Komen's 3000 not as good as everyone thinks

Komen was a great 1500 runner and an awesome 5000 runner, but he was truly suited for the 3000 more so than any other distance. Nobody was better than him at that distance.

I wish someone had his split for the last 3000 of the 5000 at the 97 world champs.

7.34.35

That 10k record is just stupid.

The 5k record was 12:58 from 87 to 94. The time it was 13:08 was Rono's record in '78.

The 10k record progression is just impossible. Aruro Barrios ran 27:08 in '89, Chelimo ran 27:07 in '93, Ondieki ran 26:58 in '93, Sigei ran 26:52 in '94, Geb humped that down to 26:43 in '95, Hissou spat on that a little further to 26:38 in '96, Geb slapped it ball back in his corner in '7 with a 26:31, Tergat ran 26:27 in '97, Geb said "It's MINE!" with the 26:22 in '98, then the other Ethiopian KenBek ran away with it in '04 and '05.

Just sick.

So, 50 seconds was dropped in 12 years.

Runningart2004 wrote:

That 10k record is just stupid.

The 5k record was 12:58 from 87 to 94. The time it was 13:08 was Rono's record in '78.

The 10k record progression is just impossible. Aruro Barrios ran 27:08 in '89, Chelimo ran 27:07 in '93, Ondieki ran 26:58 in '93, Sigei ran 26:52 in '94, Geb humped that down to 26:43 in '95, Hissou spat on that a little further to 26:38 in '96, Geb slapped it ball back in his corner in '7 with a 26:31, Tergat ran 26:27 in '97, Geb said "It's MINE!" with the 26:22 in '98, then the other Ethiopian KenBek ran away with it in '04 and '05.

Just sick.

So, 50 seconds was dropped in 12 years.

Of course there will always be suspicions, especially in this day and age, sigh, but I feel the "attitude" towards the 10000m changed. The way the 10000m was raced / attacked changed. The 5000/10000 lagged behind the middle distance development for a while.

Jesus H, second half sometimes in sub 13 now, which Aouita claimed as the 5k WR!

A guy posted once that the track Komen ran his 7:20 on was very rough. HE is still the only guy to break 8 min for 2 miles; done twice; which should have been pumped way more. That should have been on the cover of sports illustrated as the first sub 4 min mile was back in '54.

[quote]mobile9 wrote:

I think that the tables are off. Most anyone with a serious athletics background agrees that Komen's

NO,ANYONE WITH A SERIOUS ATHLETICS BACKGROUND KNOWS THESE TIMES ARE RUN BY CHEATERS LOADED UP ON EPO.

why is it impossible? oh wise one, tell me how you know what the exact limits of human speed and endurance are? then let's take a time machine back to 1950 so you can say a sub4:00 mile is impossible too.

rd2 wrote:

why is it impossible? oh wise one, tell me how you know what the exact limits of human speed and endurance are? then let's take a time machine back to 1950 so you can say a sub4:00 mile is impossible too.

You mean the limits of pharmodynamics?

First of all, I think K. Bekele should just settle this right now and break the record.

A 13:08 5000 is way better than a 3:40 1500.

So holding it for double the distance may imply that 26:17 is better than 7:20.

Of course there is more to the analysis but this makes a point.

ectoplasm wrote:

or maybe people's perceptions are skewed because it is rarely run and when it is, no one is really going after the record, so it slowly has gotten this aura of invincibility.

Theres a reason nobody goes afer this particular record...that reason is because its a 7:20!

Shaheen could get it. Bekele - very unclear at this point, it would be close. In fact, he'd have to break Geb's NR first.

I am getting sick from reading this tread, its just sick thats all, i will go to the doctor

I agree about Bekele. Right now, its pure speculation that he could even threaten Komen's mark. He hasn't broken 7:30 in a 3K race. Now I realize that having gone through 3k in 7:32 in a 5k race, he could go clearly go mid 7:20s. However, the fact that he doesn't even try to go after the 3k record when he races seems to insinuate that he doesn't think he has a good chance to do it. Geb made at least a half dozen attempts on the record during '97-'98.

rockville management wrote:

Shaheen could get it. Bekele - very unclear at this point, it would be close. In fact, he'd have to break Geb's NR first.

Since no one usually races that event when they are truly at their peak, I'd like to look at their up and down events 1500-5k.

Komen was a 3:46 Miler and a 12:39 5k guy. Who else has that kind of range?

Geb was very quick. 1:45ish, 3:31, and 12:39. My next best to have gotten the record.

El G 1:4?, 3:26, 12:48? Quicker, but was he as strong?

KB 3:3?, 12:37. Stronger, but does he have the speed?

Help me out here. These are just of my poor memory.

Who has the best range?

GEB truly has the best range of them all...

3:31 indoors 1500m

7:25 3000m

12:39 5000m

26:22 10 000m

58:55 half marathon world record

2:06'20 marathon..

Now, we talk about a runner that dominated and kepp up dominating every distances!

Wait for The Emperor to run a WR in Berlin!

Mateo, i totally agree. truly astonishing range!

However, i do not see how the 10k and up relate to the 3k record.

In addition, El G shoulda/coulda/woulda had a faster 5k time then what he had. who knows what he could have run. i think if he could have gone <12:44 then he had the best chance to match the 7:20. who knows

Shaheen is prob the best current runner to go after the record. 3:47 i think and 12:48? in his non-main events.

i dont know if its the best record but i belive that he would have been the world record holder no matter who went after it. same with El G in the 1500 and KB in the 5k & 10k.

All are incredible athletes in their own rights and this comparing of each other is what makes track so great!

YES!!! THATS WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT.

I LOVE TRACK

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

RUN FASTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

rockville management wrote:

no one is bashing Geb, it's just different ranges you are talking about. Komen ran 3:29 and 3:46 and almost outkicked ElG in that 3:46. He has got middle distance range. Geb has long distance range, but that doesn't mean he is also going to have wheels to go with his marathon PR. Furthermore, this topic is not about who has the greatest range but how good the 7:20 is. Geb took several legitimate stabs at it - running 7:25 and 7:26 a few times. So it is fairly safe to see that his PR is a very good indication of how good he would ever get. I personally don't think he would crack 7:24 in the perfect race. His range only goes so far.

Not to mention Komen ran 7:24 INDOORS. Which put in an all-time list for both outdoor and indoor times it would be #3 fastest behind Komen's 7:20 and El G's 7:23.

Again, so are ignoring the 800 wr because it's mid distance and not distance? If so, then I understand. If we can include it, then i still think that the 800 is more impressive than the 3k. Think about it- who has come close to breaking it in the past few years? Who out there currently can possibly do it? I don't see anybody. I don't see anybody even running 1:42 low.

Meanwhile, in the 3k, there are at least a few who could possibly challenge it. Kenny B for one, obviously. I'm sure that soon enough there will be a Kenyan 1500/5k guy running 3:30 and 12:50 who could possibly challenge it. I really do think the 800 is on par with or above the 3k record.