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

Last year the Kenyans sent out a unknown to try and burn/tire Kenenisa in the Long Course; however, he couldn't get in front of Kenenisa and John Yuda (Tan) long enough to

perform his duties. This year Sammy Kipketer has been picked to challenge Kenenisa, but can Sammy even hope to keep up with Kenenisa after losing to him by over 20 seconds

two weeks ago! The kenyans are trying to devise a plan to

contain Kenenisa, is that possible??

Vipam

What if Hicham decides to run the short course, could he defeat Kenenisa? In my opinion, no Kenenisa form THIS year is untouchable in X-Country!

Events: 5000m,10000m

criteria: total # of WC gold, Olympics gold, world records

Years: 1995-2002

results: H.Gebreselassie 10, Kenya (all athletes) 6

Next seven years: K. Bekele vs. Kenya- ?????

I think Kenenisa will win his share of Gold; however, I don't see it lasting as long as Geb's reign (yet to end)!

In the next few years Kenya will unleash its new blood.

10 juniors 18 years or younger who have broken 13:59 for the 5000m. Sammy Kipketer and John Korir will step up in the 10000m. Stephen Cherono 3:35 1500m at 18, 7:58 steeple

at 19 & 13:11 in his only 5000m. The playing field will b

much tougher to dominate on the track in 2- 3 years (Maybe Kenenisa will, but it won't be EASY by any means).

Vipam

Correction:

10 juniors who are 18 years or younger who have broken 13:49 on the track and one who did it at age 15 (John Kariuki)!

Vipam, in reponse to your earlier post, Richard Limo was not Olympic Champion in 2000, he was World Champion in 2001.

MDR

Okay, thank you for the correction! Should the Ethopians

select Kenenisa to run the short course at the Worlds (he will only be able to run one at the Ethopian trials-both held on the same day)!?!

It's been 5 years since 26:22 and 12:39 were performed. It takes 59.5/59.6 per lap to run a 12:30 and it takes 60 perlap to run a 12:35/12:36. Hicham is the best bet, not Bekele in 5000m. Sorry but Bekele is not ready for eve 12:45 I think in 2003.

Sevatonic

I beg to differ, speed isn't neccessarily the key factor to running 12:30-12:35! Kenenisa may have not displayed his speed as of yet; however, his stamina is NOT to be questioned. Let's not forget that as a 17 year old her ran

7:30 (back to back 3:45-1500m). Hicham may have superior speed, but the speed is no good if your too far back to use

it. If Hicham and Kenenisa meet in the 5000m at the Worlds

healthy and not having run another event-KENENISA WINS EASILY!!! I take superior strengh over speed anyday!

Yes I remember that Hicham debut of 7:25 at 3000m, but Kenenisa will run much faster than that at the same age Hicham accomplished that feat. It is safe to say after the World indoors Hicham will run one 5000m and decide not to

run the 5k at the World Championships! As far as Kenenisa I think it is safe to estimate he will run no slower than

12:45 in 2003.

Vipam

As for 2003 worlds, my money is one El G, Bekele just doesn't have enough track experiance yet. Give him a year and the tables may turn,

However I do have a bit more repect for Bekele. I wish El G would just forget the rabbit for a few races, go out there and put his ass on the line, try to break the other runners from the gun, if it doesn't work, oh well, he showed he has guts. This is something Bekele has already done many times in his short carear, he doesn't count on someone else to carry the race, not even another competitor let alone a rabbit. He opens up the race midway through, creates a gap to large to close & hammers home, leaving the kenyans wondering what they did wrong,

I think his presence on the circuit, his fearlessness, will make for some exiting races in the years to come.

The world may not understand the INCREDIBLE STAMINA Kenenisa Bekele has displayed and will display in 2003 Track Season. AS a teenager he easily and handily disposed of the world BEST middle and long distance runners at last year LONG and SHORT X-Country Championships. This year he

toyed and crushed all opposition he faced. The questions he would have answered last year (due to injury) will be answered this year. For all his MINDBOGGLING speed in the 1500m, Mile, 2000m, and 3000m Hicham will definelty find out what it is like to run against the wind (Kenenisa).

