Kenenisa Bekele: how soon will he totally annihilate the distance WR's?

Hengelo lines up Gebrselassie, Bekele and Mutola

Thursday 29 April 2004

The Thales FBK-Games in Hengelo on Monday 31 May 2004, the traditional first stop of the IAAF Grand Prix in Europe each year, has as usual lined up the cream of Ethiopian men?s distance running. For good measure the organisers have also secured arguably the greatest ever women?s 800m runner, Mozambique?s Maria Mutola.

Gebrselassie to run 10,000m on 'home track'

?Mister Hengelo? Haile Gebrselassie will return to Hengelo?s Fanny Blankers-Koen Stadium where he set the current World 10,000m record of 26:22.75 in 1998, to run the 25 lap distance once more, as he prepares to bid for a unique third Olympic 10,000m crown later this summer in Athens.

The 1998 mark is one of three World records he has set at his 'home' track, the 5000m (12:56.96) in 1994 and 10,000m (26:43.53) in 1995 being the other two.

Gebrselassie who turned 31 years of age on 18 April, amazingly ran three sub-27 minute times for 10,000m in 2003 (2nd, 26:54.58 Hengelo, 1 Jun; 2nd 26:50.77 World Champs Paris, 24 Aug; 1st , 26:29.22 Brussels, 5 Sep). Though he was defeated twice by Kenenisa Bekele, in Hengelo and at the World Championships, anyone prepared to right off the former four-time World champion?s Olympic ambitions would be living on very dangerous ground.

Bekele to attack the 5000m

Bekele who so famously made his debut at 10,000m in Hengelo last year, out-sprinting Gebrselassie in the process, will run the 5000m this year, a distance at which his compatriot also holds the World record, thanks to his 12:39.36 clocking in Helsinki?s Olympic stadium on 13 June 1998.

The 5000m takes place before the 10,000m on the programme in Hengelo, and it will be interesting to study the competitive reaction of Gebrselassie should the 21 year-old World 10,000m champion who set the World Indoor 5000m record this winter, come close to his mark.

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If Kenenisa stays healthy between now and Hengelo and with good weather and pacing I fully expect him to run at the very slowest 12:43.0 in Hengelo.

Vipam

If the weather and pacemakers cooperate at Hengelo, I see a 12;37.

jason

speaking of WR's, this has to be one of the biggest threads of all time???

Geb at 26:55 and Bekele at 12:45 if all goes well.

I thought the original Jason Rexing thread had like 20 pages on it or something....

There had been a lax of those marks because the chief orchestor of those times (Haile Geb) went to marathon training and then had to overcome an injury. In 2003 after being healthy Geb forced a couple races where sub 27 minute 10000m are becoming more routine than even in Paul Tergat vs. Haile Days. Haile also finished out the year with a sub 26:30 which shows he is still capable of breaking his world record, so what are you talking about Dash B?

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It is very possible before Kenenisa takes to the track at Hengelo in the later part of May to run a fast 5000m, he is contemplating running a shorter distance 1500m - 3000m. If my source is right he and Geb are calling the Hengelo runs fast runs when they will actually be record attempts. If they fail they would have another chance later in the summer.

Vipam

Does anyone have a serious idea (without talking about drugs) on what running tactic would be best in hopes of defeating Kenenisa at the upcoming Olympics?

Vipam and his sources: pure bs.

Hey, Vipam. Even with the drugs KB is allowed to take (just like Geb) he can't grab the 1500 record. It's out of their reach. Not KB's kind of race.

Pull these guys off the drugs for a year or two, and then let's see how they run. Won't crack 27:00 in the 10k. Maybe, maybe, they could dip under 13:00 in the 5k, but probably not.

THIS THREAD HAS REALLY TAKEN OFF!

Probably the same way you beat Hicham El Guerrouj in the 1500m. Hicham in the 1500m and Kenenisa in the 10000m as it stands today they would have to lose the race themselves or be injuried, because if they are healthy noone can touch them in their track specialites (Hicham-1500m and Kenenisa-10000m).

Vipam

05 May 2004

BEKELE SET FOR BRITISH DEBUT

African star Kenenisa Bekele will make his first outdoor UK track appearance by running at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Gateshead next month.

