Just for Fun: Top 3 picks for the Outdoor WORLDS Ch.

Well I'd say most of yours look good. So I'll just explain where I differ.

-Mens 10k, Yuda is good but I don't think he'll medal. Other guys like Mezgebu or little Geb could get that last medal, I'll go with Mezgebu, as he has done it in big races before, and has a good kick. If Bekele were to run, Geb would take him, Bekele will be great on the track but like Tergat cross is his best venue I think.

-Womens' 10k, putting Sun ahead of Tulu, don't agree, Tulu has a faster time, wins big races, and reputedly is training well. Plus she is the defending champ. The Ethiopians are masters at getting people on top of the podium. I'll go with the Edmonton medallists, assuming Adere doesn't run the 5k. No way in hell Deena drops Tulu or Adere, she is not at their level, her cross performance show this, those two can win those kind of races, Deena hasn't won against world class competition and doesn't run against them much for that matter, outside of championships.

-Women's 5k, I think Masai should be on there. I think she can still beat Kidane on the track, even though it was close in cross. I'll take Masai, Szabo, and Kidane in that order, Masai is still improving, Szabo isn't anymore. If Adere runs she takes my pick for the win.

-Mens 5k, gotta agree with you there man.

-Mens 800m, Krum won indoors but outdoors is different, I'll take Kipketer despite the indoor loss, I'll put Krum second and Bungei third. Borza won't run again.

-Women's 800m, Mutola for the win. Ceplak second, Graf third. The big dogs will run the show.

Mackenzie

I got the inside information on Tulu great training sessions this year and it would seem to me that she MAY lean toward the marathon (if not she would be my silver pick for the 10000m). Gete Wami is also reported in great shape and focusing primarily on the Worlds 10000m and a fall marathon.

Disagree with your assestment about Deena (she lost to a 14:43 5000m lady, who is in better shape this year-Werknesh

Kidane). Deena also have a faster pr than Berhane Adere and although both will pr this year, I think Deena will make the bigger improvement in the 10000m of the two.

Thus women's 10000m

1. Gete Wami

2. Derartu Tulu

3. Paula Radcliffe

Krummenacker will also make a big improvement and possibly shatter the American Record of 1:42.60, if Kipketer beats him he will have to be at his best-which he hasn't been for 1 1/2 years.

Men's 10000m

You maybe right about Yuda, but I wouldn't totally count him out for the bronze. Geb maybe able to handle Kenenisa this year, but 2004 he won't be able to contain the youngster to outkick him.

Looks like we agree for the majority of our early predictions.

Vipam

If you SAY three, then stick to three.

M100: Lewis, Johnson, Greene

M200: Johnson, Lewis, Greene

M400: Johnson, Black, Juantorena

M800: Juantorena, Kipketer, Wottle

M1500: Coe, El G, Morceli

M5000: Baumann, Kipketer, Cacho

M10000: Mills, Geb, Clarke

M110HH: TallGuy1, TallGuy2, TallGuy3

M400IH: Matete, Sosa, Bonds

MSteeple: malmo, Kiptanui, Farmer-Patrick

MLJ: Lewis 84, Lewis 88, Lewis 96

MTJ: Conley, Edwards, Sotomayor

MHJ: TallerGuy1, TallerGuy2, Stones

MSP: Hunter, Toth, Lewis

MHT: Thor, Magnus, Lars

MDT: Hans, Frans, Glans

MJT: Howard, Fine, Howard

MPV: Bubka, LoJo, Wammerdam

W100: Griffith-Joyner, Ashford&Simpson, Mrs. Jones

W200: Same

W400: Same

W800: Same

W1500: Slaney, Jacobs, Plumer

W5000: Slaney, Wang, Budd

W10000: Wang, Cher, Radcliffe

W100HH: Devers, Adams, Ashford

W400IH: Glover, Batten, Farmer-Patrick

WSteeple: Slaney, Jacobs, Radcliffe

WLJ: Lewis, May, Dreschler

WTJ: Hudson, Lewis, Kersee

WHJ: Bergqvist, Acuff, Another Tall and Hot Dame

WSP: FatChick1, FatChick2, FatChick3

WHT: Same

WDT: Jenner, Lewis, Jagr

WJT: Jenner, Jagr, Lewis

WPV: Bubka, Feofanova, Dragila

Nostra

You are very interesting! Try passing whatever your doing alittle more- you know puff, puff, pass. I will definetly stick to three picks if you reread and see that most of your athletes are dead or retired and thus impossible to compete in THIS Outdoor Worlds. Your picks were interesting; however, not accurate or possible.

