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

i agree but kenenisa will eventually show his speed in the upcoming seasons. i wonder how good he will be in the 10000m and how good rui silva will be in the 5000m should they experiment in those events more often in 2003 and 2004?

frodo

I dont think it would be a very fast time.

Hey 5k going to 10k is not easy you know, I would consider you are a 3k-4k or 6k-7k runner if you were a 5k runner, you understand what I mean?

So it does not mean if you can run 14:00 5k that you can rock on a 29:00 10k, NO WAY.

-^*karangasem*^-

yes i agree but we aren't talking about a recreational or collegiate athele here, kenenisa has showed that the 10000m is not going to be difficult for him. the victories at the 2002 championships showed he has extraordinary endurance and rui silva has shown he has just as much endurance as speed several 7:40 3000m indoors. kenenisa best event will be the 10000m and the one he wins the most medals in.

believe me he needs at least 6-8 years to go before even breaking 27:00.

just look at komen, what happened to him now.

i always hesitant at the consistency of new african runners.

most of them got burned out in the middle of the road.

where is the former WJR holder ngeny?

sevatonic

the african nation you show examples of are kenya. the ethopians have one of the most supportive and involved organizations in africa. it is a very safe bet that kenenisa will be around for at least two olympics and i am sure that he could approach and break the 27 minute barrier in 2003 or 2004 at the latest. did you read the opening post of this thread and how he dispatches everyone he faces this year?

frodo

Please prove it on the track, because you can't really judge how real the competition in XC or road races. You just have no idea how these races are used as build-up races one can argue.

Kenenisa will see a tough challenge in the World Champs and the Olympics, WE WILL SEE AND HE WILL PROVE.

I have a big assumption that the field will prove that they are not some yesterday's children, just to be beaten by a 19yr-old kid in the World's and in the Games.

WE WILL SEE AND THEY WILL PROVE.

Fair enough isn't it?

-^*karangasem*^-

This thread must go on until Ken annhilates WRs!!!!

After being impressed by Kenenisa's 7:30-3000m WJR I have been keeping tabs on all his races for the last 3 years

and I don't think the world have any idea how good he will be in this year and especially 3-5 years! Not just guessing but going on ALL his past performances and the ease of the performances (Track and X-Country), it is safe to deduct that he can run:

In 2003 if occassion arises

7:24-3000m

12:48-5000m

26:55-10000m

and much slightly faster in the 3000m & 5000m and alot faster in the 10000m by the end of his career!

Its going to be interesting to see how Alan Culpepper, Meb Keflezighi, S. Lebed, P. Ivuti, and SAMMY KIPKETER try and contain and defeat Kenenisa at the World X-Country!

Kenenisa ain't Ian Thorpe.

Running is not swimming.

Sammy Kipketer. Great example. I think we all saw what he did ON THE TRACK last year, running 26:40+. And he is a youngling that is getting pummeled by Bekele in XC. 6-8 years, my @ss. Maybe if he was American/English, but not AFRICAN. Give them 6-8 WEEKS... Bekele will do great things if managed properly. My only problem lies with Jos Hermens who says, after Geb ran that 27:02 on the roads, that it is too early in Kennenisa's career to run 10K road races, yet he runs about 3-4 10K+ XC races, which I feel are much more taxing on the body than a flat road race...

12:48 in the near future.

Alberto

Running several x-countries on a grassy surfaces is far less taxing on the body than running a road race. The type of shoes an individual wear can decrease some of the shock/pounding of running on the roads; however, its a known fact that grass CAN be the best surface to train or race on.

I think Kenenisa and Geb coach/agent want those two to avoid each other as long as posssible for psychological reason more than anything else! After Geb's INCREDIBLE solo 2-mile record (8:04 passing 3000m in 7:32.81i) today I would count on Kenenisa running away with the 3000/5000m races on the GP circuit this year!

The kenyans are better suited to handle Kenenisa this year with John C. Korir, Paul Koech, Abraham Cherono, Patrick Ivuti, Richard Limo, and Sammy Kipketer. The ethopian will really have his hands full come time for the Long Course X-Country Championships.

I agree Kenyan Long X-Country team is very strong and it will take a Kenya team effort to beat Kenenisa in X-Country and even then that may not be enough!

I like modesty in athletes; however, Kenenisa is taking it to another level. In a recent interview posted on www.iaaf.org Kenenisa goes as for as to say that two juniors (who Lebed beat and Kenenisa beat Lebed by over a 1 min 14 secs this year) could provide a challenge for him at Ethopian X-Country Trials and he says he just want to gain the minimum standard during the European circuit so he can participate (not medal or win) at the Worlds! Its no secret I think highly of Kenenisa ability but is this too DARN modest, what is your opinion(s)?

About Kenenisa possibly not running at this year Worlds X-Country I am not surprised if he doesn't and I personally don't think he is ill or injury by any means! I also don't think its his choice about disclosing his allegded food poisoning.

Vipam

Some News to Everyone from

www.iaaf.org

If Bekele passes a fitness inspection before the World X-Country he will be allowed to represent Ethopia. Any wagers on Bekele going, him winning one race, or running and winning the long and short course?

SusieQT

what's wrong with being too modest? people complaining when peeps are too arrogant and then when peeps are too modest? cant make anyone happy

Hey X-Country Fans

(in reference to Kenenisa sudden illness)

We never even contemplated the Ethopians are possibly trying to outsmart the Kenyans and I wouldn't be surprised if Bekele ran away with both titles easily. The Ethopians know that the Kenyans are planning their assault directed at Kenenisa and wouldn't it be feasible to lay a plan of their own. A possibility is give off the impression that Kenenisa is vulnerable due to his recent ?illness? and unleash a healthy Kenenisa on a somewhat unsuspecting field!!

Vipam