Factt wrote:
She's not running for Ethiopia, isn't a double Olympic Gold Medalist/former world record holder in multiple distances etcetera etcetera.
And Geb has never made an Olympic marathon or won an Olympic marathon medal. Simon will have run five Olympic marathons and has Olympic marathon hardware. Nobody else has run five, let alone a medalist.
Athlet X wrote:
Hope that he doesn’t qualify. He will just snatch the place of some1 like Jeilan who has a better chance of winning a medal.
If Jeilan can't beat Geb here, what would make him so medal worthy later?
It's Bekele that is snatching a spot by not needing to show fitness.
If Ethiopia decides to give one auto selection, I don't have issue with them choosing Bekel, though. He's earned it.
Jeilan at least gets a chance to race for his spot even though being last year's World Champion doesn't give him a free pass.
Merga and Shihine could battle with Geb and Jeilan for two spots.
well, if bekele gets a free pass, ethiopia will be able to send 4 runners to the olympics.
lagat, teg, solinsky, jager - ran the 5k at 2009 worlds
lagat, lomong, manzano, ulrey - ran the 1500 at 2009 worlds
So, the ethiopian team could look like...
1. Bekele
2. Jelian
3. Imane Merga
4. Geb, Sileshi Sihine, Gebre Gebre
Nope, free pass is only a world champs (not Olympics) thing. Jelian is already set for 2013.
Has Jeilan raced since the worlds?
nnzxxxbh wrote:
Has Jeilan raced since the worlds?
I see only one race (ekiden in November).
He did have some injury problems (achilles tendon?)late last season.
Nothing in 2012. Of course this doesn't have to mean he's still injured.
Gebre bombed at Boston. He's not in track shape. Sihine has umteen Olympic Silvers. Jeilan WON the WC's last year. Merga is always a situation in Diamond League races. Geb is old, overhyped, and surely won't medal.
Seems like it's going to be a tough choice between Sihine, merga, others. Jeilan and Bekele should go. #1 and #1 time in the World last year. Come on now.
Just checked and saw that Jeilan is scheduled do run a 5k in Japan one week before Hengelo.
adasdf wrote:
Seems like it's going to be a tough choice between Sihine, merga, others. Jeilan and Bekele should go. #1 and #1 time in the World last year. Come on now.
It's not a choice. It's a race.
And Jeilan has to race.
Bekele doesn't.
sdf wrote:
Just checked and saw that Jeilan is scheduled do run a 5k in Japan one week before Hengelo.
...and?
And? The defending world champ is opening his season.
Bekele, Jeilan, Merga, that's a pretty good team.
Just don't see Geb making it. More power to him if he does!
I wonder if Merga has taken etiquette classes in the off season. For some reason, I'm actually a fan of the guy. He's very good. But certainly I'd like to see Mo Farah ahead of him.
Athlet X wrote:
Ethiopia has won 16 long distance gold medals since Bikila in 1960/64
My point.
adasdf wrote:
... Geb is old, overhyped, and surely won't medal. ...
Won't medal, probably correct.
Overhyped, my ass. Geb has done everything there is to do in this sport, more times than you can count. If anyone is a living legend, Geb is.
Yes. If Geb stopped running after 2000 no one would knock him at all and he would be treated like a god.
The fact that he competed for another 10 years and got a couple marathon world records should only add to it.
But somehow that period has detracted from him in some eyes.
To win a Gold medal in 1993 and set a world record in 2008 and place top six in 4 different Olympiads is crazy range.
The idea that he is even competing for a spot in 2012 is hard to fathom.
20 years of world class running with some serious records a number of championships?
Not overhyped.
* wrote:
If Geb stopped running after 2000 no one would knock him at all and he would be treated like a god.
The fact that he competed for another 10 years and got a couple marathon world records should only add to it.
But somehow that period has detracted from him in some eyes.
To win a Gold medal in 1993 and set a world record in 2008 and place top six in 4 different Olympiads is crazy range.
The idea that he is even competing for a spot in 2012 is hard to fathom.
20 years of world class running with some serious records a number of championships?
Not overhyped.
+1
The person you're responding to was probably just trying to say that she didn't like Geb's chances this time around, but you're totally right to call her out. Geb might be considered an underdog for making the team this year, but I'll definitely be rooting for him! The man is a legend.
And to the person who thought it was unfair to Jeilan that KB is getting a free pass: When Jeilan has the WR in both 5k and 10k and matches Bekele's medal count, then he can have a free pass too.
Geb's got records and medals, too. Bekele doesn't look fit right now. Let him race like everyone else.
Yeah about that gold medal thing. Hypothetical here: if galen rupp won gold in the 10 and had the standard with a wl for 2016 (never mind being a WR holder) I would give him a pass. I know the trials system is supposed to be the most fair but when you reach that level you deserve more than one race to determine your future.
Back on topic I would love to see geb make it and carry the flag in for ethiopia.
sdf wrote:
Just checked and saw that Jeilan is scheduled do run a 5k in Japan one week before Hengelo.
update:
while still on the official start lists, it's very unlikely Jeilan will actually run this weekend.
Geb is the greatest distance runner ever period. Bekele is close, but has a way to go to dethrone Geb.
1,500 meters 3:33.73
Mile 3:52.39
3,000 meters 7:25.09
Two miles 8:01.08
5,000 meters 12:39.36 WR
10,000 meters 26:22.75 WR
10 km (road) 27:02
15 km (road) 41:38
Ten miles(road) 44:24
20,000 meters 56:26.0
20 km (road)* 55:48
Half marathon 58:55 WR
Marathon WR 2:03:59 WR