Vipam

I did say just for fun, but whats wrong with friendly debate or exchange of opinions on others picks. By the way if your not Mckenzie then whats your problem, why don't you look stop dipping in GROWN people's business.

Vipam

You posted it on the internet for the world to see, don't whine if people call you out. You should keep it in e-mail if you don't invite public comment. Face it, you just post these threads so you can try to push your views on others. Grow up.

Who gives a shit, Vipam? What's the big deal??

Yes, I guess all this depends on what people run. Since especially on the women's side much could change, Adere 5k or 10k, Tulu marathon or 10k, even Szabo 1500 or 5k, I realized in our 5k picks we did not mention El G, I don't think he'll run and if he does I think he'll get beat.

Mackenzie

How do you think Paula will fare at the Worlds, if you think the Edmonton medalist will repeat? She has repeatedly stated she will run the 10000m and possibly the 5000m for this Worlds (leaving the marathon option open until the Olympics).

Vipam

If any one beats Paula in the 10k in Paris good luck to them. I really believe she will go sub 29:45 in Paris and the only person I think is capable of getting near her at that pace is Wami. The bronze will be between Drossin, O'Sullivan & Sun Yingjjie

Not sure about Tulu, she has been, in my opinuion THE best female distance runner since Ingrid but in Paris her best shot at gold would be the marathon.

Adere has allready said she will concentrate on the 5k this year and will only do the 10k if it's a straight final with no heats ( cant see that happening ).

Womens 5k will be between Szabo & Adere, swinging towards Adere at present as her best is yet to come.

On the mens side think Vipam's choices for the 5 & 10k medals are accurate at present although it wouldn't surprise me if sme ''unkown'' African comes along to shake things up a bit.

See I did not what race Adere was going to run. As for Paula she is tough as all hell and has run really fast, but she must press the whole way, so the others can just sit, or mess around with slowing the pace down if they feel so inclined. My take is that some of the other women have at times been capable of running the times Radcliffe did in the 5 and 10 last year, like in Sydney, but their race strategy did not demand they do such things, I mean just watch the way Tulu takes off, she could have gone much earlier, the other women are just as capable, not in the marathon. No disrespect to Paula I just think that when big races start rolling up Tulu and Wami are better picks, however I think there is no way Paula gets dropped before the last lap.

Vipam,

In a previous post if February, after the Worlds Best 10k where Paula broke the world record, you said that she was now the favourite for gold in Paris - not necessarily because of the time but because of the way she ran it, first 5k in 14:47.

Why the apparant change of heart in now going for Wami? Do you know something we dont

Is no one picking El G to place in the 5000 or is he now out of that event?

Like this even needs to be said because it is obvious, BUT there is no way in hell Regina can win if Ayhan is in that final because she will force the race to be atleast 3:58 or better to win-which Regina can't run, AND she will force the race very hard from the gun-a few years ago they let her go because they could-they will know that they can't if they have any desire for gold this year. If Regina did come through with say some 3:56 race and a smoking last quarter off that fast pace. One thing would be very very very obvious-I think I would have the same look on my face along with the other 80,000 people in the stadium did in Seoul when Ben Johnson crossed the line in the 100m-what the hell kind of drug induced performance did we just witness. That forever tarnished the Olympics and the 100m and something like this would do that same.

MTW

Yes, they (Wami and Tulu) are reportedly having excellent training-although Wami supposedly had a slight injury! I wouldn't be surprised if they both run well under 30 minutes this year. I agree with McKenzie those two could have been and run as fast as Paula's 30:01 if the need in their Worlds Outdoor wins have required it. I still think Paula will be a VERY BIG FACTOR; however, it will be a real war in the women's 10000m.

Vipam

You said, in the subject line, that this was JUST FOR FUN, so quit with the f***ing nit-picking!