I was in Kenya for 12 days, coming back only today. I did'nt go to European Cross Ch., but I had no doubts that Sergey had win the title.
I want to explain something about Sergey, because not knowing anything about his life someone can do some appreciation not corrected.
I became to follow Sergey in 2001, when he already had won two editions of European Ch., after winning silver in European Ch. "Under 23" in 10.000m. Sergey came to Italy, competing for the club COVER of Verbania, and stays about 6 months every year in Italy. Now he's able to speak Italian well, and I give him his training programs in Italian, that he knows better than English.
I changed something in his training, that however was already good. His former coach followed the system of Lydiard, but died 3 years ago. That's was the reason because I began to follow him. The first thing that I saw, was that his training, based on very long run and short intervals, could be good for cross, not so much for track. So, in 2002, for the first time Sergey came to St. Moritz with my Kenyan athletes, training with them sometime, showing a not good mental attitude for track. Particularly, he thought not to be talented enough for track, having like focus the winter season.
I explained him that, with a correct training, could be very strong also on track. After 40 days of work in altitude, he was able to improve national records both in 3000m (7:35.06 in Montecarlo) and 5000m (13:10.78 in Berlin), arriving on the podium in Golden League events.
So, he understood his potential, and decided to prepare Olympics in 5000m this year.
Having great muscle strenght, he is particularly talented for muddy crosses. When he arrived in silver medal in Oostend, the race was very muddy.
Every year, he has to reach the best shape early, for winning European Ch., that is not a top event but can produce good interst for a European runner. So, during the last two years his shape was very good at the end of the season, lasting till the end of January, while the shape of Kenyans is yet very low, as their most important appointment comes later. During last winter, for example, Sergey was able to win 7 following races, but during March was mentally tired (also because was preparing his new house), and in Losanna was not concentrated on the race.
During 2003 he married in May, and we decided that was better for him to skip the most part of the track season, not having any chance in World Ch. He won only Universitary Games, going home for preparing his cross season from September. We tested his first period of long training (basic period) with the Half Marathon in Great North Run on 4th of October, and we were satisfied as he ran 61:49. So, after this, he went home to Ukraina, working at medium altitude (1200m about) for 40 days, then coming to Italy just for the last 10 days before the race.
During this winter, we plan to compete till the end of January, skipping World Cross Ch., for preparing OG in 5000m.
So, please, don't speak about EPO or something else. Sergey is simply the best European in Cross, and his situation on track depends on a precise choice. But I think that he can be competitive also on track, till 13 min on 5. In any case, against El Guerrouj, Kipchoge, Bekele, Shaheen and some other Kenyan he can win only if the other are out of shape. But for next year I also am curious to see his improvement having a precise goal.
I have, if someone is interested, his program for the last two months, written in Italian.
If someone is interested, I can post it thru e-mail, but you have to translate. And, remember, Sergey is a "cross-man" like mentality, and finds very well when temperature is very cold. So, for him winter is the best season.