Bekele has still got it 2:04:15 for 2nd!

He should be in the team now.

So exciting to see him take the lead and leave a trail of broken younger runners in his wake!

He has absolutely earned his spot on the Olympic team. He was the top Ethiopian finisher today, and he destroyed Tola.

New +40 World Masters record.

He should be selected with Sisay Lemma. 3rd spot Is open.

It should. Even at his age, a motivated Bekele is a fearsome Bekele.

I’d go:

Lemma

Bekele

Tola

If they really want to include Deresa Geleta for running 2:03:27 to win in Seville this year (I wouldn’t), I guess include him instead of Tola who DNF’d today.

Pure bliss.

When your hero from your youth still competes despite you having already moved away from racing for so long.

Pure inspiration.

Great decision on leaving Nike

Of course he should be on the team, prior to the race who were people saying was Bekele’s competition for the spot, Tola, who he just outright beat. A 2:04 in Valencia followed by another second place finish in London (in a similarly quick time) is certainly enough. Add to that the frankly shocking pacing from the other Ethiopians in this field and Bekele should be in many ways a relative lock.

LeBron and KB are my goats.

Healthy Bekele is an absolute monster

Yes and no.

Let me start with the no.

Bekele is Bekele.

IN my opinion, and if i'm not mistaken, the last time Bekele posted a good result was when he almost broke Kipchoge's record. I thin k it was in Berlin.

Since then, and I could be wrong, he's not done anything worthwhile.

Bekele being Bekele could just drop out were he to be selected for the Olympics.

I'm sure Ethiopia knows this.

HE could also win a medal but i don't see him taking gold. He is old.

On the flipside, he beat every other Ethiopian including Tamirat tola.

Like El Keniano said in the active live thread, I hadn't envisaged Tola being dropped or dropping out. I don't even know what happened to him and now, Ethiopia is in a quandary. Should they pick him and if so, who do they drop?

There is Lemma and now Bekele.

IT'll mostly depend on what made him perform the way he did but certainly, Ethiopia mus tbe disappointed.

They had a lot of runners (in both races) and nothing panned out as they had hoped.

So, to answer your question Wejo, Bekele will be a gamble.

I'd do it if i were in the Ethio federation and put him on. It'd also be a way of honouring him.

Yes, Lemma and Bekele should be on the team. The real question now is whether the third spot should go to Tola even after today.

Easily now GOAT

3rd spot:

Tadesse Takele ran 2:03:24 in Berlin last year (but he didn't compete after that)

Dawit Wolde beat Bekele in Valencia (2:03:48 to 2:04:19, but DNF'ed today)

Deresa Geleta 2:03:27 in Seville this year, 2:05:51 last year in Dubai and 2:07:30 in Frankfurt (2022)

Birhanu Legesse ran 2:04:44 last year in Amsterdam, and 2:05:16 last week un Rotterdam, plus a 2:02:48 PB in Berlin 2019.

But again. Paris circuit is hilly. You have to look results in New York or Boston. That's Tola territory. And se should add Mohamed Esa to that list.

2nd in London is not worthwhile?

Wow.

Breaks his own masters WR set just 4 months ago.

PED GOATs.

Yeah you may as well worship Lance Armstrong and Barry Bonds while you're at it to be fair.

Gusty out there too.

You could take a minute off that at a Valencia type day IMO.

Kenyans and Ethiopian are everywhere.

I think the altitude living has a big part on this.

The problem where are your blondies since 1981.