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

The Kenyans say they will not force the pace as they have prepared very well with speedwork. The way Augustine Choge outkicked Craig Mottram I agree but does young Choge have enough speed to outkick Kenenisa Bekele?

The Kenyan men 4km team is the strongest out of all their formiable x-country team this year, what strategy would you employ to garner the best chances at dethroning Kenenisa in either the short or long course?

Would you send your runners out blazing in the 4km and hope to fatigue Kenenisa (somewhat) for the long course, if you was the Kenyan coach what would your tactics would you use?

To tell you the truth, unless miracle happened it is difficult to beat kenenisa in the short course. for sure it will be one of the closest finishing ever in the history of CX.

BY THE WAY I DO NOT EXPECT AUGUSTINE CHOGE, RATHER SONGOK IS THE MAN TO WATCH

selected stetment from nation newspaper

"at the Commonwealth Games trials, he was unmatched, winning his race by far. Then, in Melbourne, he killed the spirit of 83,000 Australians by beating their greatest hope, Craig Mottram, in the 5,000m final. They are planing for a rematch on grass come Saturday, which only adds spice in the race in which Ethiopians will field a full strength team.

On Saturday, Choge will be banked upon to halt the runaway Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele in the 4km, a task he preferred not to talk about.

Limo, the 5,000m world champion, won a silver in Melbourne and is looking for his second world short course title, which he and his colleagues must wrestle away from Bekele.

this time nervious coach warning

The Kenyan team to the World Cross Country Championships will lose if athletes concentrate only on beating their Ethiopian rivals, team captain John Kibowen has warned.

Kibowen on Tuesday warned his teammates against "putting too much concentration" in only beating Kenenisa Bekele, when there are many other equally strong rivals with the potential of causing upsets.

Kibowen said it would be a big mistake if Kenya was to work out most of its tactics in only beating the multiple world cross country champion. The Kenyans left for Fukuoka, Japan, on Tuesday. The event will take place on Saturday and Sunday.

"There are other equally good runners who will be lining up in Fukuoka and it will be suicidal for us if we only set our eyes on beating Bekele alone," Kibowen said.

Kibowen said other than the Ethiopians, former Kenyan citizens, but who have switched loyalty to the Gulf States, would also pose strong challenge to the Kenyans.

Top on the list is Saif Saeed Shaheen (formerly Stephen Cherono), who is now running for Qatar. There are others now running for Bahrain, who are likely to put up a tough challenge.

Bekele will be out to prove he is still the world's best when he squares it out with Augustine Choge and Benjamin Limo in the 4km race. The Ethiopian will also line up in the 12km race to defend the title he has won since 2002 in Dublin, Ireland.

But Kibowen, who is a former two-time world cross-country short course champion said the team was in good shape to challenge for medals in Fukuoka.

"The Commonwealth team did us proud and we intend to take a leaf from their Melbourne achievement to spur us on in Fukuoka," Kibowen said.

Several athletes who won at the Commonwealth Games will also be aiming for a repeat performance in Japan.

They include gold medalists Choge and Isabella Ochichi, and bronze medallist Benjamin Limo.

Junior runner, Joseph Ebuya, who was also in Melbourne, will be leading the 8 km junior race squad. The full squad has: Senior men 12km -Hosea Macharinyang, Simon Kiprop, Martin Mathathi, Simon Arusei, John Kibowen , Mike Kigen.

Senior 4km men: Isaac Songok, Augustine Choge, Yusuf Biwott, Edwin Soi, Brimin Kipruto, Benjamin Limo.

Junior men 8km- Mangata Ndiwa, Joseph Ebuya, Muinde Matheka, Ronald Komol, Thomas Loriongosiwa, Daniel Gitau.

for the first time kenenisa said that there are lots of strong athletes from all corner of countries for the short course and he knew it stiff challenge is expected.

Watch out ethiopian women, clean sweep. no body will stop them

"There are a lot of people who would like to snatch the title from me," said Bekele. "I think the short race is tougher than the long one because it requires speed and there are a lot of strong athletes, but I'm confident I can win."

LOL

Vipam,

Since you started this thread, many years ago... you have been trying to cut down the hero that you "built" i.e. correctly identified far sooner than any one else.

In doing so you have failed miserably to make an accurate insight as to whether choge is the next kenenisa. I think it is obvious that the young guy was not up to it.. even loosing to old man limo... he finished third in his race.

Look out for Jaylen today... Maybe you can start a thread on him ... if he comes big.

I still think that tariku will run better than choge... in the end.

Kenyans have a short candle.. as we say in ethiopia.. they burn out quick.

Ethio Boy

Its exactly the opposite of what you say, I still think Kenenisa Bekele is the man to beat on any surface he competes. I still feel that he will win ALMOST every race he enters including 3000m, 5000m, 10000m and with more training & experience the 1500m.