Bekele, who announced his arrival on the big stage with 10,000m gold at last year's World Championships, is looking forward to making his bow in the 3,000m on June 27.

"The British meets are so well respected on the athletics circuit given the history, the crowds and the traditionally strong fields that they attract," said the 21-year-old Ethiopian, who is already being touted as the natural successor to fellow countryman and track legend Haile Gebrselassie.

"Gateshead is such a well-known venue and the ideal place for me to make my first-ever outdoor track appearance in Britain."

Hengelo 5k, Ostrava 10k, Gateshead 3k, pretty cool, I wonder what else is on the line for this guy. The only race I know El G is going to yet it Athletissima 1500m, maybe he'll go to the Pre mile though. I'm not sure if Bekele can get the outdoor 3k record, i'm more hopeful for the 10k, and also for the 5k

Defar, Bekele and Tulu win at Ethiopian Championships - Report of final two days.

Saturday 8 May 2004

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - A victory in the women's 10,000m for Derartu Tulu, an easy 5000m win and Ethiopian 'soil' record for Kenenisa Bekele, and a triumph for Meseret Defar were the highlights of the final day at the 24th Ethiopian track and field Championships, today.

Please note - There are still no official times available from the championships).

Tulu, the two-time Olympic 10,000m champion give strong indications of her return to form by out-sprinting her cousin Ejiageyhou Dibaba, World Cross Country silver medallist, in the final 150m of today's 10,000m.

With the scorching sun and the wind playing their part in preventing a faster time at 2400m altitude, the runners chose to dictate a slower pace.

With five laps remaining only three runners - Tulu, E.Dibaba, and the Ethiopian 8km Cross Country bronze medallist Bezunesh Bekele remained in contention. The likes of former World 5000m Bronze medallist Ayelech Worku and World Cross Country Championships 4km silver medallist Teyiba Erkesso had by then dropped back. The diminutive B. Bekele kept up with her more illustrious compatriots, but as the duo upped the tempo and moved for the kill, she was also left behind with the bronze guaranteed.

It was E. Dibaba who tried a very early sprint, but Tulu kept up and closed the 10 metre gap that had opened up at the bell. For the next 250m the duo ran neck-to-neck, but with the finish in sight, it was the experience of Tulu that prevailed against the youthful exuberance of E. Dibaba. The 32 year-old taking the win,with Bezunesh Bekele making a name for herself coming in for bronze 10 seconds later.

"I am happy that I followed her [E. Dibaba] all the way," she said. "The win today will give me confidence for this summer, but I cannot say fully that I am back to my best. I know I have to work harder."

Tulu will now head to Athens next week for a 9km road race.

In his first race after winning a third World Cross Country double in Brussels March, Kenenisa Bekele made it look very easy by winning the men's 5000m race in a time of 13:34.03, smashing the Addis Ababa stadium - Ethiopian 'soil' record set by Sileshi Sihine in last year's championships.

The pre-race publicity had built the final into a two-horse race with Sihine expected to defend the title and record he won last year by beating Bekele. However, Sihine's withdrew from the race at the last minute citing exhaustion after his 10,000m win and record on Tuesday.

As expected, the race began slowly, but by the end of the fourth lap, the starting field of 20 runners had withered down to four with Bekele, Mulugeta Wondimu, Markos Genetti, and Abiyot Abate at the top.

Two laps later, however, the pack had furthered resized to just two runners with Bekele and Wondimu fighting it out neck-to-neck and opening a 30m gap with Genetti in third.

Wondimu, who finished fifth in the men's junior race at the World Cross in Brussels, gave Bekele a stiff competition as the duo came in at the bell.

But Bekele left the youngster trailing in his wake, and with 200m to go, Bekele's lead had increased to 50 metres and he comfortably ran to the line to take the title in 13:34.03, bettering Sihine's previous record by one-and-a-half seconds.

Genetti finished third and the crowd ruptured as Tariku Bekele, brother of Kenenisa and already the World Youth 3000m silver medallist, crossed the line in fourth, a very impressive result for a 16-year old given that Meba Tadesse (World junior cross country champion), Abiyote Abate (ninth in the world 5000m in Paris last summer), and Maeregu Zewde (Bronze medallist in the 4km in Brussels) finished behind him.

