in races) around here is over the top.

Nobody beats Farah in his prime. He performs Jedi mind tricks to prevent runners from pushing the pace, and then is able to crush them on the last lap with his 3:28 1500 speed.

Wanjiru would smoke him.

Sammy would have chased Mo just like he chased Kennster. Not for the win though, but to lap that pampered Somalian.

Wanjuru would have stuck to the marathon - that's where the big $$$ is. He'd probably have burned out after a few more races and faded away. Even if he hadn't, a marathoner cannot beat a guy with a 3:28 1500 in a championship track race.

Sam wrote:

Wanjuru would have stuck to the marathon - that's where the big $$$ is. He'd probably have burned out after a few more races and faded away. Even if he hadn't, a marathoner cannot beat a guy with a 3:28 1500 in a championship track race.

No, Wanjiru was an excellent front runner and pace pusher. He would have done this in a championship track 10000. Farah's 3:28 speed would be completely irrelevant.

You need to expand your thinking and stop assuming that every championship race has to be a sit and kick race.

Wangeeruu wrote:

Farah wouldn't have known what to do. If my memory is correct, he ran that 26:41 as an 18 yr old chasing Bekele. He DIED and still ran 26:41. That means he was possibly good for about 26:30 that day if he ran his own pace.

Yep, he was right on Bekele's tail at 5K (13:09) then still only a second back at 6K (15:44). It was in the last 4K he faded, actually to 3rd place (Boniface Kiprop of Uganda was 2nd - 26:39). By 7200m, he looked to be about 9 sec back.

Wanjiru's 26:41 was only the 5th fastest time that year.

1. Bekele - 26:17 (Brussels)

2. Bekele - 26:28 (Hengelo)

3. Abebe Dinkesa - 26:30 (Hengelo)

4. Boniface Kiprop - 26:39 (Brussels)

5. Wanjiru - 26:41 (Brussels)

Apparently it was cold and windy in Hengelo, and rabbits dropped after only 6 laps.

The 10K has fallen a long way since Bekele's day ...

Any yes, I too think Wanjiru would have smoked Farah over 10K.

Also, whatever his actual age was (and to me he was one the young Kenyan's who actually looked young) I'm pretty sure that 10K in Brussels was his first ever big international race. Before that he had ran some 5 and 10Ks in Japan (had a 13:12 PR from April in Hiroshima going in).

That makes it very, very impressive and would imply (along with going at WR pace for 6K) he could have eventually ran a good deal quicker.

Farah was an also-ran on the circuit for years until he broke through in 2011.

I can think of a few people who have beaten Mo in his prime.