The barriers we have in the 3000m and 5000m shall be threaten by the young Ethopian this outdoor track season.

7:24 and 12:49 will be commonplace for him if he chooses

to run that fast and win! I may be wrong but I seriously

doubt it.

Vipam

NOTE: People think Kenenisa is all strength; however, to run 3000m in 7:30 (back to back 3:45 1500m) at age 17 requires alot of speed too!

yeah--it will be a new and unexciting era for running--just watch and see.

So Vipam, I want to know if you think Bekele can be any good. Stop beating around the bush and just say what you really think.....

Um, uh, um, huh. Okay, here it goes I don't think he will be good! In fact I simply think he's going to be better then MOST and probably eventually better than the best.

Yocum I hope that cleared up any confusion you might have had!!! Now that I have speculated enough on what he might do in the future, I will use this thread only to update and post results relating to Kenenisa.

Vipam

ALMOST Two weeks before the Kenyan coach for the Kenyan X-Country team annouced his plans I listed it first. On the AllAfrica.com you can read a short piece about how

the Kenyans fear Kenenisa and who they picked to be his main challenger!

NOW BEFORE THEY REVEAL ANYMORE this is how they will try to beat Kenenisa: They will send out one of their best most likely Ivuti who will have trouble staying in front of KENENISA, John Yuda, Sammy Kipketer, and Sergey Lebed. Kenenisa will allow only one surge by his competitors before growing restless and running clear to an easy victory!

Vipam

There will be some great surprises in this year World X-Country; however, the men's long course winner will not have any surprises.

The Kenyans have devised a plan for Kenenisa and it involves

sending out two from the start at a FAST past, throwing in surges from the front, and hoping Ivuti or Kipketer can run past a hopefully tired Kenenisa! The only problem will be what if he isn't tired like last year?

Vipam, since you keep up with Kenenisa more than anyone on this site, "is it true that Kenenisa's agent is trying to get him into the same meet as Hicham 2003 5000m debut?" Why would he want to confront Hicham so early in the season and risk a possible lost?

The plans that are definite for Kenenisa is to win the long course this year and hope that Ethopia allow him to run the short course as well (he will only contest the long, since they are both on the same day at the Ethopian trials). Kenenisa has not devulge any plans for outdoors or indoors.

I seriously doubt that he will face Hicham at Quatar Gp (Hicham 5000m serious debut), as with Hicham most likely want a time trial and not competition (with his leverage Hicham can and should influence the meet director to exclude any serious challengers from that race)!

Vipam

The new Ethiopian Federation Technical Director, Endalk, and long-time national coach, Dr. Wolde-Meskel Kostre, both told us that even though the long and short cross-country trials are on the same day, they can still place Kenenisa on the 4k squad without him running that trial. Though that hasn't yet been decided.

The new Ethiopian Federation Technical Director, Endalk, and long-time national coach, Dr. Wolde-Meskel Kostre, both told us that even though the long and short cross-country trials are on the same day, they can still place Kenenisa on the 4k squad without him running that trial. Though that hasn't yet been decided.

El G doesn't have the experience either. He hasn't ever run a world class 5k. And all those 1500s will count for something but not as much as Bekele's cross experience, he just knows how to race, thats what cross is. El G runs a great deal of rabbited races and such, although he wins them all, he is unaccustomed to surges, or running in a pack. Morceli himself said after his 5k, a win though, that it was "a whole different world." I think that world is more like 4k cross or 12k, than a 1500. Plus lots of guys have tried to come up from the 1500 figuring they could smoke those slug footed 5k guys. Michel Jazy was a miler before he ran the 5k, he got kicked out of the medals in 64. Viren held off all those milers in 76. And we can't forget Ali Saidi-Sief, who had 3:30 speed and got cooked in the olympics, then ran 3:29 the next year and got outkicked again, before getting busted.

If Bekele has the speed like Vipam says he does, he'll give Hicham a hell of a fight. I'll take a strong distance guy (Geb, Bekele?) with speed over a middle distance guy (even El G) in a distance race anytime.