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

I do not know what Ethiopian Atheletics fedration is going to do in mobassa next year as Kenenisa already anounce retirment from XC and the like of tirunesh and meselech can face injury or illenes. our stupid, illitrate trainer tolosa and dube jelo makes ethiopian athelets worssen.

Mesfin

You say he will not return and I think the record breaking 6th long course title, beating Kenyans on their soil, and the Ethiopian Federation will be enough to have Kenenisa Bekele tow the line in 2007! The year after that will be whatever he wants.

I have to disagree with you Vipam. Why would the Ethiopian Federation stop after that? They've been "controlling" Bekele (and others) for so long, I don't think they'll want to stop. Just suppose by some "miracle" a Kenyan can beat Bekele in 2007; don't you think the Federation would look to 2008 as a "revenge" year and "ask" (=TELL) Bekele to run? After all, he'll only be 25 then, probably at his peak. Then maybe in 2009 it's be something else... there's ALWAYS something else. Someone needs to stand up to the Federation, as Kiplagat did to Kenya. I really felt sorry for Dibaba when I saw her stop during the short course race; she clearly didn't want to be out there. Was she forced to compete in the that race? This pattern of abuse will continue until somebody with enough cajones stands up for what THEY want, and not what the Federation wants.

runmad

I agree with you; however, I really feel Kenenisa Bekele wants to run next year and is getting the Federation in a position to compromise. The below mock conversation is just my opinion about the situation:

K.B.: I don't want to run X-Country anymore, I'm nothing else to accomplish

Federation: we need you in X-Country as our leader and defending Champion, you can break Paul Tergat record of FIVE (5) straight long course victories in Kenya, WE NEED you as our leader

K.B.: We have another runner capable of stepping up Sileshi Sihine...., Okay I will run in Kenya and win in 2007, then I want to focus solely on track.

The star that Kenenisa is he can stand up to them or force them into a compromise. I feel he is positioning them for a compromise. The federation may want him to continue after 2007; however, track titles and records are more important to Bekele than another X-Country title. The 3000m WR is very important as no one has really threatened it not even Hicham El Guerrouj or Haile Gebrsellasie. He MAY succumb to the Federation in 2007 but anything after that will be based on what Kenenisa wants and not the Federation.

for the last 5 yr you waited and nothing happened and do not expect next time diffrent thing.

Silishi will be in mobasa and gives lesson to Kenyan

Mesfin

what do you mean? I don't think anyone can beat a healthy and fit Kenenisa Bekele in X-Country. I do think Augustine Choge and Abraham Chebii have the potential to give him a scare but they aren't ready mentally. Kenenisa Bekele has proven he is the best X-Country runner ever, I don't think many past multi Champions could pull off the double (short & long course if it was availabe to them) once-not to mention 5 times.

Kenenisa is in my book the best in distance running and I think he can take down the 5000m WR at least 5 seconds and 10000m WR down 10-12 seconds before his career is finish. There are few athletes with the potential to challenge him but only a couple have the talent AND mental fortitude (san Hicham El Guerrouj and Bernard Lagat) to take him down on a track 5000m (without him committing serious tactical errors). The 10000m is his to lose as long as he is healthy!

"Bekele is lying and Ethiopians are known for such tricks. They have in the past talked of injuries but which were not there. I'm warning Kenyans to be careful."

Saif Shaheen

Like I posted earlier... where do you draw the line between "lying" and "mind games?"

It will be interesting to see if Saif Shaheen and Bernard Lagat can push Kenenisa in the 3000m and 5000m this year. Bernard Lagat already stated he will run both events alittle during the Golden League circuit and Saif Shaheen wants to improve this year on the 12:48.81 (six fastest performer ever).

http://allafrica.com/stories/200604060886.html

I sometimes wonder what is only stoping someone from running 10-12 seconds faster in the 10k if someone can pass the mental barrier shouldnt they be able to run 20 seconds or more but i guess it the physiological side that puts it to a halt. I would think if they can just make all there miles faster from lets say 5:30 for there slowest to 5flat couldnt they have an increase.

kenya has the depth, and ethiopia has the top athletes, this is now, the history of the sport is always changing, sweden was the best at one time, now there distance runners are non existent, same with new zealand, lydiard believed the finnish runners were by far the most talented, but to lazy to really dominate, with the kenyans you have a large group of runners almost as talented as the finnish runners, but with a far greater work ethic than finland, thus the current results.

ethiopians are about as talented as the kenyans, but only a handful are able to get top notch training, thus the lack of depth.

Are we going to see in the next world champ. kenyan clean sweep for 5000mr as the youngsters songok, eliude choge, augustine choge considering kenenisa not competing double

Mesfin wrote:

Are we going to see in the next world champ. kenyan clean sweep for 5000mr as the youngsters songok, eliude choge, augustine choge considering kenenisa not competing double

Those are a pretty talented threesome! I have a feeling we will see some great 5000s this year. Choge & Songok give the impression of coming along nicely.......Brother Connell seems to be bringing them up to a higher level. Maybe 2007 5000 will be very good for Kenya. Sihine is a real threat at 5000 but those other guys Gebremariam, Berhanu, Dinkessa are good runners but genuine 10k guys who shouldn't really threaten those kenyans at 5000/.

Don't count Kenenisa Bekele out of the 5000m/10000m double, especially if his plans on improving his 1500m/3000m are a success. The time table is also another verbal that would determine if Kenenisa doubles (preferably 5000m first w/ 2 day between heat & final and 10000m final only on last day). I would consider Sileshi Sihine a bigger threat for the Gold (san Kenenisa) than super talented Augustine Choge and Isaac Songok. In the Ethiopian contingent Sileshi's mental fortitude and determination is second only to Kenenisa Bekele-and currently the Kenyans can't match those two mentally. The tactics of 2005 5000m Championships would give the Kenyans a chance at the Gold. If Kenenisa doesn't run the 5000m its a fit Sileshi Sihine to win or lose, unless Bernard Lagat leaves the 1500m for the 5000m at the next World Outdoors.

Kenyan's proud of their depth in X-Country

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/04/08/1553993.htm

When Kenenisa Bekele tow the line at next years World X-Country Championship in Kenya, who do you think have the best chance of defeating the all-terrain Champion?

Kenenisa Bekele allowed a return to next years X-Country, if the fans of the world want him to compete (was there ever any doubt-especially if he is healthy and fit)!

http://www.runnersweb.com/running/rw_news_frameset.html?http://www.runnersweb.com/running/news/rw_news_20060406_RRW_Bekele.html

999...

1000!

Did I miss it???