When I mention Augustine Choge I'm not saying he WILL beat Kenenisa Bekele or anyone for certain. The point I make about Augustine is that he has the talent to compete and even beat Kenenisa sometimes; however, as I stated in the past about him-it take more than just his talent. Kenenisa is extremely strong mentally; whereas, Augustine doesn't have the same consistent intensity that Kenenisa did at the same age. In my opinion Augustine comes closest to matching Kenenisa's ability than any other athlete but he is lacking something and until then Augustine will display brillant races and several ones like yesterday short course. Augustine has the talent but Kenenisa has the talent and even greater mental toughness.

Kent,Just doing my little part to help the cause. And I think KB is really, really fast!

kent wrote:

dammit, won't this thread EVER get to 1000 ?!?!??!

I disagree with you Ethio Boy, Tariku may run longer than Augustine but I doubt he will be better. Last year I read several articles stating Tariku surpassed Kenenisa's performance at the same age. Tariku may have run faster than his brother at 5000m but Kenenisa pb at Tariku age implies he could have run much faster. Augustine is already significantly better than Tariku.

Augustine Choge (21 Jan 1987)

1500m.....3:33.99...9th fastest JUNIOR ever

3000m.....7:28.78...WJR

5000m....12:53.66...2nd fastest JUNIOR ever

2005 World Junior X-Country Champion

2004 World Junior 5000m Outdoor Champion

2005 World Ranked #8

Tariku Bekele (21 Jan 1987)

1500m.....n/a

3000m.....7:36.63...9th fastest JUNIOR ever

5000m....12:59.03...10th fastest JUNIOR ever

no international titles (not even junior)

2005 World Rank 5000m #9

Kenenisa ran 7:30.67 (former WJR) and 13:33.33 around the same age but he could have run MUCH faster in the 5000m and neither Tariku or Augustine appear to have Kenenisa's drive, MENTAL TOUGHNESS, or killer kick.

,,,,,

Augustine leds head to head against Tariku matchup 8 to 3

BOTH are extremely talented but Augustine is already way ahead of Tariku and if Augustine ever develops his tactic savy and mental toughness (like Kenenisa Bekele) to match his talent-he'll garner alot more medals than Tariku Bekele.

Hey! Weren't there two extra pages to this link? What happened?

Vipam,

once agian kenyan sholud work hard to get individual title. If what kenenisa said is true than kenyan will be back and ssilishi will be the only treat for Kenayn.

i am afraid ethiopian dominace will shrink unless somthing has done.

look out Eritrean

Kenya will have to formulate a strategy and hope to have an answer for Kenenisa Bekele as I feel he will definitely be back in 2007 for his 6th title. Its not a ploy that Kenenisa want to quit X-Country running as he has accomplished everything he can in X-Country but the federation wants guaranteed titles. The Federation ane K. Bekele may compromise and settle for 1 or 2 more individual titles and then allow Kenenisa Bekele to retire from X-Country.

Why do you feel so strongly that Bekele will be back in 2007? He has said in numerous articles that this was it. Yes, he has said one thing and did another in the past -- do you feel this is just one more? And what's the difference between "mind games" and "lying?"

The Ethiopian Federation concern lies mostly with Olympic and World titles; however, Kenenisa is concerned becoming the greatest runner ever. The young Ethiopian would like to start focusing on speed during the part of the year when he normally is training for X-Country-in order to attack Daniel Komen's 3000m WR. In the end I think the Federation will convince Kenenisa Bekele that breaking the tie he holds with Paul Tergat of FIVE straight X-Country long course Championships is one step towards securing the title as "Greatest Distance Runner Ever". The fact that he have a chance to defeat the Kenyans on their home turf would solidify that they can only want til he's done with X-Country to mount a challenge for individual Champion. If he leaves before the 2007 Kenya Championships many will wonder if he could handle the altitude and the Kenyans on their home turf.

Many think of course but what better way then to actually do it, in my opinion that and the Federation will ensure Kenenisa Bekele return to X-Country in 2007.

if by any chance he return( he will not return i know) , how on earth Kenyan beat him?

imagine, no 4km for 2007 XC with fresh leg it is impossilbe or shall i say do not even think about it.

As you said, Kenyan are luky b/c Kenenisa willnot be there.

Keyan may take lots of medal as ethiopian did in brussels

i would love to see kenny beating the kenians in their country, but i am afraid that it will not happen. i don`t think kenny will compete again. this means that the time of the most underrated distance runner currently (sleshi sihine) is coming. i think he is in the position to dominate the coming 2-3 years. when it comes to men`s team title i love to see a miracle by the eritrean team.