"I knew that he was going to push my like that because I had seen how he prepared," said the winner. "He (Wondimu) is promising runner and has a hope for the future."

The World 10,000m champion added that he was happy with his performance and was confident that he would have managed a better time if he had put in his full energy. "The weather prevented me from giving 100%. With this performance, I could have managed 12.50 in a lower altitude place."

Next stop Hengelo

Bekele who is currently the Overall IAAF World Rankings leader will next run in Hengelo on 31 May - IAAF Grand Prix - where he says that a world record attempt in the 5000m, a mark currently held by four-time World and two-time Olympic 10000m champion, Haile Gebreselassie is in mind.

"My manager Jos [Jos Hermens] and the organizers have arranged for me to try and break the World record in Hengelo," he says. "If the pacemakers and the weather are OK, I believe that I can try to achieve that."

The World 5000m Indoor record holder is also scheduled to run at the IAAF Grand Prix Meeting in Ostrava, Czech Republic as well as one other 5000m race before he joins his Ethiopian countrymen at a training camp on the outskirts of Addis Ababa in July in preparations for the Olympics.

Defar bounces back

In a day of high drama, World 3000m Indoor champion Meseret Defar beat Sintayehu Ejigu in an exciting sprint finish to take the women's 3000m title in a time of 9:16.76 with Mestawot Tufa coming in third place.

After withdrawing in the middle of the 5000m race on Tuesday due to stomach problems, Defar was looking for a return to winning ways. The 21-year old made her intentions public early on in the second lap taking the lead in a group that contained Ejigu, Tufa, Derebe Alemu, and Eyerusalem Kuma.

Kuma and Alemu could not keep up with the pace as the leading pack diminished to three with two laps remaining. At the bell, it was Tufa's turn to be victimized by the burning pace leaving front two to fight it out for the title.

As the duo approached the 200m mark, the lead interchanged between the two. When they came up to the home straight, Ejigu tried to sprint past Defar and opening a small gap of 5mm, but Defar quickly moved in front of her. As the crowd stood up from their seats, Defar proved to have that little bit of extra energy to cross the line just a second ahead of her rival with Tufa coming in third.

Defar admitted after the race that she was pushed all the way, but pointed out that she was not all that happy with her form today.

"It is good that I won, but I was not happy with my form today," she commented. "I believe that I could have run faster today. I was very weak this week after going down with diarrhea this week. I am feeling better after taking the treatment."

Burka surprises 1500m elite duo

But it was a disappointing championship for Ethiopia's other gold medallist at the 10th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Budapest, Hungary, as Kutre Dulecha suffered her second defeat of the championships, this time at 1500m.

The event had been built up into a tussle between Dulecha and 16-year old young sensation Meskerem Legesse, but it was the relatively unknown Gelete Burka, who stunned both runners by taking victory in 4:12.09.

Legesse could only manage third, while Dulecha had to be content with fourth. The silver medal on the day went to Mestawot Taddesse, winner of World Cross Country Championships bronze in Brussels, and a 800/1500 double a week two weeks ago at the Addis Ababa Municipal championships.

I'm surprised no one has annihilated this thread dedicated to a runner who is talented, but also no doubt one of the best responders to EPO or Repoxygen in all of E. Africa.

i'm surprised you haven't tripped over something and died yet.

Ah, you're just mad at the lad because he's a realist.

K. Bekele quote

"My manager Jos [Jos Hermens] and the organizers have arranged for me to try and break the World record in Hengelo," he says. "If the pacemakers and the weather are OK, I believe that I can try to achieve that."

Any predictions on what K. Bekele will run at Hengelo? I think he will run about 12:41.

I think if the weather and pacing are both extremely good that he will run 12:38.07-he will be trying to send out a message early! If the pacers don't do their job well, I think Kenenisa will still run 12:43.75.

Vipam

300th post

It will be hard to find pacesetters capable of running that fast for the distance he wants. I don't see K. Bekele breaking the record just yet and think he will run around 12:44-12:46!